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

and it walked over the fence. I think the fence separating
Mr. Bloomfield's land from the railway is perfectly inade-
quate to keep bullocks off the line. I measured the ditch
on the other side of the fence, and it was above 11 feet
wide, 2 feet 6 inches deep, solid ground at the bottom,
shelving sides, and the rail above was less than 11 inches in
height. It scarcely inclined to the ditch, very small in-
deed. The fence has been in that state ever since it was
put up, but the ditch is now dry. I have seen water in the
ditch. If the ditch was full of water, I don't think the
cattle would go in. If they did they would slip down the
shelving banks in trying to get out. I have been present
when other persons complained of the fence. Mr. Bloom-
' field, my son, Mr. R..Royston, and others. I was at Woot-
ton Station when this train passed. I observed that it
passed at a very rapid rate. I asked the station-master
what rate. He said, " About forty miles an hour." In
my, judgment it was full that pace. I saw the previous
train pass, not more than eight minutes at the outside. It
stopped at the station, and I saw it after it had left, opposite
the ballast pit. It was thirty-five seconds from the station.
I went to the spot after the accident on Monday night. I
got there about twenty minutes after the last train had
passed the station. The engine was on the line, with
the tender and three carriages following, and on the North
Wootton side of the carriages there were the remaining
carriages that had not left the line. I think there wore
seven. They were standing by themselves. The one
nearest Lynn was an open third class. The first carriage
nearest Lynn of those off the line was a first-class carriage;
it was standing on its wheels. The North Wootton end of
it was jammed into the next carriage, I believe a second
class, which was standing on its wheels. The next was a
second or third, I don't know which, on its side, the roof
inclined towards the field, shored up underneath by a
sleeper. Through a hole which had been broke in the roof
I saw the dead body of a young woman. I saw the dead
bodies of these five unhappy persons. I was present, ready
to give any assistance. I gave wine to the wounded I saw.
I noticed that the fragments of one of the carriages were
very rotten.
By Mr Pitcher—The wooden portion of the fence, which
was about eleven inches, was not broken. It is at the
edge of the potato ground. It is higher by the side of the
potato ground. Itis three feet five inches from the bottom
of the ditch to the top of the fence.
Robert Shears—l live at Laywood. I farm pasture
land on the line under Charles Bagge, about half a mile
from the Laywood gate. My land runs about two fur-
longs down the line that way. The company put up a
fence for me about 41 feet high, as near as I can tell. I
complained to the men that work on the line of the lambs
getting through. I have complained of the other part
kwoheepns
tIo he
ka voeffh a two
o ,
onlyheifers get
a
dyke.There shnnov foe nooc emt
o
plained to Mr. Kemp, one of the inspectors ; it was at the
Middleton station. No steps were taken to provide
fences. This is about 200 yards from the Laywood gate-
house. I should think this was about two months ago. I
saw the man at the gatehouse put one off himself. I think
that was the second thus got off. I have seen him put lambs
off several times, and have told him there would be swne
accident. There is nothing bat the sock dyke, which is dry
at places, and there is nothing to keep the stock off. Mr.
Kemp promised to.
By Mr. Edwards—The depth of the ditch is from 31 to 4
feet. The banks are not steep. The ditch is 7 feet wide.
The dyke is not fully dry—there is mud. There has not
been a foot of water there for two months.
Thomas Wakefield--I am a carriage and waggon ex-
aminer for the Great Eastern Railway Company. lam
stationed at Lynn. I examined the excursion train from
Lynn before it left. There were fourteen carriages when
we left Lynn in the morning. I was in Lynn yard when
the accident happened. I went to the spot at about 20 to
carriages
—es
tpnaosyt nine.were all in good
Ican'ttell ywouorwkihnigch were the oldest
order, fit to do
any amount of business. .

By Mr. Edwards—l have fulfilled the duty of examiner
of carriages for 14 years. I had time to make the examina-
tion.
tll,e'e Coroner
—repl keep a book.ert-booleatr. Platt's office. At the
end of the summer season the carriages are sent to Stratford.
By the
Witness was sent for this book.
Robert West—l am an engine-fitter and extra fireman
in the employ of the South-Eastern ltailway. I was
acting as fireman to the train which left Hunstanton at
ono minute past eight. We stopped at Smetham and
Wolferton only. I heard the whistle. I was with Jack-
son. I saw the bullock. I saw the bullock just as soon
as him. He whistled. Jackson said, "Hold hard, mate;
put the break on." I did so. Just as I was putting it on
I felt the engine give a jump. I only felt it once. I put
the break on, and after the speed bad been slackened we
stopped. I can't say to a second how long it was before
we stopped. The bullock was between 30 and 40 yards off
when we first saw it. After we stopped, Jackson said, "Is
our engine all right ?" We got off, and proceeded to the
wreck, and looked at the carriages off the line, but did not
see the bullock. We saw carriages off. I saw a dead body,
which I was told was Miss Palmer, by a gentleman named
Dennis. It was near the carriage with its wheels upwards.
By Mr. Ward—l assisted Jackson in testing the engine.
I did not see any ono testing the carriages. I cannot tell
whether the guard put on the break. The peutlnaitniinnetgeu.hrteehl:ei
break on gently would not cause the carriages to jump up.
By Mr. Edwards—Have been in the company's service
six years. We were not going more than 28 miles an hour.
I did not feel a jerk behind.
Mr. E. Bloomfield—l am a farmer at Wootton. I oc-
cupy land which is severed by the railway; about 32 acres.
It is all pasture. I have occupied it four or five years. I
have always fed it. The greatest quantity I have had on
has been 19 bullocks at any ono time—sometimes 300 sheep.
In July last, I think the 20th and 28th, I saw five men on
the line putting earth under the sleepers. I made a com-
munication to them in consequence of stock being on the
line—tay stock. I have not seen more than two myself. I
should think I have seen them seven or eight times. I have
seen them repeatedly—about five times in July—and drove
them off. I saw one heifer on the line about 10 minutes
before the train. I saw Mr. Hammond's shepherd drive it
off. I went over the fence
sad t otsnhtaohetn,idsay 300 yards. emtr
egly a
sh right-hand
Tuesday d-haanbdegs
begun
i dn ein
I to
should
morning,
coi
nurgtlwasi,
p
one of my bullocks. I had 18 at the field then. I cannot
I h
say how long my farm is ;
csraoysstihnegreaibsonuot
it. lie proper fence. I told a man at the Gaywocd
Wootton station to repair it, and make a new fence with
wire. They have not put any wire fencing near my land.
I have not seen anybody else's stock on the line. I did not
write to the line. I spoke o K
after the accident. I did not see any that morning. I
asked Mr. Kemp about it, and he said that the workpeople
had written to him, and he was getting on with the fence
as fast as they could. The average height was 15 inches,
The highest fence where there is no ditch is not more than
five feet. The fence where the ditch is averagesth 15
in height. In my opinion the fence was wholly inadequate.
There is nothing to prevent cattle getting on
should think the ditch averages 3 feet.
After some further evidence of an unimportant
the inquiry was adjourned.