The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-12 00:00:00

more. I did not see Mr. Blott again before the
train started. Mr. Blott dd not, to the best of
my recollectioe, say that if the coal train was sighted,
I might go on. In the course of two or three minutes
after I saw Mr. Blott. I went to the driver, Tarry, and
told him that Mr. Blott had informed me the-coal train
had left Islip nearly half an hour, and thzt we could nob
go till it came in. I had hold of the hand rails of- ti e
engine, and stood on the step of the platform at the
time I was talking to Tarry. I did not get on the
engine at all. This was after Hayes had looked at the
tickets. I then walked down the platform towards the
break. I was not speaking to Tarry more than a
minute. I looked back towards the swing bridge signal
as I went aft to my break. I looked to see if the signal
was turned off. The red signal was on at the bridge.
It is my duty not to start a train while that red signal
is shown. I again went to Tarry at the engine, but did
not get on it, and asked him for its tickets, which I am
in the habit of making out for him, as he is no scholar.
The tickets are of arrival and departure, and he said he
would give them to me in the morning, and as I got
off the steps I said, "All right." He quite under-
stood me that when I said "All right," I referred to
the tickets. The red signal was then on. I walked
towards my break, and bad not been there more than a
minute or a minute and a half, when he opened his
whistle and started. I was then on the platforni, and
I immediately got into my van. I had not given any
directions for starting. I did not put on my break
till I found he was going ahead, for I did not know
whether he was or not drawing ahead to attach some-
thing to the train. I could not tell whether he had
been called on by Mr. Hayes to attach something
behind my van. It is a frequent practice to put car-
riages on behind my van. The train went on towards
the bridge. I saw the red light. I saw Hayes and a
porter coming from the hotel platform with lamps in
their hands, and I was about to ask them, as Hayes
had told me the ballast train had just come in,' why the
train had started ? and I heard him say .something
about " ballast train." I understood he meant to say
the coal train was not in, and I put on my break
and did not take it off again. This ought to have re-
tarded the train, but Tarry had put on all the steam he
could put on, I think. I also showed my red signal
from the lamp, but the train kept increasing its speed.
The driver could not increase the speed with the break
on, as the train was a light one. There were no means,
except the break being put on and the red light being
shown, to stop the train. I saw the policeman's red
light after I passed the hut, and saw the swing bridge
red signal change just before we got to the bridge. I
saw the ballast train in a coal siding on this (Oxford)
side of the bridge. I know the rule of the company
(21st rule), which states the guard must put on his break
and suddenly release it, in order to arrest the attention
of the driver, but if I had done this, I could not have
shown my signal light, which I had to show on the off
side, in consequence of the curve at that part of the line.
I also saw the coal train a mile a-head. I knew it by
the green signal. The coal train was quite a mile off
when I first saw it. I did all that could be done to stop
the driver. Time would • not have allowed me to put
on and take off the break, and had I done so the driver
would not have seen my red light or danger signal had
he looked back. I should say that a minute
and a half elapsed from my first seeing the coal
train to the accident occuring—two minutes at the
most. I was in my van at the time of the collision, I
cannot say whether I was thrown out or carried out of
the van. I never saw any one afterwards. I cannot
recollect what occurred after the collision. I do not
know what became of me. I do not know anything
that happened that night. Ido not recollect being upon
the line, and speaking to Lee. I have some slight re-
collection of being conveyed to the Oxford-road Station
by fly Or omnibus. I think there was a policeman with
me, but I do not recollect Carrier, the driver, being
there. I have some slight recollection of seeing Mr.
Blott there. I think he spoke to me, but Ido not re-
collect what it was he said. I was much injured in the
head, and my arms, thighs, and back were much bruised
and hurt, and I was rendered almost insensible. Ido
not recollect Mr. Blott asking me how the accident
occurred, nor what I said to him ; nor do I recollect
that Mr. Biott told somebody to take notice of what he
said to me, and what I said to him. Ido not recollect
whether I wished to be taken home. Ido not know
how I got home. Tarry did not make any signal, nor
shut off his steam, before the collision took place.
By the Jury—l saw the driver Tarry before he
started, and he seemed quite fit for duty. If he had
been looking ahead or behind he must have seen that
something was coming. I never knew him to start from
Oxford without the signal. I did not sound my whistle
when the train started, and I never started a train
without whistling. I should not have started the train
after the green light was put on at the swing bridge,
until I had got the signal to start. I consider the green
light at the swing bridge to signify that the line as well
as the bridge is clear. As soon as the coal train is in
the green hght is put on. The whistle of the engine is
always sounded before the engine starts. If the red
light is on the bridge, and it is not turned to green, the
driver whistles again, and the green light is put on if all
is right.
By the Coroner—l have known Tarry seven years. I
heard that on the day Tarry was killed there was a warrant
out against him for assaulting a female. His wife came to
my house on Sunday, and said she dare not go into her
house. I would not see her, and she went next door to
Inglis, the inspector of police. I did not hear Tarry say
that before he came home that night he would have a
smash. Tarry started quicker than he ever started b'--
fore. The train being as it was seven minutes late,
would not require Tarry to run at a high rate of speed.
By Mr. Thompson—l was miserable the whole of the
Monday night of the accident. I have heard Tarry say
the engine attached to the 5.30 train was a very power-
ful and great one. I have been in the company's service
nearly eight years. I received a testimonal from the
company ftir good conduct about four years ago.
By Mr. Small--I swear that I never said to Tarry—
" She's in ; it's all right, Jack, go on." I could not

