The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-11 00:00:00

Serious Accident on the Midland Railway,

A serious accident, by which about 30 persons were in-
jured, occurrel on the Midland Railway, at the Lawley-
street station, Birmingham, at about half-past 9 o'clock
yesterday morning. The space in front of the Lawley-street
station is an intricate mass of shunting ground, to which
the Derby (Midland), the Worcester and Gloucester, or
West Midland, the Grand Junction (going to Aston and
Walsall), and the London and North-Western lines all con-
verge. All the trains stop at the platform at that station,
that the tickets of the passengers may be collected there.
Yesterday morning a passengertrain was despatched as usual
from Derby at 7 o'clock. It was due at Law ley-street at 20
minutes after 9 o'clock, and it arrived in a few minutes after
that hour. At the same time a Derby goods train was mak-
ing its way over the shunting ground to leave its waggons
in the London and North-Western goods station, at Curzon-
street. The goods train, instead of being sent in its right
direction, was accidentally shunted on to the Derby line just
as the passenger train came up. The engine of the passen-
gcr train struck the tender of the goods train, but not very
violently, as neither of the trains was going at a great speed.
The shock to the passenger train, however, was so great that
the passengers were thrown from their seats in the car-
riages, and more than 30 of them were more pr less hurt,
many of them severely, but none of them dangeroi:sly. A
large number of business and professional men, coming :I'm
their suburban or country houses to Birmingham for the
day, were in the train. Amongst them was Mr Standbridge,
the town clerk, who received a severe shock, and several
contusions about the head and face. Other gentlemen,
about 30 in number, had similar injuries inflicted on them.
Fortunately there was no fatal accident.
Neither the engine nor the carriages were at all seriously
injured. The poini sman, through whose mistake the acci-
dent occurred, has an excellent character as a steady, trust-
worthy, and experienced man. His name is Vines. He
has been employed as pointeman in his present position for
seven years. What caused him to make the blunder is not
very clearly ascertainable. It is suggested that he was
cleaning the machinery, and was taken by surprise by the
trains coming up, •

FIRE IN DRURY-LANE.—Last night a fire broke
out in the premises belonging to Mr. Robert Smee,
a cabinetmaker and japanner, No. 5, Parker street, Drury-
lane. Owing to the inflammable nature of the stock in
trade the flames extended with more than usual rapidity,
and in less than half an hour the whole of the six floors
presented one tremendous sheet of flame. The Royal
Society's fire-escapes, with the engines of the parish and
several of the London brigade, with two of Shand and
Mason's land steamers from Chandos-street and Watling-
street, promptly attended, and a bountiful supply of
water having been procured, the whole of the engines
were set to work. Owing to the indefatigable
exertions of the firemen, and the judicious direc-
tions given, the fire was entirely extinguished by
midnight; but, judging from external appearances,
Mr. Smee's property must bo entirely or nearly destroyed.
Several of the adjoining houses are also severely damaged
by water, &c. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr.
Smee informed the reporter that two of his men were at
work in the factory at the time, and that they knew nothing
of the disaster until one of the workshops was in flames.
Fortunately the principal sufferer was insured in the
Phoenix Fire Office.

GENERAL GARIBALDL—Tha Mayor of South-
ampton (Mr G. S. Brinton) has received a letter from the
illustrious Italian patriot, of which the following is a copy :
—" Caprera, June I, 1861.—My dear Sir,—l will never
forget the time I stayed in your house, where I was re-
ceived so kindly by your family, and also your amiable
company on my entry into the great metropolis. Please
salute the people of Southampton—precursor of my fortu-
nate visit to free England—tor me, and them for the way
in which they received me. Believe me, 1 will always feel
for you and for your family the deepest gratitude and
affection,—Yours truly, la, GA.RIBALpt,