The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-05 00:00:00

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inquiries, but for some time it was n
a serious affair had happened. As
passengers came in, however, the news soonlipreaill
that some persons were killed and many injured,
and the public anxiety deepened; and the names of
the unfortunate people who had met a sad fate
were eagerly sought for. The injured brought in
by the train were helped and assisted in every way.
Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Laird were taken home, and
two other women were taken to the Hospital. The
other persons who had been hurt were received by
their friends. Mr. Dennis died on Tuesday morn-
ing about 3 o'clock, and Mrs. Laird lies in a very
precarious condition. Mies Palmer was on a visit
to Mr. and Mrs. Laird, and accompanied them to
Hunstan ton. Mr. Laird and Mr. Dennis were both
men of high respectability, and have numerous re-
latives and friends in Lynn who will regret their
unfortunate end. Indeed, the affair has completely
gladdened the whole town.

PRICE..... ..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

the various and extensive stores of the establish-
ment. The inspection of the Clarence-yard con-
cluded, their lordships again embarked in their
barge and visited the Royal Naval Hospital at Has-
lar. This establishment,-onoeoefsstehs accommodation
mpeordfeacttioonf
its kind in the kingdom, possesses
for 1,000 officers and men, and is supported in the
most liberal manner by Government grants, in-
cluded in the yearly Naval Estimates. One third
tor the building is appropriated as a lunatic ward,
in which at present there are about 30 officers and
70 men, seamen, and marines. The surgical and
medical wards averaged during the past six months
about 300 patients in each. The hospital, from its
extent, and also from the fact of admission within
its walls being co:,fined to officers and men serving
is never ful!, and
on
the
fullni un—
wonted pressure, such as could only occur in time
of war. During the war, in addition to the accom-
modation afforded by Haslar to our sick and
osptay in
ample he rMajesty's
accommodationNav exists for any y,
wounded invalided seamen, a portion of its wards
were set aside by special request for the recep-
tion of • sick and wounded military officers.
Pensioned seamen and marines can claim admit-
tance to the hospital in time of sickness, but are
liable to lose all or a portion of their pensions while
in hospital, at the discretion of the ruling powers, I
and for this reason very few men of this class ever
claim admission. The wards throughout the hospital
are exceedingly roomy and well ventilated, and the
surrounding grounds and gardens are of great ex-
tent. A valuable museum is attached to the hospi-
tal. After concluding their inspection of Hagar
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their lordships returned on board the Enchantress,
where in the evening they entertained a party to
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Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, G.C.8., Port
he
evening a ball will be given at the King's-rooms,
of
Somerset and other members of the Board, in aid of
School. On Friday the Duke of Somerset will hold
the usual First Lord's Levee at the Royal Naval
College.

An inquest was opened at the Ship Inn, Gaywood,
on Monday afternoon, by Mr. Thom9B Me.rtia
Wilkie, coroner, upon the -bodies of John •Laird,
Susan Clark, Elizabeth Clarke, Maria Palmer, and
Mr& Brown.

