The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-09 00:00:00

COLLISION ON THE BLACK WALL
RAILWAY.

A collision of an alarming character took place on
the Blackway Railway on Wednesday evening, which
occasioned serious, if not fatal injuries, to many pas-
sengers. At five minutes to five on the evening in
question a train, consisting of seven carriages, drawn
by a locomotive (the old systen of traction by rope being
abandoned), left the 1311ek wall terrn;nus for London.
Having called at two or three intermediate stations, it
reached that at Stepney at about six minutes past
five. At this pint the newly-formed junction to 13ow
leaves the main line, and the passengers for the
breech have to change carriages at this station. On
the train from Blackwall coining up, that from Bow
had nut arrived. A delay of two or three minutes
occurred, when the beating of an engine—attached,
as it was afterwards ascertained, to two goods' trucks,
and proceeding from the Poplar luggage depot to
the London warehouses—was heard coming up on the
same line of rails on which the stationary train
was standing. From is " beat" it was apparent
that its rate was rapid, and it was soon evident
that a collision must inevitably ensue. A red signal
hand-lamp stood at the end of the platform behind
the passenger train, and although a more perfect
signal might be adopted, yet it is affirmed the light
could he seen 200 or 300 yards down the line, a
distance quite sufficient to bring an engine to a halt,
as great care was enjoined to be observed on passing
the junction, more especially when a train was known
to be only a short distance ahead. As before men-
tioned, however, the goods' engine came on with but
triflingly reduced speed, and with fearful force dashed
into the hind carriage of the train for London. The
shock is described to have been terrific, and the resi-
dents near the line state that it resembled the firing
of a large piece of ordnance. The last carriage, a
second class, in which unhappily were several pas-
sengers, was smashed to an alarming extent. The
next, and second and third, suffered almost as much,
and the third from the rear was also crushed in,
while the violence of the concussion had a powerful
effect over the other portion of the train. Pro-
bably the force of the collision may be
conceived, when it is stated that the coupling
which held the engine in front of the train was
severed, and the ponderous machine forced some forty
or fifty yards along tl.e rails, while the chimney of the
roods engine was knocked off and otherwise crushed.
'file position of the passengers in the carriages in the
rear, more especially in the last one, with the hissing
locomotive almost on the top of them, was most pain-
U. The fragments of the crushed timber had fallen
upon them, and their cries excited much commisera-
tion. It is scarcely necessary to mention that those
who could escape from the train, precipiaately did eo,
and, with the guards and officers of the station,
rendered immediate aid in rescuing the sufferers from
the debris of the damaged carriages, which completely
blocked up the up line. No fewer than eight were
found to be seriously injured. Three men, who are
represented to have been in the last carriage, were
much hurt. James Dewster, of 6, Lawrencee
Pountney-lane, Cannon-street, had his collar-bon-
fractured, two ribs on the left side broken, and
was greatly bruised about different parts of the
body. James Gadd, of Raven-row, Mile-end-
road, had a severe cut over his left eye, and was seri-
ously bruised about the body. J. Bristowe, an engineer,
seas also cut and bruised. These unfortunate persons
were removed in flys to the surgery of Mr. Taynton,
of the Commercial road, and, their injuries being
dressed, they were removed to their respective dwell-
ings. Probably, however, the most severe injury
.vas sustained by a young lady named Hill, residing
in Copenhagen-place, Limehouse. She was in the
first-class, and going up to town with a Spanish gen-
tleman of the name of Hilliott, of Great Portland-
street, who had been visiting her parents in the course
of the afternoon. They were seated on each side of
the carriage, and the shock of the collision threw them
against each other, when the rim of the gentleman's
hat struck the young lady on the upper part of her
face, and nearly cut her right eye out. When ex-
tricated blood was flowing copiously from the
severe gash. She was otherwise much bruised, and
in an afflicting condition was taken to Mr. Gill's,
surgeon, White Horse-street, near the station, who
had her immediately removed to her own
residence. At present her sight is gone, the in-
jury of the right eye having affected the vision of
tire other. Mr. Hilliott was also so much injured as
to render his continuing at Mr. Gill's for the night
prudent. Another sufferer, named Harry Newton, in
the tidewaiter's office at the Customs, was seriously
injured about the chest and legs, and the poor man,
wishing to be taken home, was at once conveyed to
his residence near Bermondsey church. We are given
to understand, however, that the above do not include
all that were injured, as there were several who at
once proceeded to their homes without seeking the
aid of the company's officers. As quickly as practi-
cable after the collision the usual precautions were
adopted in respect to the approach of both up and
down trains. Some of the directors, with Mr. Ken-
net, the secretary, promptly visited the scene of the
deplorable event, and proceeded to institute an in-
quiry into the cause. We have not the means of
knowing what testimonials are required by the com-
pany in the engagement of engine drivers, but we have
it from credible authority that the man who was act-
ing as driver to the goods' engine had not the ordinary
qualifications for the office; and, to illustrate his
incompetency, we may mention that, after the colli-
sion, he absolutely went on to the up line of the
junction at the time of the Bow train coming up, and
if the driver of the later hai not fortunately per-
ceived the engine light, another and more disastrous
accident might have happened. The delay of the
Bow train was a most providential circumstance, for
it it had arrived at its proper time the passengers
would have been crossing the line—for they had to do
so over the permanent way—to the London train at
the moment of the goods' engine coming up, and the
probability is they would have been cut to pieces.
Another miraculous escape happened to the fireman
of the passenger engine • he was under the locomotive
oiling the cylinders, and had scarcely left a moment
or so when the collision took place. Throughout the
remainder of the night the south line of rails could
not be used in consequence of the shattered carriages
blocking up the road. In the morning, however,
they had been removed, and the trains ran as usual.
The sufferers were going on favourably yesterday
afternoon.

