The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-22 00:00:00

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DREADFcL COLLISION ON THE SOUTH-
EASTERN AND BRIGHTON RAIL WAY.

TWO PASSENGERS KILLED AND ONE
HUNDRED INJURED.
Yesterday the old Croydon Railway station, on the
stain line of the Brighton Railway, was the scene of one
of the most fearful collisions that probably ever occurred
OD the line since its formation.
This station, as well as the whole of the line to Reigate,
is under the management of the Brighton Railway Com-
pany,
the South-Eastern Railway Company h atvhe ingcroy.
run-
ning powers over it. On the London side
of
Croy-
don station is a kind of ballast pit, from which the
Brighton Company have been for some time running
two or three ballast trains for ballasting their line and
It has been
works at Hayward's-heath and Brighton.
the practice to employ one engine for this particular
train to Hay-
work. Yesterday morning it had taken
ato take up a
ward's-heath and returned to Croydon
second ballast train to Brighton,
a siding alongside
brought it out of the ballast-hole on
and tween 12 and 1
unhooked from the
the up-line, where the engine
mainter line
Beforeto a
trucks, and the driver ranitownasthe up.
water-pillar, for the purposehoef teatkaitniogninewauased.
the at-
so doing; the officials of t
tendant at the up semaphore signal to put up a danger
signal.
A special express excursion train to the Crystal Palace
from Dover was at the time on its route from Reigate.
Notice had previously been given to the authorities at
Croydon station of such a train being despatched in the
morning from Dover. in addition to the ordinary traffic.
It appears that a Dover excursion train had passed
Croydon in the course of the forenoon, and the officers
station concluded that it was the one of which
ofth the
eyhad been advised. It turned out that it was part
of the train that had been despatched from Dover, but
that in consequence of its being somewhat heavy, as our
informant was instructed, it was divided at Ashford.
This second portion consisted of about 25 carriages,
first, second, and third class,:with the usual breaks, &c.,
the engine being driven by one of the company's drivers
named William Simpson.
According to the regulations of the South-Eastern
Company the train's approach was telegraphed from
station to station, and the reporter was informed that
its proximity to Croydon was communicated to the au-
thorities at that station from the next station, Mers-
tham, and entered in the signal books prior to the bal-
last engine coming upon the main line to take water.
Simpson, the driver of the Dover train, states that on
arriving at the auxiliary signals, some three-quarters of
a mile below the Croydon station, he found them indi-
cating that all was right, and came on under the im-
pression that the line was clear—free from obstacles.
There is no doubt that the train was pursuing the ordi-
nary express rate, and continued it until within a short
distance of the Croydon station, when the semaphore
• danger signal came in view. The driver instantly shut
off his steam and reversed his engine, but owing to the
velocity with which the train was going, and descending
as it was an incline, the means employed to check its
progress were comparatively speaking fruitless, and it
dashed on through the station at a maximum speed and
with tremendous force. Some who witnessed its course
declare that its rate could not have been much less than
a mile a minute. From the testimony of persons not
accustomed to compute rates of speed some deduction
must doubtless be made, but that the speed was exces-
sive there can be no doubt. A signalman at the signal
post on the London side of the station, perceiving the
train's rapid approach shouted to the driver of the ballast
engine, that was taking in water, to get out of the way.
The man put on his steam, and got his engine in run-
ning trim, some 50 yards up the line when the engine
of the excursion train overtook it and came in contact
with truly terrific force. The consequence was most
appalling. The ballast engine was hurled along the
line, and the driver and stoker who remained
on it were stunned by the shock, and remained al-
most unconscious of their position until the train
had nearly reached Forest-hill, where they suc-
ceeded in bringing up. The effect upon the excur-
sion train was of that awful character which just
stops short of complete destruction. The engine re-
coiled the instant it struck. It turned round and
met as it were the train, smashing the whole of the
carriages, and throwing them on to the up and down line
in confusion. Hardly, perhaps, was ever seen such a
wreck. It is almost impossible todescribethescene which
presented itself amongst the passengers who filled the
carriages. .-Our reporter was told that there were be-
tween 300 and 400, and that few escaped some injury.
Their screams and cries were of the most piercing cha-
racter. All the aid that could be obtained in the neigh-
bourhood of the station were employed to extricate
them, but, for a time, the people seemed almost para-
lysed by the terrible scene. When the melancholy task
was set upon, it was found a most difficult work to ex-
tricate the wounded from the wreck. There were seve-
ral ladies with their families lying beneath the debris,
bleeding and insensible. Other passengers could be
descried jammed in such a position that they could not
be got out for nearly an hour. As quickly as this could
be accomplished the sufferers were conveyed to the
neighbouring taverns, where they were attended by the
Medical gentlemen of the district. Mr. Laing, M.P.,
the chairman of the Brighton Railway Company, with
Mr. Slight, the secretary, and several of the directors,
arrived shortly after the accident, as also Sir John Camp-
bell, the chairman of the South-Eastern Company ;
Captain Barlow, the superintendent ; and Mr. Weather-
head. Several of the medical profession from Guy's and
Sc. Thomas's Hospitals accompanied them, and every-
thing that was possible to be done to alleviate the suf-
ferings of the wounded passengers was rendered.
