The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-27 00:00:00

wA.s7 MIDLAND

DROITWICH, T111:1111DAY.
Yesterday evening an accident happened on the
West Minted loopline near this place, which was attended
with some injury to • number of passengers, but, happily,
was unattended with fatal COMINUOUCOI. The loop line,
though part of the West Midland line, connects it with the
Midland (Bristol and Birmingham) line at Stoke Works
and Abbot's-wood, and is used in common by both Mid-
land and Went Midland trains. Yesterday afternoon the
Midland train from Birmingham to Worcester, doe at
Droitwich at 4.27, was approaching this station when it
MIDI into collision with a goods train that was standing on
the seine line of rails, about MO or 300 yards from the
Dmitsrich station. The goods train in its turn had been
stopped by • coal train at the station, which, while shunting,
hut the moveable bottom of one of the trucks fall oat upon
the rails. This obstructed the traffic for a short time, and
the guard of the goods train, William lipiers, being in-
formed of the obstruction, and knowing that the pensioner
train was approaching from Birmingham on the same hoe
of rails, ran back along the line with a red flag to stop it,
approach. He had mimed the distance signal (which was
about 180 yards behind the obstructed goods train) for
300 yards, when he met the passenger train approachMg,
and gave the driver, Richard Bradshaw, the signal to stop,
he being then about 480 yards from the goods train. The
driver, at the same time, saw the " danger^ signal up
against hinaxed states that he stopped his engioe,put on the
break, and emptied sand on the rails, but to no purpose,
the engine of the passenger train came into violent collision
with the break van of the goods train and mounted upon it.
I Jest briar, the milljainaths Minket a the preens= Rain
jumped off the engine, but the driver (Bradshaw) stuck to
it, and was uninjured. The only damage dime to the train
occurred to the break van, but • number of the passengers
were very severely shaken and bruised. Most fortunately
all the carriage kept the rails, for had they run off
the road the omisequeome must have been frightful, am
the line runs at this place along a high embankment with
a small river (the Salwarpe) passing under it immediately '
below the spot where the collision took place. Surgical es-
Atones was promptly at hand, Dr. Roden, Dr. Jacques,
and Dr. Bennett, of Droitwich, being eururnoned. Most of
the passengers were sufficiently recovered in the evening to
resume their journeys, but some of them remained at Droit-
wich, and several were residente of the town. The follow-
ing list of the injured persons is supplied by the railway au-
thorities :

Mr. Gering, a young man, cut across the forehead.
Three ladies—the Misses Gilpin--one having a tad cut
acmes the face near the right eye, the second having her
front teeth loosened, and the third not seriously hurt.
Miss Jackson, of Ledbury, front teeth knocked out, sod •
cut across the forehead. !Sae proceeded on her journey to
Ledbury last night.
Daniel Cole, butcher, Droltwich, internal injury, end
hurt in the back.
An old man, name unknown, cut on the forehead and in-
jury to the knee.
Thomas Richards, of Stafford-row, Lichfield, leg hurt,
head bruised, and other injuries. Remains here.
Miss Procter, of Gloucester,hlack eye undcontusion of the
face. Remains in Droitwich.

A lady, resident in Worcester, name not given, cut be.
tween the oyes and down the nowt. Went on to Wor-
outer.

A woman with bruised rib, not seriously hurt. Went
on by train.
. . . . . . . .

Tlie whole of the injured persons remaining in Droitwich
are progressing favourably under medical care.
The accident is attributed to the slippery state of the
rails in oun,equence of the rain. Bradshaw, the driver of
the passenger train, states that in all his experience be
never remembered them in so slippery a eaulition. Of
course, the muse of the accident is being fully i uired into,
and an official from the head-quarters of the Midland COW.
pauy in making the necessary inquiries here.

THE RAILWAY CATASTROPHE IN MISSOURI.

From Mr. A. M. Hager, baggage-manter on the
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railway, we learn very le-
terestiug additional particular of the terrible catastrophe
at little Platte Bridge, on that mad, on Tuesday night last.
The train consisted of the locomotive and tender, one
freight car loaded with the California mail, a baggage car
containing a large quantity of express matter, baggage and
way mails, and two passenger coaches. There were from
83 to 100 persons on board, many of them being Lidice cud
children.

