The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-11 00:00:00

EASTERN BENGAL.

A special general meeting of this company was held on
Saturday at the office, Gresham-street, to consider whether
they should accept or decline the proposal of the Secretary
of State for India to construct an extension line as far as
Jamoona, as part and parcel of the original line, under a
guarantee of 41 per cent. per annum on the necessary capi-
tal ; Mr. J. F. Leith in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the directors had offered
to give the facilities of the Bengal Company in carrying out
the extension by a separate company, but with the view of
working the two lines ultimately together, but on the dis-
tinct understanding that the capital of the new line should
be kept distinct, and the dividend distinct. This offer was
subsequently declined by the Secretary of State for India,
who insisted that the new line should form a part and parcel
of the original undertaking. The traffic on the original line
from Jan. 10 to the end of June amounted to 332,548r5.
The weekly returns now averaged about 20,400 u, and when
they reached 25,000 rs he believed the 5 per cent. guarantee
would be covered.
After some observations by Mr. Morgan, Mr. P aul, and
other shareholders, resolutions were passed to the effect that
the meeting declined to accept the offer of the Secretary of
State for India to carry out the extension to the Jamoona
on the guarantee of 41, per cent. "as part and parcel of the
original undertaking, and not separated ;" and authorising
the board to negotiate with the Secretary of State for India
for the proposed extension to the Jamoona, provided it be
carried out as a distinct and separate undertaking.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors.

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR LYNN.

KING'S LYNN, Monday.
At several of the places of worship in this town,yesterday,
the preachers made special allusion to this shocking acci-
dent. Thanks were offered to Almighty God that so many
lives were spared.
The inquiry before Thomas Martin Wilkin, Esq., coroner
Mr. Edwards also made
for Freebridge, Lynn, was resumed to-day at one o'clock,
at the Guildhall, Lynn.
Mr. Pitcher wished to ask Mr. Valentine a few ques-
tions,
an application; it would be an
injustice if the company might sot make remarks as to the
traffic return which bad been called into question. Might
he address the jury ?
The Coroner said he had carefully considered the ques-
tion since the last meeting. The matter was left to his
discretion. He was satisfied that he had exercised a wise
discretion, and would allow Mr. Edwards to make obser-
vations. Where matters had been gone into rather beside
the particular question, he felt that, rather than injustice
should be done, the application should be granted.
Mr. Edwards asked the permission of the Coroner flast
the notes of the evidence taken before this jury should be
granted for the use of the other jurY. Mr. Keane had
stated that such could be done.
The Coroner granted the application.
Mr. Valentine, C.E.—I left the line in good order. I
have had no control as representative of the Lynn and
Hunstanton Railway over the line. The Great Eastern
Company work the line, and it is their bounden duty to
keep it in repair.
By the Coroner—lt was put in their hands in October.
By Mr. Pitcher—The length of sleepers varies. On the
old form of roads the sleepers are nine feet long ; on this
ftohromo
aosforoonadtheeight
ryofen and Hunstanton. The sleepers areet, which I think quite as safe. This is
usually composed of Scotch fir, beech, and larch timber.
I know no instance where the dead trees have been used.
They are as good sleepers as can be had of that size. A
rumour of that kind got circulated because a few years ago
there was a gale of wind which blew a large number of trees
off the estate now occupied by the Prince of Wales, &c.,
and these were purchased by the contractor. I believe they
very good,
were very good sleepers.
ingßythelfrenWceasr, of d—l complained to the contractors respect-
their inefficiency after they were put
that they would be, I should not have
down, and after that the defects were remedied. I did not
complain of the one rail fence, and had I seen the ditches
alloweddry, or htandema n.T
y idea
le
gradients on this line are
'There is no such this
a gradient even as 1 in 100 on
It ie not usual to connect gradients by a piece of straight, •line.
but it is so on the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway. So far
there as I can judge of the line, I should say _ has been no
alteration since the rails were put down.
By Mr. Edwards—There can be no greater proof of the
strength of the permanent way than that the rails have not
been destroyed. The Lynn and Hunstanton Company are
an independent company.
By the Coroner-4 never heard that Mr. Hammond had
complained till the inquiry. Some ballast had been laid on
the line.
John Thompson— I live at South
Wootton.
I am shep-
herd to Mr. Hammond, Who has a considerable quantity of
land near the railway. A good deal is on
the Marsh Com-
mon line. There have never been fences
inmy judgment,
since they have been up, sufficient to stand
hagainst either
sheep, bullocks, or horses. I never saw
bullocks and sheep, on the line. I
have horses. but I have
seen them more
than once. I first saw them last autumn, just after last
Michaelmas. Two I saw on at once of my own. There
was a little water in the ditches saw the bullocks walk
right over the fence, and go back I
the same way. This was
not far from the Marsh lane crossing.
By Captain Tyler—That is about two miles
o from Lynn.
By the Coroner—l saw them
again
I have few days after, but
can't say whether one or two.seen Mr. Bloom-
field's on within the last month. I have
the last month. I have put them put two off within
myself. morel than
twice. I have not seen the platelayers at this
time, never
saw any horses on the line. I have seen as many as eight
or ten sheep at once.

By the Coroner—They were lying on the line.
By Mr. Edwards—The gates were not left open. I have
been very much used to cattle. I never knew cattle that
would jump over any fence. I never saw Bloomfield's cattle
jump over. They walk over it.
By the Coroner—One fence is a single rail, not an inch
thick. The posts are two or three feet long. Some of them
are four or five inches thick. They are not strong enough
to stand against a bullock.
By Mr. Edwards—l have seen them broken twice. I
came here to speak the truth.
By Mr. Haylock—l complained to the platelayers about
the line, and I told our master about it. The men always
go down the line every morning, and they have mended
it.
By a Juror—l could pull the fences down from end to
end.

The following report, by Captain Tyler,
R.E., the Govern-
ment Inspector from the Board of Trade, who had been in-
structed officially to inspect the scene, and investigate the
causes of the disaster, was read :
" I have inspected, in the course of Saturday evening and
this morning, the fences on the Hunstanton Railway, and
also the carriages which were fractured in the accident on
the 3d of August. I find that No. 51 is the third class car-
riage, standing in the yard at Lynn, which came into
col-
lision with a first-class carriage immediately in front of it,
and that this carriage does not appear to have any decayed
wood about it, though it is of weak construction. Its front
and part of its left side were stove in, and many of the seats
were displaced add broken. No. 279. third-class carriage,
which lies on its side at the site of the accident, was next
behind it in the train, and contains some wood in an ad-
vanced state of decay at each end underthe body resting on the
buffer planks. The statements differ as to which of these
carriages
contained the greatest number of passengers, but
I have myself been more particularly struck with the condi-
tion of No. 51 carriage, and the way in which that carriage
was broken up, with comparatively little injury to the
stronger carriage in front of it with which it came in con-
tact. The experience of railway accidents has amply shown
that the most perilous cases are constantly unattended with
loss of life, when, either from the strength of the carriages
or their position, the bodies of the carriages are not broken
up ; and that, on the other hand, it is when the bodies of
carriges give way, that the loss of life and serious injuries
are caused to the passengers riding in them. The poorer
classes of passengers are more liable to suffer in such cases,
for tic o reasons—first, because they ride in carriages of
weaker construction ; and secondly, because these carriages
are not well padded. It is true that carriages are built to
run upon the rails, and are not intended to come into colli-