The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-24 00:00:00

THE VOTING AT NICE.

(nom • 00111111POIDZIf T.)

TURIN, Aram 19.
We have at last got the details about the ballot
at Nice. Since the Italian party had completely
given up the game, and resolved not to go to the
poll, the French had no opposition to fear, and the
few votes against the annexation were most likely
given at the command of the wire pullers for de-
cency's sake, that a complete unanimity should not
shock the feelings of those who know how strongly
the educated classes were opposed to the annexation.
On Sunday morning the population of the neigh-
bouring villages and of the different parishes of the
town assembled in the market-place, shouted
" Vive l'Empereur," " Vive la France," stuck the
green bill with the word "oui " printed in capitals
on their hats, and, led by their priests and syndics,
rushed to the polling-places to throw their secret
vote into the box. By ten o'clock the busi-
ness was done, for few of the committees for
verifying the identity and the franchise of
the voter rarely found it worth their while to
look into the electoral lists. Whoever spoke the
Provencal was acknowledged as a true Nizzard ;
and it is said that Many votes from across the Var
were smuggled in in tins way. As soon as a voter
was seen to fold up the green bill, and to throw it
into the ballot-boxl he was cheered ; cigars
were freely given to him, with an invitation to tpy
nearest public-house, there to celebrate the haphe
consummation of the Frenchification of the country
in copious draughts of wine. In spite of the often-
mentioned sobriety of southern populations, the
Nizzards soon got drunk, shouting most lustily,
" Vivel'Empereur," "VictorEminanuel !" quarrel-
ling with their hosts, and making a terrible row,
until they were by-and-by removed to their homes.
The deputies to whom I spoke lately took
this annexation for an unavoidable necessity ;
they admitted that the Var was no real
frontier; that the boundary ran either
at Antibes in France, or between Monaco and
Mentors ; they regretted only the valley of the
Roia, and hoped that the government would suc-
ceed, at the running of the boundaries, in securing
it for Italy, since, as the only road from Turin by
Cusco to Ventimiglia and to the seacoast runs
across that valley, its loss would be strategically a
misfortune which could not be compensated. Be-
sides, all this valley is Italian, though forming a
part of the old county of Nice.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT

NORTHERN RAILWAY.