The train reached the bridge where the awful diameter
occurred at fifteen minutes after 11 1 k o'c p.m., running
at the customary rate of speed. Theta was uothiug un-
usual about the appearance of the bridge, and therefore sot
the least danger was apprehended. It was • very sub
stential work of the Howe patent, having II span of HO test
—the largest on the road, except that which crosses Grand
River. At Platte River the grade is about 33 feet above
the bottom—a frightful chasm into which to precipitate a
mass of humanity.
Before narrating incidents of the accident, it may be here
stated that the torch of the incendiary bad been applied un-
derneath the bridge, burning the timbers below the track.
After the fire had, progressed a certain degree, or sufficient
to weaken the bridge, so that it could sustain little more
than its own weight, the flames had been extinguished, thus
making the work a mere shell and • trap of death. Upon
this feeble span the train, lighted only by • calcium blare
upon the front of the engine, and such brightness as the
stars emitted, plunged into the jaws of destruction.
Scarcely bad the locomotive measured its length upon the
bridge, when the structure gave way with a tremendous
crash, opening for forty or fifty yards an abyss of darkness
and desolation. The engine turned completely over, land-
ing in the bottom of the river, and half buryiug itself in the
quicksand, the water in the einem being about a foot and a
half iu depth. The freight ear followed, thundering upon
the upturned wheels of the engine. Then came the baggage ,
car, which dropped with crushing weight upon the freight
car, flattening the latter completely out, and tearing it to
splinters. In some way the baggage car retained its posi-
tion, s ending nearly or quite level, boned west. The top
of the baggage car was thus left about 20 feet below the
summit of the abutments. Rapidly the two passenger
coaches rushed into the chasm, descending at an inclination
of about 45 degrees, amid the battering of the cars and the
piteous shrieks of the terrified passengers.
All the seats were torn up and shoved in front, carrying
men, women, and children iu a proninicuous Leap down the
declivity, and burying them among the crushed timbers, or
throwing them out of the cars through the broken skies.
Jagged pieces of flooring impaled some; some were mangled
by machinery tearing through the timbers ; several wen
caught between planks pressing together like a vice ; others
were struck by parts of the roof as it came down with
mighty form • still others were cut with pieces of glass,
while wetted:, mid blood and agony prevailed all over the
frightful scene. Shrieks of pain were mingled with cries of
terror, and prayers with oaths of despair. In this way the
two last can of the train went down, pitching the passenger
into the wreck, or throwing them into the water.
An agonisiug catastrophe like this cannot be described.
But few ou board escaped without severe injury. Only
three persons—Mr. J. W. Parker, superintendent of the
United States Express ; Mr. Maus, ruail agent ; atilt Mr.
Hager—were able to afford assiatauce to the suffering, the
remainder of these who were not killed outright being so
theabled as to he helpless. Resides these throe there was
Dot one who had not some serious iujiery.
After doing all that it was possible to accomplish for
those requiring immediate atteudanoe. Mr. Hager, at mid-
night, lett the wreck to go to St. Jmieph, a distance of mud
miles, fur medial and other assistance. Mr. Hager walked
five miles of the way, when he found • baud car, upon
which he proceeded the remaiuder of the journey. Two
huudied yards west of the bridge he discovered • heavy
oak railroad tie strongly *trapped acmes the track, and two
miles further es he found the trestlework over a small
stream on fire, which, however, had not yet been ao badly
burned that train. could nut mesa over it, ur could not be
easily extinguished.
Arrived at St. Joseph, Mr. liner proceeded at once to the
express and post offices, and soon the alarm wan spread
throughout the city. Although it was one o'cleck at night,
75 men, including all the physicians in the ueighbourhood,
had quickly volunteered their services to go to the relief of the
sufferers. A locomotive wax promptly bred up, and at Mili-
tant 3 o'clock the train, comprising three tint curs and a pas•
anger ouech, was at the seeneuf the uccideut with blankets,
sheets, and every other article that might be of use. The
wounded Lad all emerged from the wreck, and were lying
on the beaks and upon • sandbar in the river.
While the physicians mused around among the injured,
attended by equals of the citizens of St. Joseph, such as
were not thus engaged went to work to remove the dead
bodies from the airs and the river. Seventeen dead bodies
were recovered, and it is believed that this number em-
homed all killed up to that time. Two were so badly
wounded that it was Dot expected they would survive till
morning, while many other s were dangerously wounded. anal
would have to be well taken are of to recover. Mauy who
will escape with their lives will be severely runuue,l and
crippled.
Mr. Hager, our informant, did not remain to witnem
the embarkation of the wounded for St. Joseph, but
was despatched to Brookfield, which is eastward
of the bridge, fur another traiu to go to the wreck. When
he left the names of the wounded were being taken down,
and also of such of the dead as had pope's ur other articles
about them by which they could be identified.
Mr. Hager took a horse and rude to Worn, where be
found a hand-car upon which he proceeded farther. Between
Odium and Stewartaville, ou Smith's branch, or 15 miles
east of Platte River, he found that another bridge had beim
burped. All that part, from the abutment on the west
end to the bank, souse 35 feet, had been totally destroyed, I
the fire liming been set after the train had passed which
met the disaster at Platte River. So it was useless to go
for the train at Brookfield, bemuse it could not jam west
until the bridge over Smith's branch could be repaired.—
St. Louie Republican, Sept. 7.

