The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-05 00:00:00

0-6----c.--,___

AIONASTAT3OIOE, near DROGIISDA
Iduna.7 cirgarly ictereflicg ecilectionT
monuments, aliAinei Tower, the remains of
at
small 13th century chap , other remnants of one much
earlier, and three scn!pilllred crosses full of surpri,itg
interest. The doorway of the tower is circuler-Lesdedi
the upper part of the circle being woiked out of a Lori-
zontd stone: the doorway is wider at the bottom than
the top. The tower is covered with a green moss. and
is much bowed and dilapidated. Steps should be taken
to repair the upper portion of it, or it can scarcely last
many years. Indeed, attention should be drawn to the
condition of several of these towers so peculiar to the
country, and which ought on no account to be suffered
to fall away. We do not want restoration, but simply
such repair as will enable them to withstand the weather.
The largest of the crosses is about 20 feet high, and is
covered with sculptured figures, loops, snares, &c.: ago
and wantonness have so affacted the lower part of tt
stem as to render it likely that, unless strengthened, ;I
will be overthrown. The carving on the secbrid cross is
better executed arid in a more perfect state than that of
the largest: it is
one of the most ssriking monuments
of its class existing, and itcludes groups et boldly sculp-
tured figures, representit's the Day of Judgment, the
Temptation, and other Scriptural events. The Irbil
Annals have been quoted to show that these crosses were
executed at the commencement of the tenth century, and
the monuments themselves seem to justify the infer-
ence. None should miss seeing lionasterboice. The
three crosses, two chapels, overgrown with high grass
and trees, and the ancient tower, moss-covered, waiting
to fall, form a group scarcely to be equalled, and to one
standing amongst them a scene of surpassing interest
La. an enduring recollection.—Builder.

7'HE FATAL COLLISION on the LONDON
AND NORTH- WESTERN RAIL WAY.
COVENTRY, WEDNESDAY.--nis morning aR inquest
was held on the body of William Floyd, the unfortunate
youth who was killed by the lamentable accident on the
above line, yesterday, at the King's Head, Park-gate,
before W. 11. Seymour, Esq., Coroner. J. E. Mac-
Connell, Esq., Mr. Bedford, and other gentlemen con-
nected with the company were present, and Mr. Barre,
solicitor, of Birmingham, represented Mr. Carter, the
company's solicitor.
After the jury had been sworn, Mr. Barra said the
London and North-Western Company were most
anxious that the fury should have the fullest informa-
tics relative to the accident, and they had accordingly
directed all their servants who could give evidence to to
present.
The Coroner said he knew the company would afford
every information they could, and he had always found
them willing to assist him in inquiries when accidents
had occurred.
The first witness examined was Emma Hill, who de-
posed that she resided at Digbeth, Birmingham. She
went to the County Hospital last evening, and saw the
deceased William Floyd, and recognised him as her
nephew. He was about 11 years old. He left her
husband's house about nine o'clock, on the morning of
the accident, for his home, which was at Oxford. Her
husband accompanied deceased to the railway station.
William Jenkinson stated that he was an engine driver
011 the London and North-Western line. He left Bir-
mingham on Tuesday morning with the 9.15 train to
London, and the engine appeared to be in good working
order. The train proceeded safely until it arrived
' within about two miles of Docker's Gate Station, when
the engine oscillated very much, and the gravel and dust
was thrown over the carriages so much that he coald not
see anything before him. 'lmmediately the engine was
severed from the train, • and the van and several car-
riages were thrown upon the down line. At the same
moment the Leamington train came up and dashed into
the carriages. Ho saw the Leamington train coming
up, and the driver c,ftheengine could, no doubt, see the
for they Birmingham train,eThewere not more than 200
yards from each other.
not possibly be stopped in Leamington train could
time to prevent the
collision. After the accident he ex
tiean sh
ined his engine to
ascertain the cause, and found that
torn away. It was lying doubledup about forty yards
from where the engine stopped. He examined the ash-
pan, and the whole of the engine before starting,,ne and
everything seemed in good working order.
The
ash
-
pan was secured by ircn straps and bolts, and how it
came loose or was broken off he could not tell.
[ln answer to a question here put by the Coroner,
Mr. M'Connell said the engine was about five years old.]
Witness then drove his engine to Decker's Gate, to
prevent other trains from coming up, and then proceeded
to Coventry for assistance. He had not the slightest
idea how the ash-pan became loose. There might have
been some obstruction on the 'line that would loosen the
pan, but he could not find anything. The ash-pan was
about eight inches from the ground, but the pans were
placed higher on some engines. Ho had driven the en-
gine about five weeks.
Abraham Marshall deposed that he was foreman of the
locomotive department at Birmingham, and it was his
duty to examine every engine before it started with a
train. He examined the engine 153, driven by Jenkins on
Tuesday morning, and found the ash•pan and all other
parts perfectly sate. He bed been foreman nearly ten
years. If an engine on examination was found imper-
fect in the least, it was not allowed to go.
Thomas Lee stated that he was an engine•driver on
the London and North-Western line and drove the en-
gine of the train which left Leamington for Birming-
ham. They travelled at the rate of about twenty-five or
thirty miles an hour. Alter passing Docker's Gate he
saw the Birmingham train coming up, and it was all
safe on the line, but in about thirty seconds, or less time,
he saw the van of the Birmingham train across the up
line, and immediately after the engine dashed through
the van and carriages, cutting the former in two. His
(witness's) engine ran off the rails, and became imbedded
in the sand. Ile did all be could to pull up his train, but
it was impossible to do so, the notice was so short.
He jumped off the engine and escaped with slight in-
juries. He saw the deceased lying on a bank with his
head cut, and afterwards assisted in sending him to
Coventry.
Mr. Alderman Whitten here suggested that it would
be well for the jury to see the engine and ash-pan,
that they might be better able to judge of the cause of
the accident. As yet only leading questions had been
put to those on the side of the company. There
bad been no cross-examination, and /he appeared for
the public, to see that every possible information was
elicited.
Mr. WConnell said the engine and ash-box had been
brought to the station, in case the jury might wish to see
them.
The jury then proceeded to the station, and examined
the engine and pan, and on their return the examina-
tion was resumed.
James Crawford said he was_ foreman of the locomo-
tive department
kasotn,
No. 5
Rugby.
13 He examined the engine
jenin
driven by ont Tuesday morning. It
i
was about seven o'clock before came out of the shed.
He had been about five years in
the employment of the
cmpany,
London and North-Western
and six years
in the Birmingham and Gloucestero,
at the latter place.
The engine was perfect when he examined it. After
the accident he examined
the en
from its appearance, and that cfttline, and concluded,
pan and stays,
a
that the et.gine had experienced blowe4sh.
from Birminghof
Birmingham. On the 23d Lest month newbolts
were put into the esh.pan and one new stay. During
the eleven years he had been engineering
engaged in the department, he did not know of a similar accident having
happened.
In answer to a question by Mr. Whitten, witness
said there were flee • °ll
new bolts put m the aS
th© 23d ult.
Susan
Boake deposed, the deceased was admitted into
o'clock
the Coventry
Hospital at about half-past
elevebnroken on
on Tuesday morning. She saw the skull was
s.
Deceased
the left side, and there were cuts on both etit_rom" the ddied about twelve o'clock, and she believed t
in-
jury on the head.
with the jury, examined
Mr. Whitten said, having,
wished know if the Coroner
the engine and pan, heallowo him make a few
would accept his evidence, or
remarks. might do so. They were
The Coroner said be
f the accient and if Mr.
o
anxious to arrive a
t the ca
anuseything useful,d wel,l and good.
Whitten could telltheir
evidence to was quite certain there was no
Mr. Whitten said
that
the ash-pan was broken from the
s"vibstance on the line. There was no
engine by sc"hesu 0. found on the line calculated to break
stone or isnY,,
ie
appears„ that a very short time ago five new
bolts bad to
it °fl; 6Jpnt to the pan, and it occurred to him.
imputing any blame to the company, that some
without
bolts had to be replaced by new ones. He
of the other
ld be b tt r w•th
'dared it won ee, a view to have the
considered
of the accident ascertained,
exact cause
exa that an expo.
rienced engineer should be appointed
to examine the
ob_pan, bolts, &c.
Several jurymen here named Mr. Mosedale, of Co-
ventry, and that gentleman was instructed to
examine
the works. On his returi,
Joseph Mosedale was examined, and he stated, that an
engine and ash-pan had been shown to
him that day at
the Coventry
station, and having examined them, he
found that the snugs or knibs that held
the fire-box were decoyed fro the fire-guard to
R 1 fire and friction. The
stays were broken.
Some of the jury expressed a de •
quest adjourned, to afford time foraakre to have the ili-
a the engine, bolts, &c., by some further examination
eminent practical en-
gineer, and the coroner adjourned the inquest accord-

