The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

TH4 4. Att

C.R.OYDON STATION:

'°7.°R4 he 'ADJOURNED -INQUEST.
The jury re-assenNiSd yesterday morningt 10 o'clock,
at the Town-hall, Southwark, to continue, the inquiry
into the circumstances connectel.withtimsj death of the
Rev. William Macbean f !.k ~F 1; "
Mr. Barrow, barrister-at-law, ,attended on behalf of
the relatives and friends of the deceased. Mr. Faithfull,
solicitor, represented the Brighton Company, and Mr.
Everest appsetred for !the driver and stoker of that iiteth-
pany. Mr. Clarkaon, barrister-at-law, attended tq watch
the proceedings on the part of Ate South-Easterti Cost--
pany ; and Mr. Rawlings and TttlrSl;iii•gon on behalf of
the driver and stoker of that conifsa.ny. , -
Captain Tyler (Government inspector
Od'railways) was,
again present to watch the-proceedings on the part of the
Government.
_ _ - John Haynes de used reside at Folkestone, and
Am tide-surveyor in the Oastoms. I was a passenger irei
the second portion -of;_the train from Ashford—about
four carriages from the last. I commenced timing the
train alt the 14th mile board, the' first board on the' Lon-
don side of Stoat's-nest. .The first mile was performed-
in one minute and a quarter, the second mile in one
minute, the third mile scarcely a minute. The mile
board is half a mile from the Croydon station. Ido not
think the train slackened speed until it was entering the
station, and then it did, but it was a very trifling slack-
ening,. The train entered the station as fast as it could
go almost. It had not slackened much at the time the
collision took place.
By Captain Tyler—My watch had a second hand.
By Mr. Rawlings—I got-Into the train at the Folke-
stone station. We were detained at Ashford for a long
time. Up to the time I took out my watch there was
no reason to complain of the speed. I believe there is a
descending gradient from Stoat's-nest to Croydon.
Stephen Walters said—Very soon after-passing Stoat's-
nest station I found the train was going very fast, much
faster than I had been accustomed to travel. I thought
we were going at forty or fifty miles an hour, at the
least, and I was alarmed at the pace. On passing the
station-house, I noticed that we passed at a very great
rate. We did not pass the station-house so, quickly as
we had been running just before, but my impression is
that we were not very much reduced in speed.
By Mr. Rawlings : I had travelled in an excursion,
train a fortnight before. I believe excursion trains usu-
ally run at about 20 or 25 miles an hour.
W. Parker deposed : I am station-master at Croydon.
I seas sitting down at dinner when I heard a sharp whis-
tle. That was about a minute or two before one o'clock.
By Mr. Barrow : The South-Eastern Company have
nothing to do with the Croydon station. When lam
absent the head porter takes charge of the station, His
name is John Deacon.
By Mr. Clarkson—The telegraph is used for registering
messages, but not used for railway purposes. If I has
known the-train was coming I should not have left the
platform.... If I had known the contents of the tele-
graphic message from Stoat's-nest, I should have exer-
cised my judgment. I should not have turned the
distance signal to danger, because I consider the other
signal sufficient.
Henry Chapman deposed—l am fourteen years of
ago. I act as telegraph clerk at Stoat's-nest station.
1 produce the book in which the entries are made.
On Monday, the 21st of August, there is an entry
relating to an excursion--tresin-from Dover. It is a
signal from Merstham at 11.56, and shows that it arrived
at Stoat's-nest at 12.2. That is the first train. The
entry of the second train is, left Merstham at 12.47,
left Stoat's-nest at 12.54. These telegraphs were
both sent on to Croydon. The first was signalled
on to Croydon at 12.2. There was an answer back
at 12.7, signalling the train in. I had received the un-
derstand signal before that. I signalled the second train
on to Croydon at 12.54, and got the understand signal
back.
Thomas Steadman deposed—l recollect the ballast
engine taking in water on the line. The signal at the
Addiscombe-bridge-road was up at the time. The north