Amongst those most dangerously injured were three
first-class passengers, two second class, and one third
class—the latter, a gardener of the name of Garman,
died before he could be removed from the station. His
body was removed to the Railway Hotel. The others
were taken by special train to Guy's Hospital. Anotlier
of them, however, a clergyman, soon sunk afterwards
and expired. By the last accounts the remainder con-
tinued in a most critical state. The writer has endea-
voured to obtain a list of those injured ; but the railway
company had it seems, removed a large number of those
who had been first taken to houses in Croydon, to such
places as the sufferers or their friends resided. Indeed, al-
most every vehicle that could be found in Croydon was
employed for that purpose. The engine-driver of the ex-
cursion train and his stoker succeeded in escaping just be-
fore the collision, by jumping from the engine. These
men, together with the driver and stoker of the ballast-
; engine, were immediately afterwards taken into custody
by the police at Croydon, in accordance with the in-
' structions of Captain Byron and Captain Kemmis, two
of the county magistrates, until the result of the coro-
ner's inquest.
For nearly two hours the entire traffic of both lines
was stopped, and it was not until late last night that the
line was clear from obstruction.
From an inspection our reporter made of the wreck of
, the train, it appeared that no fewer than eight carriages
were fir the moat part smashed, including a travellin
g
saloon, one first class, and five third class. The engine
No. 135 was shattered and rendered useless.
- Information has been sent to the coroner, but no time
• as yet has been fixed for the inquest. Similar informo-
tion has been forwarded by Captain Barlow to the Rail-
way Department of the Board of Trade, for the guidance
of the Government inspector.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Another correspondent writes :
For a moment or two after the fearful and fatal shock.
. those who had witnessed it from the platform were
"panic-:stricken ; but the cries and groans proceeding from
the different carriages clearly indic tted that several per-
sons were hurt, if none were killed. The station-master
w• ithout a moment's delay sent messages both up and
d• own the line, to stop all other trains from approaching 1
near the spot, so as to avoid any further accidents, and
having obtained assistance, he commenced extricating
the inmates of the different carriages. Upon going to
. one carriage, the occupants were found thrown from
. their seats upon each other in terrible confusion ; some
were bleedine from the nose ; others were suffering from
severe wounds and contusions in different parts of their
'bodies. In another carriage a gentleman was fouud
,pressed between the timbers of the centre with his legs
„almost cut off. He was extricated, and removed to the
station, his legs actually dangling along the platform as
he was carried away.
The station-master, thinking that probably there
might be other persons in the train similarly injured,
~e , telegraphed to London for surgical aid, and at the same
, . time messengers were despatched over the town of
..., Croydon for the attendance of all the surgical assistance
1, . that could be procured there. During that time the
men employed on the line continuedat
their work in
i,. getting the passengers out, but very
.2. ; without receiving bruises'
▪ severe. or contusions, more or less
A young woman, named Caroline Harrison, was
out, but she was ao badly injured that she was unable to
stand. She was examinedy byl the medical men got
present,
poor
right
treature had received
• when it was found that the
scalp
acaciompound
' a compound fracture of the
_:. comminute_d fracture of the left legt,haingdh,
and was also internally injured, to such p wound,
it was deemed advisable to have her an extent that
Thomas's hospital, which was accordinglyrneved to St.
' she remained last evening in such a precarious done, but
condition
that little hopes can be entertained of herr
In one of the carriages was found most frightfullyovery.
jured the Rev. Mr. Wallace, the rector of Horse in.
den, in Kent. The medical gentlemen at once saw that
there was little, if any, hopes of his recovery, but the
rev, gentleman was quite sensible, and at his request he
was also sent to St. Thomas's Hospital. Mr. Ailing.
'barn, the house surgeon, attended upon him and did All
that was necessary, but he never rallied, and died in 20
minutes after his admission to the hospital. The un-
ortunate deceased - ,
was only 26 years of age, and had
'been married about six or seven weeks.
'
. From the general appearance of the rev. gentleman's
-body it seemed
that the whole of the abdomen and
pressed together by the two seats
• al chord had been
Before
spin
powerful vice. he ex
holding him as in some
p• ired he despatched by telegraphi
a message to his wife,
n the train, and request-
saying; that he had been hurt
in h her to come up to the hospital immediately. He
'therefore did not think he was so near death.
found
,
Scull was also ,
. :Another person, named Ann Saunders, •, ,
the carriages,
V* being got out of the wreck of one of
lb "ii"iimost' pitiable condition, besides various bruises
and Inter:eat injuries, she had received a compound frac-
`tiered leg. She was removed on a truck to Guy's Hospital.
The house surgeons there at once saw that the only
chance, if any, of saving her life, was to amputate the
leg, which was quickly done. She was about 40 years
of age, and is supposed to be inhabitant of Deal.
an
15 tr, A lad, named wm
.Sladden, about years of age,
'Sf aa next got out ofthe
being fearfully sufferer wa
fearfully cut. This
Guy'i Hospital.
- • Oar or two ;Mg caltsgel
'nil 10 sgitit:rod that is