The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-22 00:00:00

against alleged rebels in arms, but against an ac-
knowledged equal political Power, could long be
maintained.

" Such are my views on the questions you have
submitted—briefly, but I hope intelligently, given.
" I have the honour to be, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"J. M. MASON.
"To William Boon, Esq., 54, Devonshire-
street, Portland-place, London."

7HE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON,
CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY.

The coroner's inquiry into the circumstances at-
tending the death of Wm. Reed, engine driver, who
was killed by the accident which happened on the
London, Chatham, and Dover line, near Teynham,
on the 13th inst., was resumed yesterday by Mr.
Hills, and a respectable jury, at the Fountain Inn,
Sittingbourne.
Mr. Keel (Freshfiald and Newman) appeared to
watch the case for the company ; Col. Yolland re-
presented the Board of Trade ; and Mr. C. J. Fox
appeared for Serg.-Major Halse, who had been in-
jured by the accident. There were also present—

Sir C. Fog; Mr. Cobb, one of the directors of the
---- - - -

company; Mr. Mills, engineer; Mr. Bishop, traffic
superintendent ; and Mr. Manley, of the company's
locomotive department.
The jury having assembled,
George Donnison said he had been guard of the
down 8.0 express train on the evening of the 13th.
He was due at Dover at 10.20. He should have
passed Sittingborne about 9.30. He passed on the
night in question at the right time. He arrived at
Tong crossing at 9.34. He proceeded safely until
he came to Tong crossing. He then felt a jerk in
the break van. In another instant he was off the
road altogether. The train remained alongside the
down line, and the engine and tender across the
road. The jerk was the only warning he had of the
accident. The engine was new, and had been run-
ning about eight or ten days. She seemed to per-
form her work properly. The train consisted of
two first and one second-class carriage and a break
van. He had another guard with him, named John
Webb. He had no time to apply the breaks. He
perceived no particular jolting of the train on that
night. The train had before run in the usual way.
The engine driver who was killed was a very com-
petent man. He had generally been employed in
driving express trains. Witness had never heard Reed
make any particular remark about the engine. He
(witness) had been in the company's service 17
months. He had perceived no difference in any-
thing connected with the train as regarded that
particular part of the line. He could give no idea
as to how the accident occurred, He did not no-
tice that any keys were out at the point where the
accident occurred.
By Col. Yolland—The train was running at
about the rate of4o miles an hoar. He left Chatham
at 11 minutes past 9. He was eight minutes late
in leaving Victoria station. He was four minutee
late at Strood. After getting out the van he found
the time 9.36.
By the Coroner—The train had not been accele-
rated at that place where the accident happened.
Steam was generallyshut off at the part in question.
By a Juryman—He did not know what had
caused the jerk. He observed a bulge in the line
at the place where he supposed the train went off
the line. He saw the bulge after the accident. It
was on the right hand going to Dover. He had not
seen any chair broken on which the rail rested.
John Webb said he had been under-guard of the
,rain, and he corroborated the evidence of the pre-