signal was up also. The driver had received the signal
to take in water. Whilst doing so we heard the train
coming. I told the driver to move, and he did So
directly he could put the steam on.
By Mr. Faithfull—The semaphore signal is a sufficient
protection for any train within the station. A Dover
train was stopped by that signal on Saturday.
James Chinnar deposed—l am a signal-man at the
Addiscombe-bridge signal. The danger signal was up
at the Addiscombe point. The distance signal was off.
On seeing the train, I rang my bell to give notice at the
north end of the station that the train was coming.
When the train pissed me it was going at 35 miles an
hour. I cannot say whether the engine man was slack-
ening or attempting to stop. I think the train was
going at 40 miles an hour when it passed the distance
signal.
The Coroner here inquired of the professional gentle-
men what course they proposed to pursue.
Mr. Barrow said the parties for whom he appeared
were desirous that the matter should be thoroughly in-
vestigated ; and they considered that one of the causes
of the accident was the dividing of the train, and send-
ing the half of it on unexpectedly. He should like to
put some questions to the authorities of the South-Eas-
tern Company for the purpose of ascertaining by whose
direction that division took place, and generally how it
happened that a train was sent from any station down
the line so large that the only chance of its arriving at
its destination was by dividing it.
The Coroner—Do you propose that I should call wit-
nesses for you to examine ?—Mr. Barrow : Yes, I should
like to have the opportunity of putting some questions
to Capt. Barlow or Mr. Brown.
Atter a short adjournment,
Mr. Barrow said he wished now to ask Capt. Barlow
a few questions.
The witness having been sworn, deposed —I am gene-
ral manager of the South-Eastern line. The arrange-
ments for the excursion train came under my supervi-
sion. The tickets were to be issued in the course of the
preceding week by the different station clerks along the
line. It was to take passengers up the line as far as the
Tunbridge station. I don't know that any returns had
been made as to the number of tickets that had been
issued. Mr. Brown, I presume, gave directions as to the
number of carriages. I did not contemplate the sending
off of so many as fifty carriages. Brown was sent to take
the management of the train. My impression is that it
ought to have been divided. I should not like to see
more than 30 carriages in a train. Orders were given
for one train only. The telegraph was brought into ope-
ration to give notice of the approach of- the train. The
orders fur the excursion train were given in writing.
By Capt. Tyler—Every portion of our line is worked
by the electric telegraph. Our arrangements are that no
train is to be allowed to leave a station until a signal has
been received from the one in succession that the station
is clear, All trains are telegraphed from one station to
another. That system is found to answer perfectly.
Our servants are supplied with the regulations of both
companies. I believe there is a material difference in
some parts of the regulatiOns.
By Mr. Rawlings—The distance signal is a signal
to repeat the condition of the signals at the station ;
that is to say, that if the signals at the station are
at danger, the distance signal should also be at
danger. After passing the distance signal, the
driver ought to look to the station signal. I should
call this an extra train. Our rule is that if an extra
train is to be sent up the line, a red board is to be placed
on the train. It is not usual to place a red board on
on any intermediate trains. One of our station-masters
on receiving notice of an extra train would give notice
to the switchman. In one of our stations a telegraphic
notice would be communicated to the switchman. I
can't tell what may be done by the Brighton Company
at the Croydon'station. Every precaution was taken to
insure the safety of the train.
By Mr. Barrow—l don't think any engine driver
would approach the Croydon station at sixty miles an
hour.
By Mr. Rawlings—The express trains come into the
station at 48 miles an hour.

