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

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The usual meeting of this Board was held yester-
day, at the offices in Spring-gardens. The Presi-
dent, J. Thwaites, Esq., took the chair at 12 o'clock.

FINANCE.

The cash statement for the current week shows
a total general balance of £130,278 is. 6d.

THE CHARINF-CROSS RAILWAY.

A deputation waited upon the board from the
vestry of St. Nlartin's.in-the-Fields, for the purpose
of presenting a memorial calling on the board not to
sanction the proposed plan of the Charing-cross
Railway Company, for covering some portion of the
public way in front of the new station. The ob-
jections stated were that in anticipating the large
amount of traffic which would be created on the
opening of this line, the Legislature had expressly
defined certain limits which the company proposed
to depart from.
On the motion of Mr. DALTON the memorial was
received.
THE SEWAGE OF THE METROPOLIS.

Several tenders having been removed for taking
the sewage of the metropolis, it was, after some dis-
cussion, referred to the main drainage committee
for a report. In the meantime the papers connected
with it were ordered to be :printed for the use of
members.
THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.

A report was received from the committee ap-
pointed in this very important matter, stating,
among other matters, that with reference to a letter
received from the Commissioners of Sewers for the
City of London offering to co-operate with the board
in effecting au improvement by setting back the
houses opposite the opening of the intended new
street from Blackfriars to the Mansion House, that
the committee consider the line, as proposed by the
Commissioners of Sewers, objectionable, but that if
an improved line were substituted and an estimate
of the cost furnished, they consider the improvement
might be such as to justify their recommending the
board to give the subject their most favourable con-
sideration.
The report of the committee was adopted.
BERMONDSEY PARK. _ _

Mr. LE BRETON brought up the report of the
Streets Committee, recommending that the letter
from the Bermondsey Vestry be referred back to the
committee with instructions to negotiate for a suit-
able site, not exceeding 40 acres, for a park for the
district of Bermondsey, and to report the same to
the board. He moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. BROOKER moved as an amendment that the
erd by Mr. D'lffanger.
question be deferred for three months, which was
seconded
,_
malt discussion the amendment was negatived
were . ooker, of Woolwich;
uyi?he pray of 13 to 7.
of l4Miff and Mr. Wallis,
Itrlemen who voted against the motion
Greenwich .
anger
Mr. Healey and M.
The board, at -
September. its Mr. Richardson,
,o
of f Wmha
ri tveicehbaopneel;; As Inrd.
Mr. Silas Taylor, of 'St. Pancras.
rising,.
adjourned till the 25th

No[AßDivsku,trwstreEnxtTe
surge lay's Ointment and Pills.—
sores, fittest time to try these noble
patient feels despondent, isehakes his head, and the
eruptions ulceration, and
remedies. Inflammation,
moutptntahtnede leave behind
always be cured by
a far longer list of external tortures,
these incomparable medicaments!'
cure be not
re s the most
aways rapid it will always be co
no danger of relapse. That this
cooling, soothing, and healing powers over
table, painful, and chronic sores is an eatabtelsatitcteadot jiarrcit,
which is daily confirmed by the unsolicited
sympathisinc, patients, whom (to use their own expe
veryreeL;)fe phrase) HollOway's remedies have rescued from th
verge of death,

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEARIYNN.

KING'S LYNN, Friday Evening.

Yesterday and to-day the bodies of several of the persons
killed by the late shocking railway accident at Wootton
were interred in the cemetery here, a vast concourse of per-
sons being present at the funeral, The sufferers by the
accident were progressing favourably, and no further deaths
have occurred in addition to the six first announced.

The adjourned inquest was resumed to-day on the bodies
of John Laird, 55, builder ; Elizabeth Clark, 73, of Guanock-
terrace ; Mrs. Susan Clark, 45, of Brandon ; Mrs. Brown,
35, of London-road ; and Miss Palmer, 25, of Walpole, be-
fore Mr. Wilkin, coroner, at the Town Hall, Lynn.
Mr. R. Pitcher appeared on behalf of the family of Mr.
and Mrs. Laird. Mr. Henry Edwards, solicitor, Lynn, re-
presented the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway and Great
Eastern Railway ; Lightly Simpson, Esq. (chairman of
the company), Mr. Bond (secretary), Messrs. E. Self, E.
Durrant, and W. Shaw (directors), being present; whilst
the Great Eastern Company were represented by Mr. Sin-
clair, engineer, and Mr. Robertson, superintendent.

