The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-30 00:00:00

PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE OF A

MAIL TRAIN AND PASSENGERS.

A DRUNKEN ENGINE DRIVER AND FIREMAN.—
Yesterday, at the New Bail ,y, two men, named \\*H-
ham Hatfield and Mark Clegg, the former an
engine driver and the latter a fireman in the employ
of the London and North-Western Railway Corn•
pang, were brought up before Mr. Trafford, the
stipendiary magistrate, and Captain Whittaker,
charged with drunkenness and gross negligence in
the discharge of their duty. Mr. Wagstaff, solicitor,
of Warrington, appeared on behalf of the company,
and from his statement and the evidence of the wit-
ases it appeared that the prisoners had charge of the
night mail train from Liverpool to London on Satur-
day. The number of carriages and passengers was
not stated, but the pointsman at the Warrington
Junction being at his post waiting for the train was
surprised to hear it coining at a very rapid rate. He
had been preparing to turn the points in order to
shunt the train on to the ‘Varrington Junction ;
but as the train did not diminish in speed, but
rather increased as it approached, he, anticipating
great danger if he should turn the points,
determined on the instant upon letting the
train take its course, and not turning them. Most
fortunate was it that he exercised so much judgment
and sagacity, for, in consequence of the acuteness of
the curve at the Warrington Junction, and the tre-
mendous rate at which the train was proceeding—
not less than forty miles an hour—it does not appear
I that anything could have otherwise prevented the
train from being overturned, and a frightful sacrifice
of human life ensuing. Meantime the train continued
its frightful progress; but the mail guard seated at
the end of the train perceiving that it was going on
towards Manchester instead of staying at the junc-
tion, signalled to the engine-driver and fireman, but
without effect, no notice whatever being taken of his
signals. Finding this to be the case he, at very con-
siderable risk, passed over from carriage to carriage
till he reached the engine, where he found both the
prisoners lying drunk, and apparently insensible from
the effects of liquor. They resisted for some time all
his efforts to stop the train, and he was unable to
bring them to a sense of their duty and their peril
till they were near to Patricroft. At length,
how-
ever, he succeeded in stopping the train just before it
reached that station, a distance of fourteen miles
from Warrington. This again appears to be
almost a miraculous circumstance; for, at the
Patricroft station, on the same line as that on
which the mail train was running, was another
train, containing a number of passengers, who thus
escaped from the consequences of a dreadful collision.
The prisoners were, of course, immediately given into
custody, and conveyed to the New Bailey prison,
while, other assistance being obt4ined, the train was
4aken back to the Warrington Junction. The regu-
lation is, in consequence of the sharp curve at this
junction, that the trains shall not run at more than
live miles per hour. Hatfield appeared very penitent,
and wept bitterly at the danger to life and property
of which he had been the cause. Clegg said that he
had been out all the previous night with a train, and
had not taken his clothes off; that before he started
for Liverpool he had taken three glasses of spirits and
water, but that he went into the office before the train
started, and did not feel any effects from what he had
drunk till after the train started, when he supposed it
was the keen air, coupled with his having been up all
the previous night, which caused him to fall
asleep. The magistrates had power to commit the
prisoners summarily fur two months' hard labour, or
to inflict a fine of 101., or to send the prisoners for
trial at the sessions, at which they would be liable to
a sentence of two years imprisonment. After some
consultation, the bench appearing to be of opinion
that some negligence had been exhibited at the office
in Liverpool, or the men would not have been allowed
to have left there in such a state of intoxication, de-
cided upon the first alternative, and sentenced both

