The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-19 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM BANKING.

Yesterday the directors of this bank declared a dividend
for the past half year of 108, and a bonus of 10s. per share,
payable on the Ist of September next, being at the rate of
20 per cent. on the paid-up capital.

The Accident on the North-Eastern Railway

NEWCASTLE • ON-TYNE, Monday.

All the persons injured by the accident to the Scotch
express from London on Saturday night are doing well, and
there is no reason to think that any of them will be perma.
nont sufferers. It is thought that the accident to the engine
was occasioned by jolting across the colliery railway lines
at Washington. It is a most marvellous thing how the pas-
sengers escaped as they did, for the train was heavily laden.

The Newcastle Chronicle of this morning gives the fol-
lowing details of the accident :
" The scene of this casualty is within 300 yards of the
Washington station, and the stationmaster was still on the
platform and looking after the train when it occurred, the
first intimation he had of the accident being the turning over
of one of the foremost carriages and a cloud of dust rising
from the spot. The Scotch express does not stop at Wash-
ington, and therefore at the time of the accident would be
going at a high rate of speed, though not at its greatest
velocity, the acute curve at Victoria-bridge necessitating a
slower pace than where the line is nearly straight. It may
be assumed therefore that the train could scarcely have
attained its greatest speed so shortly after passing the curve.
The train was composed of nine first and second class car-
riages, one saloon carriage, and the guard's van. The car-
riages were of the best description, being the most roomy
and convenient on the line, and, with the exception of the
saloon carriage, forming a portion of what is called the East
Coast Joint Stock. That is, these carriages belong jointly
to the North British, North Eastern, and Great Northern
Railway Companies for the working of the through traffic.
The usual size of the train is about four carriages, includ-
ing the guard's van. The number of carriages composing the
train on this occasion made this the largest Scotch express
that the company has ever had on the line. When about
120 yards from Washington station the axle of the leading
wheels of the engine snapped about the centre. The frac-
tured ends of course dropped down upon the sleepers, the
first one they came is contact with being snapped asunder
as if it had been a match, and the two portions drawn for-
ward in the shape of an obtuse angle. The engine still rushed
forward, the axle ends ripped up the surface of the sleepers
in their progress, but without materially affecting the gauge
of the rails. After going a little distance, the leading
wheels of the engine came off, and the end dropping down
brought the locomotive to a standstill. Singular to relate,
the engine and tender ran a distance of 180 yards ahead of
the train before they stopped. It is supposed that the sud-
den jerk succeeding the accident snapped the connecting
coupling between the engine and the first carriage. It is
then assumed that a pertion of the broken axle and a wheel
of the engine was lett behind, and the first carriage—a
second class—coming in contact with it, the serious accident
which we are now recording was the result. The first
carriage was thrown off the rails, and turned completely
bottom up as it rolled down the embankment. The
earthwork at this point is about seven or eight feet in
height, a narrow strip of ground planted with potatoes
extending from the foot of the embankment to the
hedge. The carriage was caught in its descent by a
telegraph post, and the resistance of this obstacle and the
tension of the wires arrested its progress. The top of the
post was snapped off, and the wires, nine in number, were
also broken, which aecounta for the interruption of the
communication with Newcastle. Had it not been for the
post and wires arresting the carriage on the side of the
embankment it must in all probability have rolled entirely
over, and in that case it is not too much to say, without
the slightest exaggeration, that scarcely a single occupant
could have escaped with life, or if he did it must have
been with the most serious injuries. As it was, it appears
to have been only short of a miracle that they escaped as
they did. The sides of the carriages were not separated
from the bottom frame work, but were broken into splinters
from top to bottom, held together merely by the partially
separated wooden fibre. It is-astonishing that so few of the
sufferers were wounded by the splinters which must have
been flying about. The carriage was reduced to the most
complete wreck that could bo conceived. The passengers in
this carriage were those who sustained the most serious in-
juries and wounds. The force with which it rolled over
must have burst open the doors, as several of the passengers
were thrown violently out in the direction of the hedge.
The rest of the passengers either extricated themselves from
