The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-16 00:00:00

powers, with the exception of the border state, that is to
say of Russia. This is probably what the Times refers to,
when it says, the Porte has demanded being reinstated in
its former rights over the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.

APPALLING CATASTROPHE
NEAR TOULON.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
TOULON, February 8.
The greatest excitement and consternation has pre-
vailed in this town for the last few days, and I hasten
to send detailed particulars of the terrible railway
accident, of which, of course, the telegrams
have already given you some intimation. At about
half-past nine o'clock on Sunday morning a ter
rible detonation was heard in the direction of Sa Seyne
to the West of Toulon. It was at first supposed that th e
gunpowder magazines belonging to the arsenal had
exploded, and this idea was strengthened by the fact that
only on the previous day more than a hundred persons
had been arrested in consequence of an alleged adultera-
tion of the powder. The rappel was at once sounded, and
as the National Guard proceeded to the station I followed
them thither. We heard that an engine had exploded
between Bandol and St. Nazaire, in a cutting at a short
distance from the last-mentioned station. A portion
of the medical corps with a detachment of the National
Guard immediately started in a train for St. Nazaire,
taking lint and such instruments as were ready to hand.
At St. Nazaire we found that an engine had already
arrived from the scene of the disaster. The engineers,
besmattered and begrimed with blood, could tell
us nothing but that the train, of which their engine
had formed part, had been blown up by torpedoes, placed
purposely on the rails (of course this idea of treachery
originated in their inner consciousness). Imme-
diately after the smoke of the explosion had
cleared away, they saw that the second engine,
like their own, was intact, but that all the
carriages were overturned. They opened all the doors,
but finding, as they believed, nearly three hundred per-
sons dead or dying, their own effo-rts at relief were utterly
impotent, and they came on at once for aid and assistance,
We all of us hastened to the spot where the
accident had - occurred, and one of the
most painful and heartrending scenes it has ever
been my lot to witness, presented itself to view. The
carriages nearest to the engine were not very much
damaged ; the others were smashed and broken. Travel-
lers covered with bloodwere standing along the edge of the
line ; others more seriously hurt were sitting on the clibris
waiting patiently for help, their clothes blackened with pow-
der, and their faces, here livid with the pallor of pain and
terror, there crimson with the blood i themselves or
others. One unfortunitte woman who had lost an eye, and
had a gaping, ghastly wound in the side of her head, was,
like a French lady, bandying compliments with her
doctor. " I must be pretty indeed, doctor, my husband
will scarcely know me, will he thank God as I do that I
have been saved ?"
Fearful as the sight of the carnage was here, the worst
had yet to come. The explosion took place 400 or 500
yards further on. Half the train was left, while the rest
followed the engine for a short distance. Here, however,
all help was useless ; the ground was inundated
and soaked with blood. Mutilated human bodies
lay scattered about in all directions. The earth was torn
up to a depth of three-quarters of a yard ; iron rails
twisted and broken, were thrown along the cutting, and lay
on the embankment in a confused mass with hats, bonnets,
tattered remnants of dress, and horrible fragments of
human bodies. A poor little child was found in a neigh-
bouring field, still clasping her doll in her arms.
All the atmosphere was filled with a sickly odour of burnt
flesh.