prisoners to two months' hard labour.—Manchestcr
Examiner.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—Wo have received
letters by the Crane from Sir Thomas Herbert's
squadron in the River Plata, which inform us that
the inhabitants of Rio are on the point of raising a
subscription to erect a statue in bronae to the memory
of the late Emperor Don Pedro 1., in the Place del
Constitution, to be executed at Munich. The
Comus, 16, Commander D'Eynecourt, is still under
water at Colonia, all efforts hitherto applied having
failed to raise her, and from the rocky nature:of the
ground it is feared she must remain sunk. The Fury
steam-sloop, Commander Willcox, arrived at Rio
from Madeira and England on the 12th of November,
and found the America, 90-gun ship, the Eagle, 50,
Captain Martin, the Crescent receiving ship, and the
Griffon and Crane packets. The Modeste, 18, Lieut.-
Commander Macdonald, arrived at Rio from the
Pacific on the 12th ult., after a splendid run of 36
days. One of our letters says—" We took out the
news of the Americans' victory over the Mexicans at
Mexico, where the former lost 1,000 men, and we
sent the American two-decker the copy of your
paper containing that news, which they had not been
Possessed of ten minutes before they rattled off a
royal salute, I suppose in compliment to General
Scott, with four Yankee flags hoisted. The Eagle,
50, is lying guardship at Rio, and the Kestrel sailed
on the 30th of October with the last arrived mails for
Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. Commodore Sir
Thomas Herbert, K.C.8., the Commander-in-Chief,
is still down at Buenos Ayres with his squadron, as
the French are still carrying on the blockade. He
has with him his flag-ship the Raleigh, 50, Captain
Fremantle ; the Grecian, 16, Commander Tindal;
the Firebrand steam-frigate, Captain Hope; and the
Lizard and Harpy,ironsteamers."

The Fury beat the West India packet by two days,
on the passage to Madeira.
The Modeste was to sail from Rio for England,
with a small freight, on the 18th of November.
Letters from Alexandria of the 7th instant state
that Captain Henderson, C. 8., of the Sidon steam-
frigate, accompanied the Governor-General of India
(Earl Dalhousie) to Suez ; after seeing his Excellency
off he rejoined his vessel, and proceeded to Malta.
The Sidon was to be at Alexandria again on the 4th
of February, to embark Viscount llardinge, when it
would depend entirely upon his Lordship's wishes
whether the Sidon took him to England, or landed
him in France.

The Sharpshooter, iron steam- vessel upon the screw
principle, was taken out of No. 2 Dock this morning,
completed with Mr. Hay's coating of his adhesive
substances ; and the two iron fire-floats attached to
this dockyard were taken in, to receive a coating each
of the same composition.
The Avon steam- surveying. vessel, Commander
Otter, has been taken alongside the Topaz hulk to-
day to refit, for the conveyance of marines to Ireland.
The Rolla has also been taken alongside the Mersey
hulk to refit, for the purpose to which she will in
future be devoted—the instruction of boys in the
practical duties of seamanship and navigation for
the navy.
Wind S. by W., fresh breezes ; weather dark,
cloudy, threatening, and very cold. Five P.M.
CHATHAM, DEC. 29.—The Sealark, 10 guns, com-
missioned last week, received her marines this day,
consisting of one sergeant, one corporal, and 10 pri•
vates, belonging to this division.
It is with much regret we have to announce the
death of another officer belonging to this division of
Royal Marines—that of First Lieutenant W. J.
Burney, who expired last evening at Melville Hospi-
tal. This officer, whose seniority is dated the 18th
of. May, 1843, came to England in April last, having
served on board the Talbot, 26 guns, for three years,
on the South American station. Latterly he was
removed to Woolwich in command of a company,
and three weeks ago he returned to the head-quarters
of this division on the sick list. On his arrival he
was admitted into the hospital. His death was caused
by a bilious fever. Lieutenant Burney was much
respected by his brother officers.
WooLwlcH, DEC. 29.—The Earl of Auckland,
First Lord of the Admiralty, visited the new Royal
Marine Barracks yesterday, and then walked to the
dockyard, where his Lordship went over several of
the departmentS.
_ _

The Acheron steam-vessel, Captain Lort Stokes,
is to leave Greenhithe today, at ter having her com-
passes adjusted, and will take out mails from Ports'
mouth for New Zealand.