By Mr. Barrow—The 24th rule does not apply to
special trains, but to those which stop at stations. It
provides that the engines must approach all stations
cautiously, and so as to be able to stop if required, and
without the assistance of the guard's break.'
By the Coroner—At 40 miles an hour a train could bo
pulled up in 933 yards, supposing the rails to be in good
order and tha breaks to aot.

By Captain Tyler—That is not with the engine re-
versed. At 35 miles an hour the train would be pulled
up in 729 yards; at 30 miles an hour, in 546 yards.
By Mr. Faithfull—The 24th rule applies to all trains
stopping at a station. If the driver had seen the
ayshemae-
phore signal when it first became visible, he might
opnullfeodot at a
up the
dtriastinanienetimof 1,
time.
yawavidtsr
huStatiutrdayewohmeen.
times rendered indistinct by the shining of the was
sun on
Norwood-hill.
haveha d been
exhibited, I do not think t
By Mr. Clarkson —lf thehe
adeisetiadneneet
scirmaldl
•that
is
the greatest injusticecan be
signals all wrong,
hap-
pened. The placing that signal all right, and the station
done to a driver. „
canis.,4_l3ay how long Simpson has
been driving on
By the Jury —I
line, but the superintendent says he
has been so employed for six years.
George W. Brown deposed—l am superintendent of
the South-Eastern Railway. The arrangements for the
excursion train passed through my hands. On the Mon-
day morning after the train left Dover, I got a, return by
telegraph of the number of passengers from that station.
It is impracticable in the case of excursion trains to
limit the number of passengers. If we have thirty car.
riages filled at Dover, I think we ought not to carry any
more by that train.
By Mr. Rawlings—l agree with Captain Barlow as
to the construction which he has put upon the 24th rule,
I have made a preliminary inspection of the signals. I
think, if properly worked, the signals at the Croydon
station are efficient. I do not think the south semaphore
very efficient. On Saturday I could see the signal post
350 yards before I could distinctly recognise the signals,
which I found at danger. I sighted the post 1,100 yards
from it. I sighted the signal at a distance of between
700 and 800 yards. The object of an auxiliary signal is
to direct the special attention of the driver to the next
signal. I think if the distance signal had been exhibited
on this occasion, it would have been sufficient to have
enabled the driver to pull up. The ordinary speed of an
excursion train is about forty miles an hour. I should
say it is subversive of good management to allow a bal-
last engine to remain on the main line when an excur-
sion train is expected, without proper signals. In my
opinion the distance signal ought to have been up.
By Mr. Clarkson—The handle of the semaphore signal
is fivo or six yards from that of the distance signal,ha
and the switchman might have set it in time if he had
seen the train 300 yards before it reached the distance
signal.
groPb. We' gaTe 11,, notice to the Brighton CoIAPP,DY,
By Mr. Faithful—Me work our line by electric tel_e•

Ating that a special train would pass the Croydon sta•
bn at 11.35 a.m., and return at 7.20 p.ra. We did not
:ceive a telegraphic notice in London from Ashford,
,ating that the train had been divided. We telegraphed
Pluokley and every station in streceesiemr-1,,,«.,a:-L__..

ithout attaching one to any intermediate trains.- If 1
d seen a red=lciaid ittaOred to each of teftritta*. I
_i. k. ,
have known speciat trains to folio:if three hours after
t e notice signified by the-red -board. The time for the
ii,
tt leagtrapahh ra-i
grtied"hrbo9aurdgllio Ithecoufi6ri:it;ZEriiit-eo7B:lltreaintitliinnt,
s ould have suppo‘ed•therer were fonr iitureirairtreo.. .5„
4cursion train-,teelse at the Crystal Palace yap twelve.
It was half-past twelve when the second 4)ertion of the
ttain reached Realain:—Drivithr are natilh the habit of ,
eking. tip time on-the•South-Eastern-line:•• • ' - =-4- b
Mr.- Burgen • said). -after -the additional evidence tvifiiitt'r.
-• d been adduced, he did not think it necessary to Gall
aoy witnesses on the:pelt of lois-client-4y . c-:•_:,)
1
The Coroner then read over the evidence, and after. ,
..wards- briefly .addfes:seil" the jury, pointing out the:, ea"•a•-.
trial•noints -for their 'consideration. -• The • main ques-
tion was the immediate cause of death, and whether any
renmotopterecaseunste,
:aepersopenndelxd'aos rentshpeodnisriebcletoforsratnhdatodtheaetrhp;ertshoL
arid could not be the subject of criminal prosecution.
iTt hwe
aqsufeosrt intohe
mw ats entirely o
liay
whether-in th the hathe is
d- ell:
iv
eo
rf toh jury,
any
other
party was responsible for the fatal occurrence.
i The jury retired at half-past four to consider thair vet.
diet, and about an hour afterwards the foreman entered
the court and inquired if it was necessary that they
should be unanimous:: The Coroner replied that the ver-
dict of twelve would be sufficient. The foreman again
retired, and a further consultation took place amongst
the jury.
At half-past six the Coroner requested their presence
in court, and on their arrival, •
ifTenigonorroeaummeraoisiefuatstrlti.B7,:irWeioe are' sorry :we have not yet
gd(Vlseo
beenable to come to a decision, but there is a differenc,
ithae weightstrdbg ba.Ofa
jeo.vriidteyncein,,,
,i..- -e
vOur
be
rcition case before the publicLthinl
,k it would be
. t ,- ,
The jury a ai
n •. g . retired, and returned into court a few .
minutes before seven, when
I The Foreman said-The Jury-hate -d-t verdict
Web o a
of manslaughterngainst th engine-driver,
think that the signals At the .c but they do
.station are con. -
tradictory, and likely to
,mislead; danad.
their opinion also, that nntrain ought - - they give
It
"
to run on any line
Without previous notice:JO-iv'
mgbeen, -given to all the
Stations through. i ' - '•-
! -A verdict of manslaughter against- -Robdergira son
was then recorded, and the witnesses were bound Power
to appear and give evidence. ,