After viewing the bodies, the Coroner said he
need hardly tell the jury that any investigation of
that
the utmost possible
importance,
both as
regarded of
ded the railwayacsompany and as lat sortsr e
re-
garded the public, andtehr it i
se
tpaanreeeds tt o h
a bringt
might
t o
th e con
also of m
"uch im-
portance as regarded the relatives of the unf tu-
nate persons whose bodies they had viewed.He
c tc
w u pmr
thought it due to all parties that the investigation
should not proceed in a hurried manner, and
when nisn sr
amt
iionn o
f d swe e
no r
be laid before them the calm and dispassionate
consideration to which the importance of the
case was so much entitled. It was also due to the
friends of the deceased that their bodies should be
eide
removed as soon as possible for interment. He had,
therefore, summoned them together to-day for the
mere purpose of identifying the bodies, so that he
might issue his certificate for their removal for
burial. The inquiry would be adjourned until Fri-
day at 10 o'clock, and would then proceed de die in
diem until it was brought to a close. He need
hardly tell the jury, in a matter of this importance,
not to discuss the matter, nor to form an opinion on
it until the full facts were before them, for a certain
amount of prejudice might get into their minds
which ought not to exist, and therefore, if they
would be kind enough to refrain from the expres-
sion of any opinion he should feel obliged to them.
Mr. James Eccles then identified the body of
Mr. Laird, who, he said was in his 55th year ; Mrs.
Susan Collison identified the body of Elizabeth
Clarke, aged 73 ; Mr. Hubbard identified Mrs.
Clark, of Brandon ; Mr. Whitby, builder, identified
Mrs. Brown; Mr. J. Halfour, Wisbech, identified
Miss Palmer, who, he said, was 25 or 26 years of
age.
Tne Coroner then said that was all he proposed
to do that day. If the friends of any of the dead
would like to be represented by any legal gentleman
he would give every facility for it. It was a matter
into which a most searching inquiry should be made.
If also any friends of the deceased wished to have
witnesses examined they should have a summons
from him (the Coroner) upon application. He also
mentioned that Mr. Edwards, the
solicitor
of the
line, and some officers of
the company would meet
the jury on the spot, and that a train
would. leave
Lynn that afternoon for that purpose. The inquiry
was then adjourned.
Without in any way anticipating the evidence
which may be given at the inquest, or the disputes
which may arise, it may be said that the point which
will cause much discussion will in all probability be
the effectiveness of the fences between the fields and
the line. It is said that cattle have been found on
the line more than once before, and that when a
party of officials brought by a special train from
London visited the spot at 3 o'clock a.m. on Tues-
day morning they found horses on the line. The
fence between the line and the grazing land at the
spot where the accident happened is not much above
a foot high, and the dikes are quite dry. The
wretched animal the cause of the mischief was, as
may be supposed, cut to pieces, and its remains
were scattered about in all directions.

The Racoon, 22, screw corvette, Capt. Count
Gleichen, steamed from Portsmouth yesterday into
the steam basin of Portsmouth dockyard for dock-
ing, repairs, and refit.
Admiralty instructions were received yesterday
at Woolwich to prepare for laying down one of the
iron-cased ships, to be called the Pallas, on the
principle proposed by Mr. Reed, Chief Constructor
of the Navy. Her length between perpendiculars
will be 230 ft., and 50ft. beam. The Pallas is to be
built under the shed from which the Wolverine will
be launched on Saturday, the 29th inst.

The Fatal Accident on the Lynn and Hun.

Stanton Railway.