the wreck of the capsized carriage or were assisted out by
the Washington stationmastcr,and others who were speedily
on the spot after the accident. The second carriage from
the engine (also a secon I class) ran past the capsized car-
riage and turned on its side. It was a good deal damaged,
several of the panels being broken, and a large strip torn off
the solid wood bottom frams. The passengers in this car-
riage were not so seriously injured as those in the carriage
first described, although many of them sustained serious
contusions. The third carriage (a first class) was completely
smashed up, the sides fallingoutwards and crushing up into
fragments. How the occupants of this carriage escaped in-
stant destruction is inexplicable; and what is even more sue.-
prising is that some of the passengers escaped uninjured,
while none of the others were very seriously injured, so far
as we can learn. Another first class carriage in passing the
capsized carriages gave a sudden swerve and stove in one of
its corners, but without sending it off the rails, The twist of
the carriage must have been of a most violent nature, as
one of the axles, a piece of wrought iron about six inches
in diameter, was bent into the shape of a bow. The rest of
the carriages were not injured beyond a few braises and
chafes. As soon as the sufferers were extricated from the
wreck the more seriously injured were conveyed to a cottage
near, where they were atiended to by the medical gentle-
men from Newcastle. Mr I. L. Bell, of Washington Hall,
was on the scene of the accident soon after its occurrence,
and gave every assistance in his power in seeing the injured
passengers attended to. As Drs Heath and Embleton and
Mr Joseph Fife were first on the spot after the accident,
they at once attended to the injured, and had nearly got
through the whole of the cases when Sir John Fife, Dr
Annandale, and Mr Hardcastle, who came by a later train,
arrived to assist them. The maid of Mrs Og:e, of Kirkley-
hall, was much cut about the face, and had also sustained
contusions on other parts of the body, Mr W. Lockay
Harle, of this town, had four children in the train on the
road home from school in London for the holydays. Miss
Sarah Hart° was the most seriously bruised and contused
of the four; Miss Anne Harle was also shaken and bruised;
Master James Harle sustained a serious bruise over the
temple, and his brother, Master Frederick, a contusion on
the arm. Most of their luggage was smashed up in the
genera ruin, as was that of some of the other passengers.
Mr POlips, of Snitterfield, Warwickshire, formerly
M.P. for Mane ,-ester, was in the train at the time of the
accident. Ile was very • much bruised and shaken, and had
he
atterwarda to be supported to tramwhich conveyed the
d to Tynemouth, and
passengers to Newcastle. He proem., his injuries to
as late as yesterday was still auffsring from _ -fished to
that extent that he had to be supported when he
move. Mr James Clarke, professional reporter, Mr Callm:
ham, Mr Elliott, and Mr Bavtsfer, four gentlemen who
were coming to assist the staff of the Newcastle Chronicle
during the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, were
also among the severely injured. They were seriously
wounded, in addition to sustaining severe contusions. Their
injuries have incapacitated them from attending to work,
and it will, we fear, be some time before Mr Clarke, Mr
Callingharn, or Mr Elliott will be sufficiently recovered so
as to resume their professional duties. Mr Duckworth, a
nephew of Mr Phillips, was slightly bruised and scratched.
A gentleman named Windham was slightiy- injured. The
Rev. H. 8, Hicks, incumbent of St. Peter'; North
Shields, who conducts the services in the Sailors' Home a:
that place at present, was seriously injured about the ribs
and cut on the head and knee, besides sustaining several
other bruises in different parts of his body. He is likely
to be confined to his bed for some days. AMr and Mrs
Snow and a Miss Paul were also injured, and were taken,
at their own request, to Durham, were they were at-
tended by Sir John Fife. Their injuries were principally
contusions, none of them of a serious character. They were
sufficiently recovered yesterday to be able to resume their
intended journey as soon as they think fit. Among other
persons in the train who escaped without injury beyond a
severe shaking were the Duke of Montrose, Lord] Lovaine,
M.P., Mr S. Beaumont, M.P., the Hon. Mr Coke, M.P.,
Mr R. Hodgson, M.P. and Mrs Hodgson, Capt. William-
son (of Whitburn), Col.:Nliller (Fusilier Guards), Mr John
Fenwick (London), and Admiral k3ir A. Milne, who has
just returned to England."

Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against
imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release
from
all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application
to Messrs, Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy,
Charges under £5 pqyable by easy instalments. Offices—
(established 1830), I?,llatton-girtiett. City branch-0,
llLAor-
gate-street,l3ank.—ADTT.
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