LITERATURE.: '

bait
• IT

The Village Milliouriaire. By Miss Lamont, anther
of the "Fortunes of Women." 3 vols. Hun*
• and Blackett.
A great deal of knowledge is displayed in these
volumes, and some reflections and remarks are
made in which judgment and thought are apparent.
The deep interest-of the-story-does not, however„
turn •upon the fortunes of- the ihero, us. the Mil-
liennaire undoubtedly is. —Hardy was a practical
character in the fullest sense of the_word. ; he was
possessed of no enthusiasm except intusiness, and
he yielded to no temptations that were not con-
ducive to his worldly,interests. He gave up rela-
tions and friends for the advancement of his plans,
and love, as may be easily supposed, was not suf-
fered to interfere with the realisation, of his golden
dreams. The way in which he neglected Harriet
Aveley, and deserted Eugenia Fanshawe, was no
favourable view of his principles or feelings ; yet
he had not an unkind or selfish disposition
naturally, but he was warped and perverted by the
love of gain. Altogether, with his harsh rules,
and cold, systematic actions, he is willingly and
gladly left to his dearly-loved labour, while we
pass on to the quiet and secluded cottage where
Harriet Aveley resided. Again, after many trials,
we follow her across the seas to seek out her un-
known uncle in the plains of India. This com-
plete change of scenes forms a striking feature in
the narrative. From the busy mercantile city, the
lonely and peaceful village, the reader is tran-
sported to the varying and eventful careers of the
gorgeous East. Into the midst of the storms of
war the unfortunate heroine was hurried, and de-
tained a close prisoner in a lonely fortress to gra-
tify revenge. Colonel Aveley, her uncle, was a
true and faithful friend to her ; he was a bright
and shining specimen of his order—frank, gene-
rous, and high spirited.
Harriet was not destined long to reap the ad-
vantages of his protection. After a long life of
glory and honour, her beloved uncle was sum-
moned away. A stormy action took place, in
which many of the English were killed—victory
was declared for them. Colonel Aveley did not
depart with those who " looked proudly to Heaven
from the deathbed of fame," but on that field he
received a fatal wound.
Angus Gordon was the means of prolonging his
life, although he could not preserve it eventually.
This brave and energetic youth, whose career and
conduct attracts far more interest and sympathy
than appertains to the real hero, was only a soldier
in the army. He had been a clerk in the house of
business in Liverpool, in which Benjamin Hardy
had entered at the outset of his profession. Dis-
taste for his work induced him to enter the army
on foreign service, but this was uncongenial to his
tastes. Wherever he was, however, he always did
his duty in the highest sense of the expression, and
the same spirit of self-sacrifice and heroism that
induced him to resign a lucrative offer in business
when another had a better claim to it, urged him
through the thickest of the fight to the relief of his
chief in danger, as may be supposed after so signal
a service. Colonel Aveley was anxious to serve
him in every possible way, and when a short time
afterwards Angus Gordon was the means of leading
on his commander to the fortress in which Harriet
was immured, all sides were eager in his cause. It
was agreed to procure him a commission ; but here
was another instance for the manifestation of
Cordon's rectitude and honour. Some time elapsed
before a change could be effected in his position,
howd
fii 1
ssicit
coaoolull
no,t 1
as
treaaelunl
eAttahvsoaeertdiiteteyfi
tire,
osdimanlni
taat
hd.ile
shtAeoorsmvbrai
eec
aew;cho
hnebreseeu was
lh.l u
iti es
ad
niece
ii.
h.
ned ugd during
which, released from all service, he was the guest
of Colonel Aveley, in the home where his niece was
enthusiastic Gordon was captivated by the sim-
plicity and yet superiority of Harriet Aveley, while
in her turn she appreciated so welcome a contrast
to the calculating and cautious Benjamin Hardy,
the companion of her early years. Colonel Aveley,
anxious to arrange all matters prior to his decease,
spoke to both, and begged that he might see them
united before he took farewell. Here was an un-
expected trial for Gordon. He had during his
solitude and calm minutes lately, so refreshing
after the tumult of his life in the camp, been-re-
flecting deeply, and the result of all his medita-
tions was that he did not feel fitted for the vocation
of wreeldier. He did not wish for the prosecution
of-war, 'Ad especially as affairs then were in India.
Mist4k4 as many of his views were, and strange as
his reamy plans might appear to many, none could
refuse respect to his motives, or fail to• reverence
his resolution in what he thought right. He left ,
the sunny prospects held out to him, he put'
the bright and the beautiful from his path, and I
turned away to find new employment in a stranga- .7
land. It was long before ithey met again Angus'. -
and Harriet. Time, however, which softened her
quiet for her uncle's,memory, and enabled him to
procure a peacefureniployment in the east, at last
re-united them- Harriet had returned to the vil-
herdy had also worked out
'age of her youth, and thither was followed by
Gordon. Their marriage was celebrated in that
hadt Benjaminattained, he
utinedilatiorethane vdilla, thege
serene spot.
HI
life
fee
at
earmeti
objectl nlissofiohni;
which he had left twelve years before
to seek the
road to'riches.
T-