DANGEROUS ExmosloN.—Last evening a serious
explosion took place at Hill's chemical works, Deptford,
which resulted in great damage to the premises, and, it is
feared, fatal injury to one of the workmen named Henry
Fletcher, eged 25, who was most shockingly burnt, and
otherwiEe injured, by the action of the fire and the
violence of the explosion. It appears that about six
o'clock Fletcher had directions to procure an article
from ono of the warehouses coataining a large quantity
of chemicals, and the place had not been opened for a
considerable period; when he entered with a lighted
candle, the warehouse was suddenly enveloped in a mass
of flame, accompanied by a loud report, which fortunately
brought a number of men to the aid of Fletcher, who
was completely surrounded with flames, and his dress
nearly consumed. One man rushed in, and in a praise-
worthy manner succeeded in dragging the injured man
out of the fire. Ile was conveyed to the nearest surgeon's;
but such was the serious nature of the injuries he had
sustained, that the medical gentlemaa ordered his im
mediate removal to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he was
pl iced tinier the care of the house surgeon, who ascer-
tained that both his arms were dreadfully burnt, and his
face, with other portions of his body, blackened and
charred by the fury of the flames. Additional aid was
soon brought to the spot, and with great exertions the
flames were happily confined to the part above named.
Fletcher is going on very favourably, but he is still in a
clangorous condition. The explosion is attributed to an
accumulation of foul air.

METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY. - Yesterday,
evening a public meeting of the ratepayers and inha-
bitants of the parish of St. Pancras was held in the
vestry-room, King's-road, for the purpose of takinginto
consideratioi the proposition of the Metropolitan Water
Supply Association :for organizing a parochial move-
ment in St. Pancras district to aid in improving the
whole water supply of the metropolis, and placing the
entiro control thereof in the hands of the inhabitants
themselves. The chair was tsken by Mr. Frazier,
churchwarden; and Mr. J. L. Tabbernor, who attended
on behalf of the Metropolitan Water Supply Association,
explained the object in view. It is in contemplation to
porch-sae the interests held in those companies which at
present supply London and its suburban districts with
water, and_establish a public board to take the manage-
ment of a system by which what is termed "monopoly"
in the cane may be put an end to, and the metropolis
furnished at a reasonable price with an adequate supply
of pure water. Resolutions in favour of the project
were adopted, and the meeting separated.

CITY Po Lies. The following was agreed to
unanitnously:—'"Friday, November 2d, 1E49. Coal and
Corn and Finance Committee.
.Resolved unanimously,
that the thanks of this Committee be gived to Daniel
Whittle Harvey, Esq., Commissioner of the City Polies.,
for the exemplary manner in svh:e!i he performed the
arduous duties devolving upon him on the occasion of
the opening of the New Coal Exchange, on the 30th
October last. And this Committee request that the
Commissioner will communicate to the Superintendents,
inspectors, Sergeants, and the other members of the
Police Force, the expression of this Committee's high
approbation of the courteous and efficient manner 'in
which they performed their duty at and near the Coal
Exchange upon that day. (Signed) Illiazwzaw.."