PRUSSIA.

A letter from Brucluial, dated the 23rd, at half-
past ten at night, gives an account of Becker's
trial :

This little town has been in a date of unusual excite-
ment for the last few days, in consequence of the coming
trial, and so many strangers have arrived to witness the
proceedings that all the hotels and public.houses are filled
to overflowing, while great numbers have been glad to find
any kind of lodging with private families. This day being
appointed for the trial, at seven in the morning the
representatives of the public press were conducted to
the places assigned them by the officials of the court,
and certainly the armagessents made for their accommo.
dstion were all that could be desired. The building
in which the judges sit is a real palace, formerly oe-
eupied by the Prince Bishop of Spires, and the haM
in which law proceediage take place was once the
state drewitigemeas ; nor has liked all its ancient splendour,
as it still retains ies gilded sculptures and handsome Venetian
minute. The Mensal arrangements' are much the same as
in the French collets, except that the five eats for the
judges are placed in a line, the president's in the middle,
with two others se each side for his four se worn. The
place of the public mosecutoe is class to the jury box, as in
Paris, and facing hiss are the seats of the prisoner and hie
counsel. By half-past seven the hail was full, and among
the penults present were the Prince awl Princess
Mmaschthed. The onsosses aim
a student in the Polytechnie School at likeeden. At
eight o'clock the prisoner wee brought iuto court, and
took his seat behind his counsel, and engaged. in earnest
conversation with his brother, whore he greatly resembles.
The prisoner was deemed in black, and heal a very
juvenile appearance. He did not seem at all ectbarramed.
or disconcerted, but looked calmly rotted upon the audience.
On the table lay the black coat and meat worn by the King.
of Prussia at the time of the attem;, also a brace of pistols,
one of which was that which had beta tired. Prolaely
eight, the judges entered the ball end took their scats. M.
Bohn, of the Bruched Court of Appeal, was preeitlect, and,
M. Haas officiated as public prosecutor. The prissier was
defended by H. Hee. The judges, public prosecutor, and
counsel, were not in robes, but dressed just like other
people, which gave the court a very singular appearance to
those who have been accustomed to the judicial re:risme' of
France and England. The president called over the names of
the jury, and it was • singular coincidence that among
them were three bearing the same name as the prisoner.
He then briefly pointed out their duties, observing. that
they had only to deal with the facto of the ease, and that
their deliberations ought to be quite free from political
feeling ; he also added that he thought he only expressed
the feelings of his countrymen in thanking Divine &evi-
dence for laving preserved the life of the Kiug of Prussia.
The prisoner's counsel then proceeded to challenge several
of the jury, the public prosecutor making no challenge.
The jury being next sworn, the witnesses wet e ordered to
withdraw. The clerk of the court tbeu read the indict-
ment, and the president asked the prisoner if lie had
anything to say. Becker immediately rote, and, speak-.
bog in a loud voice, said :—" I have to remark, in
the etst place, that the indictment does not stab
the case accurately. The account it gives is ie.
deed bussed on my own declarations, but they
were tithe, and I will now tell the whole truth. I never
intended to kill the King of Prussia ; my sole object waster
alarm him, and cause • commotion in Germany. Why
should I kill King William, when I know that hie son will.
not be able to do any more for (termite unity than he can ?"-
The 'wiener then gave a narrative of his attempt, without