om. Thornton • . : ~) v;16:
This is a story of a -------
1; niela"-LttehTly" 'and:
romantic nature, tracing the fortunes and struggles'
of its hero throng. h a brief and. cheuerk.
Blackwood. ' or'
Last
Res""4'.
" :-
_He is wandering in the b
encounters an old gentleman
h ''''
'
la-Chaise eautiful
cemetery
career.'n,,
fallsotuf
provesn i
the:
tyi nof
instantlyPere-.-
contemplatinggentlen and
cemheteari: the opportune illness
a tomb. He
affordser
was a
veryhim aapnr r
oopprpi
:so
to
acquaintance. The sequel
scene for their
is wholly first meeting. Toni Thornton
offendsdependent on his aunt, whom he mor-
tallyin byhis elopement with Blanche, the
young lady question.ed They take up their abode
in France, and
but a complicationn eefa
untoward
wto a
rsdu themselvespciproerutmsth no ;
im-
pedes their efforts. The hero is arrested for debt,
and the heroine, overcome hy care and anxiety,
die 3 about a year after her marriage. There are
many minor scenes and incidents connected with
the story, which is told in rather a confused.
manner. A friend of the hero finds him in miser-
able lodgings in a French town, and asks his
of
fhleoalvtde mating
a
history, which he gives to him in the form of a
journal. He dies soon after his wife, leaving their
infant daughter to the guardianship of his friend,
who conveys her to the inexorable aunt, who re-
lents and repents, and takes charge of her. The
hero and heroine not being remarkable for
pru-
dence, it is not perhaps surprising that th •
re-
sources should be so soon exhausted. The
their
The moral
of the book is certainly against young people eloping
and offending their relatives. Many may be
much
interested in the development of the plot, which is
the style
certainly
agreeable le and clear in its construction, and
M

_ATCH AGAINST TIILE.--John Levett, the pedestrian,
says the Liverpool Albion, has been backed by two
Lirerroort sporthrwmen ter run eleven miles in one hour
on one Say, -and twenty miles in two 110Ulls 011 tille
lairinit for 1001,1taficliiiitk natolw
_