have said so, as I had not seen anything come in. I shw
a man named Cumridge, a filler at Bletphley, at my house
on Saturday night. I did not, to the best of my recol-
lection, say anything to Cumridge on the subject of the
accident. I did not have any conversation with Cum-
ridge from the time of the accident till Saturday night
—not to my recollection.
By Captain Wynn—The proper signal for starting
the train is my sounding my whistle.
By the Coroner—lf a driver chooses to start, there
are no means of stopping him with a light train, if he
neglects to attend to the regulations. I swear that I
never started a train from Oxford without sounding my
guard's whistle.
By Captain Wynn—l should not, in consequence of
what Mr. Blott said to me, have started the train until
I had seen him, or Hayes, or Gynne, and obtained the
signal to start.
William Ellister examined—l am a police officer at
Bicester. I was at Oxford on Monday week last. I re-
turned by the eight o'clock goods train from the Barnsley-
road station. I went in a first carriage to Bicester, with
Kinch, whom I knew. Before we started I saw Mr.
Blott, who came into the carriage, and asked Kinch how
he came to be on the engine. Kinch said, " I beg
your pardon, sir ; I was not on the engines at all." Mr.
Blott asked him how he came to start, and what orders
he had received. He said to Mr. Biltt, " You told
me the coal train had started 25 minutes, or half an
hour, and when she came in sight I could start ;" and
Kinch added, "I saw an engine coming in, and I said
to Jack, 'She's in ; put on the whistle ; she's all right,
go on ; and I saw the green light from the signal.
Shortly after I saw the ballast engine, Fairy, and I im-
mediately put on the break, and held it till the collision
took place." Mr. Blott requested me and Cairen, the
engine driver, to notice what had been said. Kinch
seemed to be hurt very much ; but I think he knew
what he was saying. This conversation lasted five or
ten minutes. Kinch was helped into the carriage. He
complained very much of his head, but spoke rationally
enough. When I got home I made a note in my
pocket-book of the conversation that had taken place.
By the Jury.—Kinch seemed flurried. -I think he
knew what he was saying when he gave the answers I
have detailed. He went on from Bicester alone. I did
not think he required anybody to take care of him.
William Carrier, engine-driver, in the employ of the
London and North-Western Company, examined. I
brought the 4.45 passenger train from Bletchley on Mon-
day week. That train was stopped at Islip, in conse-
quence of the accident to the 5.30 up-train. After some
delay, we came on to the Oxford-road station. While I
was there Kinch came to the spot in an omnibus. I
believe I first saw him being led from an omnibus to-
wards the train. He was placed in a first-class carriage
to be taken to Bletchley. He seemed to be suffering
from the injuries he had received, and was rather low-
spirited. I rather think he knew what lie was saying.
I spoke to him, and he answered me sensibly. I heard
Mr. Blott ask this question, " Kinch, what did Mr.
Hayes say to you ?" His answer was, "I do not know
what he did say. I heard him say something, but what
it was I did not hear. Mr. Blott then said, " I told
you that you were not to start till the coal train ar-
rived, and that it had left Islip half an hour." Kinch
said, " Yes, sir, I know you did, and I had told Tarry so.
Then I saw the ballast-engine come down, and go into
the siding, and I mistook it for the coal train. I said,
There she is, Jack ; open your whistle, and go on.' A
green light was put on at the bridge, and we started.
As soon as I saw it was the Fairy ballast-engine, and
not the coal train, I put on my break and never loosened
it till the collision took place." I think Kinch knew
what he was saying. He *as cool and quite calm.
Kinch, before he got into the carriage, told me he be-
lieved that the six other drivers and stokers were
killed, and that only he was saved. This was in answer
to a question I put as to whether Tarry was dead.
William Watts, breaksman to the coal train which
came into collision with the 5.30 passenger train, was
next examined. I saw the 5.30 train approaching us, and
then put on the break and laid fast hold of the van
to save myself. Both my lamps were put out by the
collision which smashed my hand-lamp. I got a light.
I saw Kinch near his own break, standing on the line.
He had his lamp in his hand. I spoke to him. I asked
him the reason of his train meeting us and he said the
green light was turned on at the bridge, and be gave
Tarry orders to start. He was very much shaken, Cut I
believe lie knew what he was saying. I went up the line
till I met the policeman at the north end of the tunnel.
I saw Hamil again at the rear of the coal train ; lie was
standing by himself on the line, and had a red light in
his hand. I consider that Hamil knew very well what
he was about when I spoke to him. We were detained
at Bletchley waiting for the 1.15 train from Rugby.
The inquiry was adjourned till twelve o'clock to-day.

• FEMALE PROFESSOR.—Miss Pennell, niece of the
Honourable Horace Mann, of Massachusetts, has been
appointed Professor of the Latin language and literature
in Antioch College, Ohio, of which Mr. Mann is elected
President.