M. r Miller was the first witness called. ll° said—l am
manager at the Lady-bridge and Baker-lane Breweries. I
was at Hunstanton on Monday last. I proceeded there by
the noon train of the Great Eastern Railway. I left Hun-
stanton a minute or two after eight in the evening. There
had been a train just previously started—a quarter of an
hour before. I went by first class. There were three other
passengers in the carriage. Nothing occurred till we passed
the Wootton Station. We first experienced a very severe
shock. My first impression was that we had passed over
something on the rails. This was followed by a succes-
sion of shocks, then we came to a standstill. I was sitting
on the right-hand side coming to Lynn. My impression
was that the wheels were off the line, and tearing into the
earth, the carriages gradually turning over, My side
did not turn completely over. I rushed to the upper side of
the carriage and exclaimed to my friend "We shall all be
killed." The window was open, but I could not get out.
The door was not locked, but I could not get it open. There
was no further motion after the carriage first stopped. I
did not ascertain if the engine had left. I got out by the
window. My first object was to take Miss Norman of Yar-
mouth (a friend). Mr. T. Kendall, jun., had got out in
the meantime, and took her down. After this I got under-
neath the coupling irons, and then I found a carriage which
was turned flat on its side. I should think it was a third-
class carriage. I assisted in taking off part of the roof, and
saw there a lady lying on her back; she was dead. I have
since understood that it was Mrs. Brown. I went to the
spot from whence I could hear cries of distress. It was so
dark that we could distinguish nothing without lamps. I
saw more than one carriage ; one was apparently on the
top of the other, under which these bodies were. I think I
saw three dead bodies. They were under the carriages when
I saw them. My attention had never been directed to cattle
straying on the line. I did not know the cause of the acci-
dent till we reached Lynn. I should think we were going
at a speed between that of the ordinary train and the ex-
press. It was not an unusual pace. I know it was about
25 miles an hour.

Christopher Boyce—l am an engine driver. I left Hun-
stanton at 7 45. There were 14 carriages attached to my
train. Between Wootton and Lynn I saw a bullock on the
rail close by where this accident happened. I had seen it
about 30 yards before we came up to it. I shut off my
steam and whistled. It turned its head and walked
away. It was the duty of the driver of our train to give a
signal to the other train that was coming, but I had not
time to do it on this occasion, the other train following so
quick. I could not see it, but knew it was close on. I
did not report it when I got to Lynn, because I did not
see anybody. Dr. Kendall was on the engine from Hun-
stanton, and remarked to me that an animal like that on
the rail would cause an accident. It was an unusual thing
to see a bullock on the line. I had seen two before, last
Saturday week, close by the same spot. I reported that to
Mr. Kemp, the overlooker of the platelayers. I have been
in the habit of driving on that road every day four times a
day since June, and never saw but two cattle before, and
then the platelayers were driving them off. I never saw
sheep on the line. _ _ _

By the Coroner—ln the case of seeing an obstruction
on the line, I have no means of communicating with the
guard. If I see any anything wrong, I should sound my
whistle three times, and when the guard hears it it is his
duty to put on his break. On this occasion I sounded my
whistle three times. The guard did not put on his break.
I knew there was danger. I did not complain either to
or of the guard for not minding any signal. I slackened the
train, making the difference of ten miles an hour in the
speed. The bullock went to the fence just as I was going
by. He was close to the railway, head foremost. The
railing there was about 18 inches high, as near as I could
guess. There was a ditch on the other side, I should say,
six or seven feet wide, and about three feet deep. The fence
inclines towards the ditch. I reported the fact of seeing
the two bullocks on the previous occasion. I never saw
any difference made in the fence.

Thomas Marston Kendall—l am a surgeon at Lynn, I
was a passenger to Lynn on Monday night. I rode upon
the engine. After we passed Wootton Station, I saw a bul-
lock leaving the line. My attention was called to it by the
engine whistling. After I had reached my house I was
sent for, and drove up to the station, and went to the spot.
After remaining a short time to collect all the wounded we
could find, we returned with them to Lynn. When I got
back the second time I saw five dead bodies, The bodies
were very much mutilated. I did not recognise Mr. Laird
at first.

By Mr. Ward—l have travelled on the line a good deal,
but never saw bullocks on the line before.

By 11Ir. Edwards—l am surgeon to the company and to
the provident society.
By the Jury—lf the driver had reported the bullock be-
ing on the line there would not have been time to stop the
other train.