The Manchester and Leeds express train, which
left the King's•crces Terminus of the Great Northern Rail.
way at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, met with a terrible
accident in passing through the station of Hatfield, by
which, we regret to state, two persons lost their lives—viz.,
Mr. Francis Pyin, son of a late director of the company, and
a platelayer.
The train comprised mostly first-class carriages, ten in
i number, with two break VMS, one in front and the other at
11 the rear. It left London punctually at the time appointed,
and proceeded at the usual expreas speed until it was
about entering the Hatfield station. It is here necessary to
remark that a number of platelayers were engaged in repair
ing the down line at some points which crossed on to the
up line. The ballasting had been removed from off the
sleepers, and the men were about to pay up that portion of
the permanent way which appeared to have slightly sub.
sided. A coal train was approaching the station on the up
line for London, when the men, hearing the signal of the
express coming up, stepped back on a ailing, and the next
moment or so the engineof the express was passing over the
portion of the line where they hail bees at work. The
engine and four carriages went safely enough, but the
fifth was suddenly thrown off the line, dragging with
it the remainder of the train in the most fright-
ful confusion. In this state some of the carriages, being
partly thrown across the road, they came in contact
with the loaded trucks of the coal train which was passing
at the same moment, and then mounted the platform of the
down station, and, after traversing nearly the whole length
of the platform, and carrying away some of the roof, the
coupling of the sixth carriage broke, and the hinder portion
of the train was thrown over on to the line, the carriages
being shattered. The foremost part of the train still dashed
on at little reduced speed • and the sixth carriage coming
in contact with the water crane, broke it away, and was
thrown end uppermost. At the same moment it is sup.
posed that the wheels and axles of the fifth carriage were
carried away, and the body of the carriage was hurled on
its side, and in that state dragged a distance of more
' than 200 yards, when it, with the fourth cartage, which
was also off the rail., got cliscounectod from the forward
portion of the train, and was brought to a stand still by the
side of the line. The engine, tender, break, and three car.
riages, which kept the rail, were stopped 140011 afterwards -
the distance altogether from where the carriages first left.
the metals being 703 yards. The scene, as may be
iniagined, was most terrible. The permanent way wax
ploughed up nearly the whole dirtance, rail were twisted
and bent, and the wrecks of the shattered carriages were
strewn over the line in all directions. There were several
persons on the upper platform at the time, and for ama
meat all appeared paralysed at what occurred before their
eyes. The platelayers were almost in the same state, but at
length the shrieks and cries for help of the passengers
brought them to their aid, and it was not without consider-
able difficulty that several at them could be extricated.
There were about fifty in all in the train, those who were in
the hindermost carriages being all mono or less seriously
' hurt, many bleeding from scalp wounds and other con.
tusions. Considering the shattered condition of the car-
riages, it is somewhat marvellous how on many escaped with
their lives. All the medical aid that oath( be procured in
1 the neighbourhood was at once rendered to the sufferers,
several of whom were removed to the houses adjacent
to the station. Mr. Thomas Williams, the inspector
of the line, was in the fourth carriage, which
seemed to have nearly shared the same fate as the
fifth carriage, the fore wheels being driven partly through
the flooring. On Mr. Williams alighting, the first thing
which attracted his attention was the body of a gentleman
lying across the metals behind the remains of the fifth car-
riage. He was shockingly injured. and appeared to have
been killed on the spot. Mr. William. immediately ascer-
tained that the body was that of Mr. Francis Pynt a gentle-
man of independence, and son of one of the late directors of
the company. He was travelling in the fifth carriage (first
class), and, from circumstances which have transpired, it ix
believed that the unfortunate gentleman, sating the fearful
nature of the accident, and the critical jamiition he was in,
attem to escape from the carriage. and fell when it
t over on its aide. Having seen to the removal of the
body, Mr. Williams took the most prompt means to stop all
incoming trains, and a telegraphic message being forwarded
to town apprising the officials of the catastiopite, a special
train quickly arrived with a staff of niedie.il gentlemen from
London.

The cause of the accident is as yet unaccountable, al-
though there is some reason to believe that it arose from •
rail breaking at the spot where the platelayer, were at work.
An outside rail was found broken after the accident, and it
was at this point that the after portion of the train left the
metals. It a difficult to see whether it was broken by •
blow from the engine passing over it or by the following
carriages, but there is a most melancholy proof that it did
occur, for as the train passed a fragment of the rail was
hurled forward iu a slanting direction, and striking George
Venable', one of the platelayers, in the side, killed him on
the spot. He was • young man, and hal been recently
married.

TO THE EDITOR OT ?R? EXPREO4.

SIR, —1 think it right to apprise,;,on, for the
purpose of publication, that a serious accident oc-
curred at Hatfield this morning to the 10 o'clock
down expresa train from London. . .

So far as can be at present ascertained, it appears
that the train, in passing through the station, broke,
and displaced, some of the material d the road, and
although the engine and three tir4 carriages
remained on the line, the hinder portion of the tram
diverged, and one of the carriages was overturned.
I deeply regret to say that Mr. Francis Pym, of
Brighton, who was riding in this carriage, was 50
seriously injured, that he died shortly after the
accident.

Another passenger was hurt, but he was enabled
to return home. The remainder went forward to
their respective declinations, none of whom, it h;
believed, are injured.
A platelayer near the spot wan ntrnek by a por
tion of the metal, and he also is, I am merry to add,
since dead.—l am, tte.,
HENRY OAKLEY, Sec.
Great Northern Railway, King's-muss
Station, April 23.

Two THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH OT COTTON
DEWTRoYED BY FIRE.—On Saturday niondug last a fire oc-
curred in the Clarence Warehouses, (treat Howardetreet.
Liverpool, by which cotton to the amount of 2,000/. wad
destroyed. the warehouses are the property of Mr. W. P.
Smacker, but owing to their fire.pnsd construction the
damage done to then, is but sligthlt. 'ne mitten deotroyed
VIM the property of Memos. Rot ,era awl l'shler. who, how•
ever, are fully protected against ow by noon:we.