The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-24 00:00:00

IMMO PERSONS ISUPPOEED TO BE DEAD.

The Right Hon. Lord Farnham, K.P.
The Right Hon. Lady Farnham.
Miss Jane Strafford, aged 70, friend of Lady Farnham.
Miss Mary Anne Kellett, aged 24, Lady Farnham's maid.
John Oaten, aged 30, his lordship's valet.
Chalks Buchanan, aged 25, footman.
The Ilev. Sir Nicholas Chinnery, Bart., of Fliutflea
cotnty Cork, and Hyde-park-square, London.
Lady Chinnery.
Miss Caroline Stearn, aged 24, Lady Chinnery's maid.

&ether eye-witnesse hem Publin tells the story in the
following liarrative!— " The first intimation we gut
that anything wrong had occurred was a sudden jerk or
check in the motion of the ' very like that ex-
perienced when a train is stopped too quickly. We sup-
pored that an accident was on the point of happening,
said lat once sprang to the window and looked out. The
carriage in which I was travelling was near the end of the
tram, and therefore received much less concussion than
those in front. The scene which presented itself was a
mass of dense, black smoke, through which the flames
leaped and hissed, enveloping the fore part of the train.
I heard no cry whatever; the only noise was a sort of
suppressed rumble, and I said to my companions,
" The carriages in front are on fire ; I hope no
one is hurt." Several other gentlemen looked
out of the window and made similar observa-
tions, and the general impression was certainly that no
human life was lost, or even endangered. I suggested
that we ought to get on to the bank while the real nature
of the accident was being ascertained, and some efforts
made to subdue the fbunee, which were raging furiously.
We all got out, and the heat from the burning carriages
was most intense—absolutely scorching. I was struck by
the utter absence of anything like a panic or tensor
among my fellow-passengers, and though, of course,
there was a great deal of confusion, there was little
painful excitement. I have been through many trying
scenes, and have witnessed instances of remark-
able self-possession, but nothing ever struck me more
than the intrepidity and coolness of the Duchess of
Abercorn. Addressing a few words to allay the appre-
hension of the distinguished persona by whom she was
accompanied, she retired a short distance from the scene
of devastation. The person who appeared most excited
was the guard, and he ran up and down by the side of the
train with the keys in his hand, looking utterly bewildered
and talking incoherently. Several pwengers were locked
in the other car rages, and a Mr. William Uniacke Town-
send took the key from the guard and released them. He
then went forward, and, creeping under the train, un-
linked the couplings which fastened the burning vans to
the carriage s and the latter were pushed a short distance
away. e then got between the luggage van
and the post-office, which were both in flames,
and separated them. The engine was thrown
over on its side, and the tender was also displaced.
The carriages continued to burn fiercely, and the huge
flames, fanned by the wind, licked up the dry grass,
on the bank and scorched the hedges on the top: Noue
of my fellow-passengers complained to me of any injuries,
but of course all were more or less agitated by the
occurrence. A Mr. Chaworth Ferguson, barristar-M-law,
who saw the accident from his house at some distance,
appeared in company with his wife, carrying win
brandy, and other restoratives, which they
most liberally, and threw open their dwelling to=rho
chose to take advantage of their kindness. Numbers
of the peasantry of the district also appeared on the
scene, but they were a sullen, stupid lot, and looked
on passively without any attempt to render assistance.
The Marquis of Hamilton was most assiduous
in his efforts to allay the anxiety of the passengers, and in
several ways contributed to their comfort. Some time
elapsed, and it was found that trains which were doe from
opposite directions might come up and spread further
destruction. The Marquis proceeded in one direction, and
Mr. Townsend in the other, and fortunately both trains
were stopped. The Post-office clerk was very active, and
the contents of the van were removed in safety. For an
hour the fire continued to burn without any signs of
abatement. The carriages were literally one burning
mass, and the liquid firs, running over the surface of the
ground, charred and blackened everything with which it
came into contact. At length, the sides of the burning
carriages fell out, and, the wind increasing, the
flames and smoke were driven to the off tide of
the line. I advanced, in oompany with another
gentleman, and glanced into the ruined carriages. For a
moment I was utterly speechless with horror, and a dizzy
sickening feeling crept over me as the terrible truth
flashed across my mind, and I reeled half insensible
against my companion. Are
.you faint I" inquired he
anxiously. I pointed to the carriages, and as he looked
he cried, ' Great heavens ! what can be done I com-
posed myself, and attempted to realise the details of the
ghastly scene. There, bias-ker.% charred, literally cal-
cined, were the forms of a number of human beings abso-
lutely undistinguithable. A thrill of horror passed
through the crowd when the truth became known.
and the most intense emotion was manifested.
When we had sufficiently recovered from the
shock to examine closely, we found twelve or fourteen
bodies. Lord Farnham presented a most shanty sight •
anything more awful could not be conceived. Part of thi
face was burned away, and the other part was drawn
as in a violent convulsion. Hu' right side was
aid the heart and entrails actually protruded. I could
look no longer and had to leave the spot, or "should
have fainted. By this time the Marquis of Harnallen and
Mr. Townsend had returned, and, assisted by the latter
gentleman's brother, Mr. C. Townsend, renewed their
e'er lions. The spectacle, however, proved too much for
his lordship, and he swooned. Much anxiety
was manifested by all who bad witnessed
his heroic conduct, and everything was dune
that could possibly conduce to his comfort.
The duchess nursed him with extreme tenderness, and,
to the gratification of the entire body of spectators, he
icon recovered. General inquiries were made for Judge
Berwirk. who, I heard a gentleman declare, had been
seen convening with Lord Farnham at the last station.
Nei trace whatever could be found of him, and it was
framed that he was one of those who lost their lives.
From this time my impressions were faint and confused.
I remember being told that two directors, accompanied by