The monster steam-ship La Plata, belonging to
the Royal West India Mail Packet Company, leave
was to
__
Greenock on Tuesday, and is expected at Southampton 7
Saturday. She will put in at
ar Liverpool
ie' on her w•
n
The interior construction of the La Plata s essentiti
_ th
different from that of the other great steam-0-'Ps'wit.'. e the
Parana, Orinoco, and the Magdalena, belongligngs, and
company. In the latter steamers there are SPk.gr In the La
the cabin accommodatiens are on the main dee mmodations
Plata there is no spar deck, and the cabin
of the peculiar
are below the main deck. In consequence
interior construction of the La Plata the working
will be Da.erorking of the ship
will be performed—and an immens4.7vgge case in the Orinoco,
situated—
on a lower level in the vessel he
Parana, and Magdalena. She will,
will be looked forward
iun,ssiin fact, not be so top heavy.
will be decided whether
Her first voyage out to St. Tlia)onh
to with profound interest, a 1
rtndioroxvv the true magnitude and
human ingenuity has steamer together with the
peculiarity cf constructzvioer
„„ that it should iaossess, so that It
proportionate engine liantapton and St. Thomas, a distance
in about eleven or twelve days. The
may run between So
of nearly 4,000 Inins
magnificent experiment consists in
great difficulty inti a of coal during the voyage, by which
..
are 1,200 tons heavier at the hegion...o.
the vast coasting,:
these monster 3
of the voyage. The La Plata will be com-
than at the
mended by Captain Allan.
GUESS A
•"-- goivg, down
A virgozio..
him,
, Let us
f .treet with a friend of his, said to n the left,
Regen"-- t pretty little woman you see there 0 I at-
' that
avoidknows me and casts on me looks of indignation.
you had the
who
" Ah! I understand; -,, the
tended her husband."
' fortune to dispatch him,,, ,-,
misfortune
doctor, " I saved him." .. On the coutrarY, replied

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