The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-18 00:00:00

ACCIDE.VT ON THE WESTERN VALLEYS
RAILWAY.

On Monday morning an accident occurred on the
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company's
Western Valleys Railway, which, although it detained
the passenger train an hour, was not attended with
any fatal results. It appears that after the first
morning passenger train had gone up the line to
Blaina, the mineral traffic tram was on its way
to Newport. It consisted of nine Columbus trains
(so called from their enormous size) laden with coal. A
portion of the railway passes through the park of Sir
Charles Morgan, and is considered a somewhat dan-
gerous piece of road. Alterations have recently been
going forward there ; and on Mondaymorning, it appears,
the mineral train, in coming over the "Park mile," was
suddenly thrown off, when the immense quantities
of coal and the heavy carriages fell over on the
passenger line completely blocking up both lines by the
&anis. Speedy information was conveyed to the
nearest station beyond the place where the accident hap-
pened, up the line, and fortunately in time to prevent
the down par;enger tr:ain running into the wreck.
Had this collision taken place, there can be little doubt
that a frightful loss of life would have ensued,
there being a large number of holiday passengers
in the train, and the broken carriages lying near a spot
where a precipitous descent to the Ebbw river, running
through the park at a distance of perhaps GO feet below
the line, would have occasioned the train to fall and have
been smashed to atoms. The passengers were liberated at
the Rhymney junction station, and made the best of their
way bythe high road to Newport; some, however, waiting
until a train came up from Newport on the lower side
of the broken carriages, to be thus conveyed to the
Dock-street terminus. The succeeding up train dis-
charged its passengers likewise in the park, and they
then walked to the upper side of the debris, where
another train was waiting to convey them to their desti-
nation. Fortunately not a single person was injured by
the accident. It is stated that one of the wheels of the
mineral train coming off occasioned the accident.

THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday, May 17.—
The royal mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain C. M.
Chapman, sailed this afternoon with the usual mails for
the West Indies, Spanish Main, Pacific, and California,
in charge of Lieutenant Scriven, R.N., Admiralty
agent. She took out 75 passengers and a full cargo.
The Orinoco, Lieutenant Philip Hast, R.N., Commander,
with the homeward West India and Pacific mails, due
on the 16th inst., is hourly expected. The Peninsular
and Oriental Steam Navigation ship Tagus, Captain J.
Joy, departed this afternoon with the mails for Vign,
Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, 32 passengers, a
large general cargo, and specie value 30,0001., for
Lisbon, and 7,0001. for Gibraltar. The Indus, with
the heavy portion of the East India, China, and Medi-
terranean mails, is expected to reach Southampton
about Thursday or Friday next. The United States
mail steam-ship Humboldt, Captain J. D. Lines, with
dates from New York to the 7th inst., is expected off
Cowes, en route to Havre, in the course of Wednesday
or Thursday.
ROMANTIC SIIICIDE.—On Wednesday morning the
body of a young man was discovered in a small copso
near the Crystal Palace, with his head blown to pieces,
and a new rifle pistol lying by his side. Information
being given at the police station, Sergeant Sole and two
constables proceeded to the spot, and removed the body
to the bonehouse, Sydenham. An inquest was held on
Thursday, when, from the evidence, it appeared that the
deceased's name was Lawrence Cooper Mason, aged 17,
and for the last four years he had been in the employ of
Mr. Atwell, butcher, of High-street, Camberwell, and
carried on a correspondence with his young mistress,
only 14 years of age, which his master endeavoured to
put an end to, which induced him to leave his service,
and terminate his existence as described above. Two
letters, which were found on his person, were then read,
the first of which was addressed to his master, and was
as follows : " Sir,—l have been in your service upwards
of four years, and I must say I have met with every en-
couragement I have wished for until lately. I have
noticed that you did not seem -atisfied with what I have
done, which has made me answer you at times very
sharp, which you have noticed ; and, as I am to be
separated from the sole object of my affections, there is
no more comfort for me in this world ; my heart is ready
to burst with grief. In fact, my agonies at the present
time is more than I can bear, and therefore I am de-
termined to ease myself of them by taking my own life.
No doubt by the time you receive this I shall have
breathed my last. I hope you will forward my box and
all that belongs to me to my afflicted parents. I cannot
say any more, so farewell for ever." The second was
addressed to his young mistress, of which the following
is a copy :—" These few lines comes from your broken-
hearted lover, whose happiness is going never to return
again. I hope you will accept this to a last token of
of my love, and keep it in remembrance of me. I have
know left the world, never to see you more, so farewell
ifor ever. No doubt you will hear some sad news from
your father after you have received this note."—The
Jury returned a verdict of "Temporary insanity,"—
Kentish Mercury.