Rough stretchers were immediately constructed from
the carriage benches, and the wounded were conveyed to
Toulon, St. Nazaire, and 011ionels. To Toulon
alone, sixty-three dead bodies, and a hundred
and fifty wounded persons were brought by rapidly
succeeding trains. The medical corps here were indefatig-
able in theii labours, while the ladies hastened to place at
their service the lint and bandages they had been prepar
ing for the wounded in the North and East. The wounded
after being carefully attended to and dressed at the ambu-
lance were taken to the Hospice Civile ; four of
them, however, expired in the very act of trans-
port. As may well be imagined, the station
'here was crowded. The National Guard, being unarmed,
were not strong enough to keep back the anxious crowd,
and the Mobiles assisted. Even then, however, the specta-
tors would rush forward and snatch the covering from
the faces of the corpses as they were being carried past.
It was intensely painful to watch the look of utter
anxiety followed by a quick flash of joy, to be repeated as
the countenance of each corpse was declared unknown.
This was followed in many cases also by a terrible recog-
nition. Among the killed were two Mobile officers, who
could only be recognised by the shreds of their uniforms,
and the "way bills" found upon them. A brother
of Charles Voiiy, the poet, was so severely
injured that he still lies in a most pre-
carious state. He was returning home after having
verified the report of his son's death in the late engage-
ments. An English gentleman had his leg blown off, but
his wound was dressed at the station, and he continued
his journey to Nice, rejoicing, to the asto-
nishment of those who condoled with him;
at having come off so easily. Among the other
sufferers were an attache of the Turkish Embassy and the
station-master of Toulon, who are both now considered
out of danger. There was also a company of actors in
the train from a theatre in Marseilles, most of whom are
believed to have perished.
The bodies remained at the Hospice till Monday even-
ing, in order to give sufficient time for their identifications
but many of the corpses were so disfigured that it was
utterly impossible to recognise them.
As secondary effects of the accident it may be men-
tioned that most of the houses within a mile of the station
of St. Nazaire were injured, and there were the usual
number of miraculous escapes.
An inquiry will, of course, be made into the cause of
the accident. At present it is known for certain that in
the centre of this train (an express passenger train) four
waggons, containing 15,000 kilogrammes of gunpowder and
a number of shells, were placed. A stray spark, the friction
of heated iron, may have caused the explosion. Of course,
this will never be known; but what we do demand is a know
ledge of the reasons of the culpable selection of a passenger
train for the transport of combustible material. No
demnity, however, is likely to be given, as the railWai
officials disclaim all responsibility, the order, they salt
having come from higher quarters.
I do not wonder that the accident has happened noirf
but that it did not happen before ; as it appears that 1.
similar transport of war material in passenger trains 100 '?
been going on for months.
On Tuesday afternoon the funeral of the victioll.
took place. All the shops were closed, and t 5
whole line of the boulevard was crowd
by the sympathising and the curious. The processil
left the Hospice at five o'clock, headed by the priestho°
of all the parishes. They were followed by the old all:
women, and children of the hospital. The medical stabs
bearing seven palls, immediately preceded
hearses, fifteen in number, each hearse containing fr.°
two to six coffins. The first hearse, contaia-w,
the bodies of the two officers, was accompanied bire
detachment of the Marine infantry, with their arras 00
versed, while the procession was swelled to an inoe.es,
length by the presence of the civil and military authoritt
and the National Guard. ;134
Many of the hearses simply consisted of ro- Tip
wagons, arranged and draped for the purpose, as the
.°0
possesses but three—more than ample for its oral°

requirements. Eve
The people of Toulon have heard, as you have
iu the
land, of the miseries and horrors of war ; but
appalling incident in our midst, has produced a Pr°f°f-tbe
sensation ; the more so from its being the result
most unwarrantable thoughtlessness.
Nineteen more deaths are recorded this evening.

On the 13th inst., at ReßlßTHSigate, the Lady Richard Br°
of a dauothter
•
tjle
On the 13th inst., at St. Thomas's House Hac
wife of H. N. White, Esq., of a son.
MARRIAGES. ol)c`r
On the 11th inst., at St. Saviour's, Paddington, 1, to
Barker, Esq., of Abbey-road, St. John's'w°fr`ooldo
Harriot, youngest daughter of the late William:,
Esq. s'
lion
On the 11th inst., at St. Mark's Church, Lontionio '
race, Richard Thomas Coupland, Esq.
widow of the late C. J. Davies to j30,00i
Civil Service. Esq., a the

On the 13th inst., suddenly, at Walworth Castle,
P°'l'
lington, John Masterman,' Esq., aged 84. wood'
On the 13th inst., Mr. Richar Porter, of 47, '
street, Cheapside, aged 64.
._..,, of
London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND n°ll,-(fro' tb°
No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by I, , 00
THE Sur: Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct o'
Savoy, in the County of Middlesex.
Thursday, krebruary 16, 1871

DEA.THS.