KING'S LYNN, Tuesday.
We now give some particulars of the shocking
accident which happened on the Lynn and Hun-
stanton Railway on Monday night, a brief mention
of which appeared in our columns of yesterday.
Hunstanton is a village and watersng place, distant
about 16 miles from Lynn. A line of railway be-
tween the two places was opened last year, and
during the present summer the line has been much
patronised by the people of Lynn and neighbouring
towns. There have been heavy excursion trains
during the entire season, the fares being sufficiently
low to attract large numbers. Monday in each
week has been a favourite excursion day for Lynn,
and on Monday last a great number of people went
by the three trains which are run between nine in
the morning and four in the afternoon. There were
also excursionists from Wisbech, and a special ex-
cursion train from Cambridge and intermediate
stations. All the excursion businees has hitherto
gone on exceedingly well, the only accidents having
been two deaths while bathing, one some few weeks
ago, and a second on Monday last. Unfortunately
the person drowned on Monday was not to be the
only life sacrificed that day. The Lynn and Wis-
bech train was to leave Hunstanton on the return
journey at 7.45, that being the hour named in the
time-tables. For convenience, however, two trains
were made up, the first starting at the time named,
and the other folio wing it in about a quarter of an
hour. The first train reached Lynn safely, passing
on its way a bullock in a dry dyke by the side of
the line. The sight of this animal in this position
suggested to a surgeon, who was in the first train,
the possibility of an accident, and he made a remark
to that effect. Unhappily, an accident did happen,
and one, too, of a most fearful and fatal nature.
The second train stopped twice on its journey, the
last stoppage being at Wolverton station, on the
Sandringham estate. Leaving the station it went
on to Wootton, which station it passed on its way
directly to Lynn. When about half a mile from
Wootton, and about two miles from Lynn, the
train came upon the bullock before mentioned.
"What occurred at that time cannot be precisely as-
certained, nor how it was that the engine and tender
and the three first carriages passed in safety. The
evidence which will be given at the inquest may
possibly throw more light upon these points. It is
supposed, however, that the fourth carriage, being
a first-class one, and so of broader make, caught the
animal's head and knocked it down on the rails.
This first-class carriage and the two next went at
once off the line, and after being dragged upwards
of 100 yards, they upset. The first-class carriage
went completely over, and lay with its wheels up-
wards, but, singular to say, its occupants—three or
four gentlemen, and one if not more ladies—es-
caped unhurt. The occupants of the next carriage
were not so fortunate. They were third •eleescar-
riages, and one of them was smashed utterly to
lost
pieces. In this carriage were some who
their lives ; but in this carriage also,
train was
many who escaped with a shaking. The thereh
whsv were
quickly pulled up, and the passengers
were made
rs
unhurt got out, and instant exertion
Sad to say,
to ascertain the extent of the damage'
and numerous
five persons were found to be killed,
severely, and at least
others wounded, four or lye
i
The engne came on to Lynn
20 others slightly.
and several medical gentle-
to procure assistance,
welch is honourable to their
men, with an alacrity
went at once to the spot. Every atten-
injured, and the dead profession, were
tion was ruins. They were found to be
paid to the.
the rul
separated from
and some of them so f •
vumber, rightfully mu-
five in
as to defy recognition for a time. The killed
tilated Laird,
were
Johnm builder, Lynn ; Mrs,
wife ofm r. Clarke,
of Brand
'Clarke, on ; a Miss
Clarke, aged i
3 of Guanock-terrace, Lynn ; Miss
Palmer, of 'Walpole, near Wisbech, aged about
25; and Mrs. Brown, wife of Mr. W. Brown,
builder and stonemason, of Lynn. Those seriously
hurt were Mrs. Laird, wife of the deceased Mr.
Laird, who received severe cont • usions on the head
Mr. Dennis, shipowner, of
Lynn, who had his
thigh broken and his ive
es otherwise injured; a
young woman named Eliza Bartle, who was so
severely wounded in the foot as to render
amputation necessary, and a woman named
Ann tickling, who was also severely in-
jured in tile ankle. A great portion of the passen-
gers walked home to Lynn but others remained until
the engine reiurncd and the train bringing the in-
jured came to Lynn. In the meanwhile it had
become known in the town that an accident had
happened to the Hunstanton train, and the agitation
of the inhabitants can be imagined better then
described. Happily, railway accidents are quite
new to this district, and the East Anglian lines,
among all their misfortunes, can claim to have been,
we think we may say, entirely free from serious
accidents. The front of the station was crowded by
persons whose relatives or friends had gone to
Hunstanton for the day and had not returned by

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

much regret to inform you that an accident oc-
curred on the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway last evening,
attended with loss of life to six passengers and serious in-
jury to others, which arose from a bullock having get on
the line. An investigation is being made into the circum-
stances.
The names of the sufferers are the following :
Deaths—Mr. Laird, of Lynn; Mrs. Palmer, of Walsken ;
Mrs. Brown, of Lynn; Miss Clarke, of Lynn; Miss Clarke,
of Brandon ; Mr. Dennis, of Lynn.
Injured—Miss Bartle, of Lynn; Miss Jickling, of Lynn;
Mrs. Laird, of Lynn; Miss Southgate, of Lynn; Mrs. Bat-
terham, of Lynn; Mrs. Cobb, of Lynn; Miss Cobb, of
Lynn; Mrs. Adams, of Lynn; Mr. Wilkin, of Lynn ; Miss
Masters, of Lynn; Mrs. Brightmore, of Lynn.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
J. B. OWEN, Secretary.
Great Eastern Railway Company, Secretary's-office,
Bishopsgate-station, London, N.E., Aug. 4.