adding any new details. He admitted that he went to.
linden with the intention of shooting the King ; but when
he raw his Majesty walking without escort, he shrunk with.
horror from the execution of his project, which was first to.
tire at the King, and next blow out his own brains en the
spot. The prisoner then began to weep and sub convul-
sively, but, after drinking a glair of water, he
became more composed, and proceeded with his
new system of defence, declaring the. there was no
ball in the pistol he fired, that his previous assertious were,
false, soil that he had only made them in the hope of being
condemned to death far high treason. But when he found
that there was no chance of his dying the death of a martyr,
and also when he learned the affliction into which his act
had plunged his family, he resolved to cease the truth.
The president then asked when he loaded the pistol, and
'lecher said, " In the morning of the 14th of July, • few
mi-
muks before I left my chamber. One of my pistols was
Laded with ball, I know, as I intended to kill myself with
it. did aot require • bill to dre at the King, as I had re-
solved to fire in the air, under pretence of tiriug at him.
I then put powder and wadding only iu another pistol, and
that 1 intended to discharge near the King. It now
appears, at least so I have teemed, that I used the
pistol loaded with ball. I can only expiate it by • fatal
mistake on my part. I must have put the powder and
wadding in the pistol already loaded with belL" This exa-
nduatiou of witnesses thou begiur, but their depositions coll-
ude nothing more than is already koowu to every body.
One witness, a gunsmith, declared that it was impossible
fur Becker to have put a charge of powder in a pistol
already loaded withoutsperceiviug it. Becker, however, per-
, anted in his declaration, and wished the experiment WM
be made iu court. This was accordingly done, but it
menial to tell against the prisoner, for the 014 charge filled
half the length of the barrel. Becker nevertheless main-
tained his assertion, and persisted in declaring that he was
astounded when he lensed that the King was wounded. In
mower tea question from the president, Beckerecknowledged
that his attempt, which he meant to be a sham, had produced
dangerous results ; but he adhered to his statement
that lie hail mistaken the pistol. Ile expressed his regret
for what he bad dune, since lie could not realise his ardent
desire of dying a martyr fur his country. He declared that
he had been actuated solely by political motives, and
repealed the words be had used during a prelituivary exa-
.nination :—" I would rather be condemned te death than
be thought a common murderer." The prisoner was here
@Mud with a nervous attack, and fell back uu his beat, but
soon recovered, and stated that he possessed a fortune of
14,000 thalers, had gained two prises at Leipsic, and should
have tried fur a third had he not been haunted by the idea
of tiring at the King. The public prosecutor soil the pri-
soner's counsel then addressed the court, after which the
jury retired to deliberate, and returned into court at half-
past ten at tight with a verdict of
The sentence pronounced by the court is already
known to our readers.

The foreign officers who attended the inauceuvrea
of the Prussian troupe met at the Hotel Disch, at
Cologne, for a farewell supper. General Foley
prupured the health of the King of Prussia ; Lord
Clyde, of the Prussian Colonel de Blumenthal, the
commissioner of the entertainment ; and Prince
Windischgrietz proposed a toast to the good fellow-
ship of officers of every arm. Thu utmost cordiality
prevailed.
The King of Prussia has addressed to the Presi-
dent of the Rhenish Province au autograph letter
charging Lim to thank the population for the cor-
dial reception they had given to the 7th and Bth
wive (ramie on the issasiou of time late
11111.1KCI1V1Vd.