Pointon Jackson—l am an engine-driver, in the employ
of the Great Eastern Railway. I left Lynn in charge of
the 5,30 train to Hunstanton. Left Hunstanton at 8 o'clock
with the excursion train. I had 15 carriages and a break,
Ido not know the position of the carriages, it was a mixed
train. The previous train had left 15 minutes before I
started. My instructions were to stop at Mettisham and
Wolferton only. I reach Wolferton at 8,25. I did not
ascertain how recently the previous train had left. I was
running at a speed not exceeding 28 miles an hour, be-
tween Wootton and Lynn. About a mile and a half from
Wootton Station my attention was called to something
on the line, which I found was a bullock. It was in
the fourfoot, that is, the space between the lines.
He was about 40 yards from the engine when
I first saw him. I shut off the steam, and the fire.
man applied the break, and whistled to the guard. I
whistled three times; that was his signal to put on the
break. I can't say whether he did so or not, the train was
too short. I was on the bullock directly. The bullock was
right in the centre of the rails when I struck him. When
we struck the bullock it gave the engine a lift up. I felt a
jerk directly. looked back, saw carriages off the road, oa the
right side. I told the fireman to ease the break off, to allow
the engine and the remainder of the carriages to keep clear
of tho hinder ones. We next came to a stand, and I got off
the engine, and saw brokdn carriages. Three carriages
were left affixed to the engine. The third class carriage was
nearest to me of those that were off the line. That was the
first I saw. That had been affixed to a third class. The
last pair of wheels of the carriage were off the road. I
cleared the engine a little way from the train, and sent the
fireman to the guard. Mr. Platt, locomotive foreman, came
up in the time, and stepped on the engine, and we proceeded
immediately to Lynn for assistance. I returned again with
some fresh carriages, for the wounded. I went twice. After
we got back the first time I assisted to get the wounded
into the carriages, and proceeded to Lynn with them. I did
not know any of the dead. I saw five dead bodies. I have
been employed on the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway twice
or three times a week since the 3d of October last, and have
been in the employ of the Great Eastern Company 13 years.
I never had the misfortune to run over a bullock before. I
had gone over a horse between Lynn and Downham. I pro-
duce my special instructions as to what I am to do, in the
event of seeing any obstruction. It is the custom to dimi-
nish the speed of the engine and try to stop, if we see
anything on the line. I never saw a beast on the Hun-
stanton line before. I have seen one sheep on, close by
Wootton—may be a month or five weeks back. When 1
ran over the horse (which was two or three years ago) It
was dark, and I did not see it till we were on it. No acci
dent occured from that. I did not see the train in front of
me anywhere on the road. It was getting dark. There Is
a great deal of cattle kept on the marshes about that place,
more than on any ether part of the line—bullocks, sheep,
and horses. Have seen none on the line since the accident
happened.

By Mr. Edwards—Fifteen carriages are not a usual
number, five or six being all that is demanded by the
traffic. Fifteen is a proper number. The engine and
tender turned at Hunstanton, I have driven this engine
about four or five years. My lamps were both lighted. 1
went about a hundred yards after the first concussion.
The rails were slightly twisted out of gauge. They did
not:part longitudinally ;Ithey:are fastened with fish joints. I
never got off the rails before. I consider the line safe and
sound. I was perfectly sober.

RGV. W. Houghton, rector of South Wootton—l live
within about 900 yards of the railway station. The land
between Lynn and Wootton on both sides is very much
used for grazing, both sheep, bullocks, and horses. My
attention has twice been called to heifers being on the
line. Last Sunday evening was the first time. At a quar-
ter to eight on that evening I was at the crossing gate,
close by where the accident happened. I was accompanied
by my sou, and I saw a heifer on the line, close to the
place where the heifer was struck on Monday. It was
walking as if it were straying on the line. I said tc my
son, <<Very likely it this is left on it will beithe cause
of an accident," and we drove it off over the
rails close by the telegraph post into Mr. Bloomfield'a
field. 1 here were about a dozen beasts feeding in this pas.
ture. My attention was next called to cattle on the line on
the next morning after the accident. I was standing with
Mr. Richard Royston, of Wootton, between eight and nine.
He touched my arm and pointed to a heifer which had just
got over the fence. I did not see it get over, but it was
within a foot of the fence. One of the company's men
turned the heifer towards the fence and drove it oil the line,

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 atter 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 were
seven. They were standing by themselves. Tne 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 vdne 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 tin 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. Itie 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
when I have had two heifers get over. There is no fence to
keep stock off the line, only a sock dyke. I have come
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 same
accident. There is nothing but 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
30 minutes past nine. I can't tell you which were the oldest
carriages—they were all in good working 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. We have a report-book at Mr. Platt's office. At the
end of the summer season the carriages are sent to Stratford.
By the Coroner-1 keep
a book.
Witness was sent for this book.
Robert West—l am an engine-fitter and extra fireman
in the employ of the South-Eastern Railway. I was
acting as fireman to the train which left Hunstanton at
one 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 had 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 one testing the carriages. I cannot tell
whether the guard put on the break. The putting the
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—I am a farmer at Wootton. I cc-
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 one 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
I have not seen more than two myself. I
line—my stock.
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 on the right-hand side. It was
one of my bullocks. I had 18 at the field then, I cannot
say how long my farm is ; I should say 300 yards. I should
t. He said that they had begun at Ncrth
say there is no proper fence. I told a man at the Gaywocd
crossing
Woottona
aboutstation
io
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 to Kemp last Tuesday morning,
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 fist as they could. The average height was 15 ieches,
The highest fence where there is no ditch is not more than
gditch to prevent cattle getting on the line. I
five feet. Tho fence where the ditch is averages 15 inches
iu height, In my opinion the fence was wholly inadequate.
sall'hoeurled
someiitshnnokthethillaverages 3 feet.
After further evidence of an unimportant nature,
the inquiry was adjourned,