The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-08 00:00:00

il)R10E SD.

THE COLLISION ON THE GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY.

CLERKENWELL POLICE-COURT.

This court was densely crowded at noon yesterday,
in consequence of that hour having been appointed for
the examination of Richard Pardington and Joseph
Wood, the driver and stoker of the engine of the ex-
press train by which the alarming collision took place
at Hornsey on the afternoon of yesterday week.
The Great Northern Railway were represented by
Mr. Clarkson ; whilst the two prisoners were defended
by Mr. Rawlings. The principal officials of the com-
pany were also present.
The prisoners were charged with negligence, in jeopar-
dising the lives of the passengers who were travelling
with them on the day stated.
Mr. 'Williams said he could see the station signal
1,071 yards, Lo don side. The curves would not in-
terfere with the sight of the danger signal. The Lon-
don danger signal is on the opposite side of the up-line.
The semaphore means the danger signal. The two
fixed signals are both semaphores on the London side ;
the first is called the distance signal.
George Borlase Child said, he was the surgeon of the
City Police, of 11, Finsbury-place South. His atten-
tion was called to the sufferers directly after the acci-
dent. With the exception of Mrs. Harrison, they are
all doing well. Mrs. Harrison is in a most dangerous
state at present.
Edmund Couter—Was station-master at Hornsey.
Remembered the shunting of the coal truck at five
minutes to five. The tender got off the line. The
danger signals were all put up when the coal train ar-
rived. There were four signals—two up and two down
—before we shunted across the main line. Radborne
held the points as the train crossed, and put the coals
on the siding. The down siding is a short siding sta-
tion, but can shunt-. 60 trucks on the up side. Observed
the tender off the line as soon as the engine passed.
The trucks and engines were all safe, but the tender
lost a. wheel. The shunting can be effected in
two minutes. When the wheels of the tender
were seen off the line, he told Radborne to take
the red flag, and run up the line towards London,
which he did as fast rs possible ; that was before
five. Told Hickey to run down the line. He went
to the telegraph office, and cent a message to
London ;it was about a minute past five. Every other
message was stopped, because he gave S. P., which
means a special message. Near that time, as the express
came up, saw a red flag taken up and waved by a porter
close to his office. Saw several persons hold up their
hands, as denoting danger. The speed of the express
train had not been taken off when he saw it, as it came
round the curve. Saw the express train coming before
it reached the distant signal, which was about half a
mile on the London side. From that time until the col-
lision he perceived no alteration in the speed of the ex-
press train. Observed the driver shut off the steam, and
reverse the engine, when nearly opposite the door of the
station, which was 100 or 150 yards from where the
wheels were off the tender. The engine was coming at
between 30 and 40 miles an hour when the collision took
place. When a driver shuts off the steam, we see it
does not pass upward from the funnel. When the en
gine was coming round the curve, saw the steam coming
from the funnel, as it does always. He reversed the
engine opposite the door of the station, which would
have been of no use if the steam had then been shut off.
Cres,-examiaed by Mr. Rawlings—Had been in the
company's service about three years—five months as
porter, and about two years as foreman at St. Neot's ;
he then became station master at Offord, where he re-
mained five months. Then he went to Hornsey about
three months since. Had never known Hornsey station
before he was appointed master. The coal train arrived
at five minutes before five, but was due at ten minutes
past eleven. It was the duty of the porter to put up
the signals. He was at the back of the station when
the coal train arrived. Will swear that the whole of
the signals were up before the coal train arrived. If
Radborne had said otherwise he was wrong.
[The porter, Radborne, here said, both the signals
were put up before the coal train was shunted.]
Cross-examination of Mr. Couter continued -- The time
occupied in shifting and putting the signals up occupied •
about three minutes altogether. He telegraphed about
a minute past five. When the tender was off, directed
Radborne to run with a flag, but did not provide him
with fog signals. The rules enjoin that fog signals
should be put down when accidents occur. The ordinary
train is due at Hornsey at 12.36. There were 10 or 15
minutes to spare after shunting, before the express train
arrived.