ceding witness. He thought the speed was 40 miles
an hour, and he did not think the accident had been
caused by the speed.
A Juryman said he had heard that the train
had been going at a quicker rate.
The Coroner objected to this method of conduct-
ing the inquiry. The persons who made these
statements ought to have come and given evidence
in the ordinary way. If flying rumours were ad-
mitted prejudice would be created.
A Juryman said he had heerd that complaints
had been made by passengers that the train had not
been quick enough.
T. Mapleson Green, superintendent of the Kent
County Constabulary, said he had been at the loca-
lity of the accident on the 13th, at a quarter-past 10.
Shortly after the accident he examined the line,
and found that the key and the cushion of one of
the chairs were out. He did not perceive any
bulge in the line at the point where he believed
some portion of the train had gone off. He
thought the tender had gone off first. The next
chair to the one he had mentioned had a little bit
chipped off the top. He found the fish plate all
perfect, and the nuts square and tight. The next
chair after passing the fish joint showed a mark
over which a wheel had evidently passed. The two
next chairs were more marked, and near the end of
that same rail there was a small bulge.
By Col. Yolland—He could not say whether any
of the chairs on that length of the line were broken
or not. He examined the line for 30 yards back, and
found nothicg wrong. He could not say whether
i the accident had taken place on one length of rail
or two. Some part of the train must have jumped
over the metal at the place where he found the key
out of the chair. That was his opinion.
Ralph Stoddart said he had been stoker of the
train to which the accident happened. Deceased was
engine driver. He had worked with Reed about four
months. He (Reed) was a very competent engine
driver. The engine of the train had been working
nine days, and it had been made by Sharpe and
Stewart. It was a good engine. Engines work
better when they have been used some time. She
ran true, level, and easy. She did not roll. The de-
ceased was quite satisfied with the engine. He had
never said at the Chatham station that Reed had
said he liked the engine very well, only she jumped
so. He believed they were four or five minutes late
on leaving Victoria. The train had travelled at the
usual rate of speed. It had not run to make up time.
On coming to Sittingbourne and Sheerness Junction
steam had been shut off. After passing the steam
was put on as usual. Just as they came to Tong cross-
ing, and he was about to open t':e furnace door, the
engine left the rails. She went on a little, then took
" the six foot," and after getting on the up-rails
she capsized. He could not tell why the engine
had left the line. He had not felt any jerk or jar
before the engine went off the line. He believed
the engine had first gone off.
By Col. Yolland—He did not know that in point
of quality there was any difference between the line
between Sittingbourne and Tong and the other
parts. He did not know that Reed had made any
report on that particular part of the line to the loco-
motive superintendent. When the train got off the
line he thought the speed was about 36 miles an
hour. He liked the engine better than Crampton's,
because it was more steady.
Mr. Mills, the engineer of the line, said he had
been at the scene of the accident at half-past 12 at
night. He could not say from his own observation
what had been the cause of the carriages leaving
the line. The down line on which the accident
occurred was as well laid as the up-line. Indeed
the down-line at the part in question was better
than the up-line. He travelled over the line in
question twice on therevening before the accident,
and the line seemed to be in perfect order. The
weight of the engine might be about 28 tons. The
line at Tong had been fish-jointed and properly re-
paired four months ago. They had different classes
of engines. They had Sharp and Stewaree, and
Crampton's patent, and others. He liked Sharp
and Stewart's best. If the engine-drivers saw any-
thing requiring attention they would report to their
inspectors, and they would report to him. In con-
sequence of a report he received he had given orders
to straighten the line where the accident happened.
The repairs had been completed before the accident.
By Col. Yolland—He saw that a key had been
out of one of the chairs. The chairs about the part
where the cat riages went off the line were all nearly
new. He got to the place of the accident at half-
past 12. He considered that the engine had burst
the rails—he meant the second rail. (The witness
explained his meaning by referring to two rails,
which had been laid on the table.) The bulge of
the first rail had probably been caused by the lurch-
ing of the engine. After the accident he had exa-
mined the chairs to Sittingbourne, and found them
all sound and properly fixed.
William Martley, the locomotive superintendent,
was then called, but he could not state what bad
been the cause of the accident. He knew the engine
drivers did not like Crampton's engines.
Absalom Perth, inspector of the permanent way
from Strood to Faversham, said the greater portion
of his part of the line had been properly fish-jointed
during the last six months. On the 10th, Mr.
Mills directed him to get the line straightened be-
tween Teynham and Tong, which included the part
where the accident occurred. He employed 15 men
to straighten the line, and the work had been com-
pleted before the accident. The line was in excel-
lent order. He could not form any idea of the cause
of the accident. Some engines affect the road more
than others, by oscillation. To attend to the line
there were five men for every two and a halfmiles.;
The inspectors under him had a guinea a week
they were paid for over-time, and they had two
shillings for what they did on Sundays.
Colonel Yolland said he attended by the instruc-
tions of the Board of Trade. He would not say
what had been the actual cause of the accident, but
he would say what his opinion was from the evi-
dence he had heard. He thought the evidence had
been truthfully given. He believed that both the
first and second rails spoken of by Mr. Mills had
been forced out by a beery lurch of the engine, and
probably the carriages got off atter they paused the