The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-23 00:00:00

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT

NUTBOURNE.

NUTJOURNE, JUNE 22.—The inquest on the body of
Gregory, the driver of one of Stephenson's engines, with
outside cylinders, which, by running off the line in Nut-
bourne-coppice yesterday three weeks, caused his death,
was resumed this morning. Captain Coddington, the
Government Inspector of Railways, was present; and
Mr. Peter Clarke, the manager of the London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railway; Mr. H. Faithfull, the solici-
tor; Mr. liirtley, the locomotive enginer; Mr. F.
Hitchins, the resident engineer, were in attendance on
the part of the company. Mr.Mayson, the Mayor of
Chichester, Mr. Sherwood, and Mr. Powell, solicitors
of Chichester, were also present on the part of the
public.
Mr. Miller, the surgeon, stated that the wounded
stoker was not able to give evidence. He was recover-
ing, but a month at least must elapse before he would
be in a condition to give evidence.
A number of witnesses was then heard, but their tes-

timony showed no new fact, excepting that of
Mr. John Winter, superintendent of Mr. Stephenson's
patent engines, who stated that he had seen and exa-
mined the engine No. 40. It had been taken to pieces,
with the exception of the springs, cylinders, and motion.
lie had examined the springs, and found that they were
not the same as had been delivered to the company.
Stephenson's leading and hind springs were three feet
six inches long. The springs originally placed in the
engine had been since shortened twelve inches, so as to
mae them much more rigid. The effect of the altera•
tion would be to increase the jumping motion, and, aris-
ing from this, to create an oscillating motion. Mr.
Kirtley.had told him that the alteration had been made
before he came to the line, that he did not approve of it,
and that he intended to alter it back again. The altera-
tion was made by Mr. Gray, Mr. Ku tley's predecessor,
with a view of steadying the engine, but unfortunately
had an opposite effect. A similar alteration had been
made in one other engine, which he understood was now
being altered back again by Mr. Kirtley. "I do not,"
said the witness, " attribute the accident to these altered
springs."
Examined by the jury—l do not attribute the acci-
dent to the peculiar construction of Stephenson's engines.
We have them running daily on the London and North-
Western Railway, at the speed of forty-five and fifty
miles. Yesterday I ran one of them myself on that line,
at the rate of fifty-five miles an hour.
What is the average speed ? —From forty-five to fifty
miles. I have run one of these engines at seventy-five
miles an hour. _ _

Is that a level line ?—No ; a heavy one ; many of the
gradients are sixteen feet in a mile. The engines are
of the same construction as No. 40, only with larger
fire-boxes.

Examined by Mr. Powell—The engine No. 40 was
in very good condition, as if it had been working a few
months. The only thing objectionable that I saw was
a little lateral motion on one of the journals of the lead-
ing wheels. I have examined the rails near where the
accident happened, on both sides, and could see nothing
to give me an idea of the cause of the accident. Acci-
dents have occurred with all sorts of engines without
any one being able to assign the cause.
The inquest was then adjourned till Tuesday, the 3d
of August, with a view of getting the evidence of Peel,
the stoker.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, JUNE 22.
STOCK ExciteNox.—The sales are--Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 1% dis.—Birmingham and Dudley, 4%. p.
—Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 7 p.—EasternCounties,
York Extension, 3/4 dis.—Huddersfield Canal and Railway,
1/2 p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 1 p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 6 dis.—
Ditto, Preference, 3/4 dis.—Leicester and Bedford, 14 dis.—
Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 265. 3d. p.—London and
North-Western, 1781/2—Ditto, New Quarters, 10% p.
Ditto, Quarters (G. J.), 163/4 p.—Manchester and Leeds,
Fifths (late West Riding Union), par—Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 1,2 YR p.—Midland, 124%—
Ditto, New, 3% p.—Newcastle and Berwick, New, 214 p.—
North-Western, 1% dis.—Shrewsbury and Chester (late
N.W.M.), 43/4 p.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 91. 12s. 3d.
Shares (13), did s.