Magistrate—What use is it asking questions about the
12.3 G train 1

Mr. Rawlings said he wanted to show that there were
different tables for the use of the public and the servants
of the company.
Cross-examination continued—Was on the down side
when the accident occurred, and saw the express train
before it reached the distant signal on the London side
—it might be about 20 yards. Never saw a train pass
the danger signal when it was up, although Radborne
had said it was sometimes done. [Radborne here said,
that he had seen trains pass the danger sigaals about 20
yards when the rails were slippery, but not when they
were dry.] Oannot tell the cause of the accident to the
coal train. Sent the red flag down by way of extra
precaution, according to the printed rules.
By Mr. Clarkson—lt would have consumed more

time impeded the course of the porter, -ifhehadde-
layed to put down the fog signals. Knew the time he
telegraphed by the station clock.
Mr. W. Baxter—Am clerk to the telegraph office at
King's-cross. The telegraph was at work at five o'clock
last Wednesday. Received a stop to the working by
S. P.—signifying special— which stops everything else.
Received that message at one minute past five from
Hornsey. The message was to stop the express.
Rushed out immediately to the inspector, and then re-
turned to finish the message. The express train had
gone—it was 200 yards off, too late to stop it.
Cross-examined—Keep a book, stating the time of
arrival of every message. Produced an extract, but the
book was not here. He would fetch it.

Archibald Sturrock was locomotive engineer. Knows
the distant signal between Hornsey and London. It is
ditant from the station signal 534 yards exactly. Knows
the position of the tender where the accident occurred

--it was 130 yards from the station to the point of col-
lision. The distant signal can be seen 510 yards by an
ordinary sized man standing on the plate of the engine.
That would make the point of collision 1,174 yards. An
engine-driver could bring his engine up, if he observed
the signal, before getting to the station, travelling at
express rate. He would have had more time to do so if
he had been upon the look-out when the fixed signal
was first put up ; he had time then to stop his engine
before reaching lornsey, if the rails were dry. Last
Wednesday was a fine day.
Cross-examined—Had had considerable experience,
and had driven the Queen over that part of the line.
Had often seen trains pass while the danger signal was
up ; they were put up sometimes when a passenger was
to be taken up. There is an inclined little beyond the
signal post of about 1 in 100 towards Hornsey, in that
part of the line. The number of breaks make a diffe-
rence in the stopping of a train, also the number of
guards, and whether they wera inside or out. The
guard should obey the signal of the whistle imme-
diately—three short whistles, which is known by the
guard to be an alarm signal. He appointed the drivers
and firemen. Knew the fireman of the express train—
he had been a very short time on this line ; he had
until recently been only employed in the sheds of the
company. It is of consequence to the driver to have
an experienced fireman. It is possible for a fireman not
to make a fire if an inefficient man is on the engine.
The fireman was not in a good position. He is subor-
dinate to the driver. If the fireman put coke too near
the tubes instead of the corners he would not get so
much steam. Firemen are always removed when they
do not agree with the drivers ; engine-drivers are under
penalties if behind time—sometimes lose a day's pay.
The coal truck was due in the morning ; the cause of
the accident was that the piston broke. Why the
tender was off the line was unexplained to the present
time, so far as be knew.
Re-examined—Had never received a complaint from
Paddington as to his fireman, nor any complaint from
any other person. Never knew a person so absurd as
not to throw the coke into the fireplace. The fireman was
very competent, and had been long engaged on the
London and North-Western line in the same capacity.
Great care was taken in seecting them, in order to in-
sure safety.

The telegraph book was then produced by the clerk,
who read the copy of the message.
Mr. Frederick Davis—Does not belong to the Tele-
graph Company, nor yet the Great Northern Railway
Company. Am a leather-dresser living at Luton. Was
a passenger in the express train. Before arriving at
Hornsey he saw a man with a red flag. He thought it
was rather less than a mile from the station. It was
before we got to the distant signal. The man was
waving the flag. Heard the man scream out. Ex-
pected a check in the speed when he saw the flag, but
there was none—rather an increased speed. Saw the
man as the train passed, who was between the bridge
and the milestone. It was on the London side of the
corn-field. The time when he felt the shock after he had
seen the flag was about two minutes. Did not discover
the least checking of the speed until the collision.
Cross-examined—Was sitting with his face to the en-
gine on the left-hand side cf the seat. Was quip sure
he saw the red flag before the train reached the signal.
Was quite clear that he heard a man screaming.
John Fordham—Am a grocer's assistant at Totten-
ham. Was at the Hornsey station at the time of the
accident. Saw the engine and tender of the coal trucks
get off the line. Knew Radborne. Heard the station.
master give him directions, and he in consequence went
up the line with a red flag. Saw the man out of sight.
(Great laughter.) He went past the cutting. After-
wards he saw the express train coming. The danger
signals were up before the shunting. He himself saw
th steam ascending over the hill, and therefore seized a
flag, and ran up the line and held it up as high as he
could. The driver appeared to see him, and he then
stopped. They did not appear to slacken the speed,
but there did appear to be an alteration of some kind.
The express train appeared to be coming at its usual rate.
Saw the train the moment it rounded the curve of the
cutting. When the train passed it was going very fast.