The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-25 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.

An accident occurred last evening-just as the clock had
struck eight on that part of the Great Western road op-
posite Kensington church, which we regret to state has
been attended with loss of life or serious injury to no
less than five persons. From inquiries made on the spot
at the moment after the occurrence by the reporter for
the district, who was immediately in attendance, it ap-
pears that at the time stated a band of brass instruments
was playing in front of the King of Prussia public-
house in Kensington High-street, within about eight or
ten doors of the cburch,when an open double-bodied low
phaeton, drawn by a grey horse, in which were a gentle.
man and lady sitting on the front seat, came along in
the direction of town, and was going down the road to-
wards Hammersmith. Tno horse being a spirited animal
was alarmed by the noise of the music., and instantly
started at lull speed down the road, when between the King
of Prussia and the church three boys abon's 12 or 11 years
of age, were knocked down and run over by the pliae..oe ;
and at the same instant, directly opposite the church,
at a most dangerous turn in the high road which
occurs there, which prevents the drivers coming up
the road from seeing the vehicles coming down the road,
the phaeton came it.to most fearful collision wi:h t ne of
Joseph faimpus's Isleworth and Hounslow omnibuses
coming to town. The shafts of the phaeton was broken
eff, and the pole of the omnibus driven with dreadful
force against the lady and g.ntleman in the p',attton,und
one of the shafts of that vehicle entered the chest of one
of the c mnibus horses. Several persons who witnessed
the accident instantly went to the assistance of the suf-
ferers, and fortunately the staion-licmie of the F division
being in Church-court, only a few yards off, Inspector
Havell and a body of police were in immediate attend-
ance, and messengers were sent for surgeons in all direc-
tions. The boys were first taken into the shop of Mn.
Morris, a chemist, nearly opposi'e the King of Prussia,
and from there to the surgery of Messrs. Merriman and
Son, in Kensington-square, while the lady leas carried
into the shop of Mr. Marshall, grocer, opposite the church,
and the gentleman to the Castle beer-shop, next door.
Mr. Join' Merriman was the first medical man in attend-
ance on the latter, and was quickly followed by Mr.
Turner, Mr. Redhand (assistant to Mr. Guaza sroni), and
afterwards by Mr. Merriman, jun., Mr. Guazzaroni, &c.
On an examination being made of the lady, it was found
that she was perfectly lifeless, although she did not ap-
pear to have sustained any serious ihjary. The gentle-
man who was carried up to the back room of the Castle
was found to have sustained a frightful injury of the
abdomen from a blow from the omnibus pole. Ile was
quite insensible, and the medical gentleman in attend-
ance informed the reporter that it was impossible that
he could long survive. The body of the lady was soon
afterwards conveyed from Mrs. Marshall's house to the
Crown Inn, adjoining the churchyard, where it awaits a
coroner's inquest. Of the three boys, one
of the name of Connor, living in Jenning's-buildings,
High-street, was found to have his leg broken, and was
promptly conveyed on the police-stretcher to St. George's
Hospital, where he now lies. The second boy, who is
named Boucher, and lives in Palace-place, high street,
was found to have sustained serious injury of the fore-
head, and also of his left arm and breast. He was con-
veyed to the same hospital in a light cart soon after-
wards. The third boy, named Simpson, who was not so
severely injured as the others, was conveyed home by
his fa her to their lodgings in Jenning's-buildings, and
attended by Mr. Guava troni. It was ascertained that
the name of the lady is Rogerson, and that the gentle-
man is a Mr. Tucksfield, of Elm- cottage, Barnes, Sur-
rey. At nearly eleven o'clock last night, when the re-
porter left, Mr. Tucksfield was still alive.