The Mountstuart Elphinston, having free convicts
on board, went down the River yesterday for New
South Wales, and takes out the following officers and
men :—Lieutenant Paul, 65th Regiment of Foot,
stationed in New Zealand; Lieutenant Anderson, 96th
Regiment of Foot, stationed in 'New South Wales ;
and three sergeants, three corporals, and 50 privates
of the 99th Regiment of Foot, to join the head-
quarters of the regiment in New South Wales.
The General Palmer hired transport ship. is ex-
pected down the River from Deptford this afternoon
or to-morrow, to embark the third company of Royal
Sappers and Miners for a passage to Corfu. The
third company is under the command of ,Captain
Ogle, Royal Engineers. The General Palmer will
also take on board 60 privates, to fill up the two com-
panies of Royal Sappers and Miners employed on the
works at Gibraltar, rand detachments of the 4th and
sth battalions of Royal Artillery to fill up the eonci"
panics of that branch of the service at Corfu.
The urgency to have the works of the numerous
steam-veisels preparing for sea at Woolwich finished
with every expedition has caused the whole of the
shipwrights to be taken from the Nankin, 50 gun
frigate, and from all the new works, that the others
may be made ready first.

RAILWAY SHARE 3IARKETS•
LIVERPOOL, Dac. 29.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-A mbergate and East-
ern Jnnction, 2% dis.-Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and
West Yorkshire, 61; ciis.- Lancashire and Yorkshire, Halves
(late Huddersfield and Sheffield), 10 dis.-Ditto,
(Nest Riding Union), 31i;, dis.-London and North-Weees:
148 c.-Ditto, New Quarters, 5% p.-Ditto, Quarters ,(7
andß), 4 p.-Ditto, ditto (C), 334 il.-Manchester, ShePle
and Lincolnshire, 69-Midland, 110-Ditto, 401. S hlre7 is.'
415/4-Ditto, Halves, 1% dis.-North Staffordshire, A
-Shrew,bury, Oswestry, and Chester, 4% dis.-Ditto, Prr,
ference. 31/2 p.-South-Eastern and Dover, New, No. 1, 4,4
dis.-Ditto, No. 4, Thirds, 1% dis.- Whitehaven and For'
ness, 814 dis.-York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Extensions'
No. 2, 21/4.p.- Ditto, G. N. E. Purchase, 11. i c. p-
MANCHESTER, DEC. t 9.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-East Anglian, clew
Preference 1-16 dis.-Eastern Counties, 153 i dis.--Lance"
shire and Yorkshire (West Riding Union), 3 dis.-Ditto
(Preston and Wvre), 3414-Ditto, Halves (B), 1).--L1
don and North-Western, 149-Manchester, Sheffield, an
Lincolnshire, Eighths, 2% dis.-Ditto (Sheffield and Lin"
colnshire), 4 13.16 is.-North Staffordshire, N_South'
Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 134 dis.
BIRMINGHAM, Dac. 29.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-London and North,'2
1
Western, 149-Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, ,
die.-Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley, IN
dis. (for pre. acc.)-North Staffordshire, 65. 3d. dis. (for
pre. sec. )-Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 31j; dis.
LEEDS, Dac. 28.
STOCK EXCIIAXOE.-The following prices have been ob-
tained to-day, but not much business has been done :-East
Lancashire,3iii c. dis.-Ditto, New, 33/4 n. die.-Lancashire
and Yorkshire (West Riding Union), dia.-Leeds and
Thirsk, 16 t,i dis.-North British, Thirds, 35. die.-Ditto,
Quarters, 10s. c. dis.-North Staffordshire, 6s. dis.-North-
Western, 4/. 11s. 3d. dis.-York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
Preference, 20s. c. p.-Ditto, Ns. 2 (New Berwick), 21,i, p.
YORK, Dsc. 28.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The salesare- Great Northern, 41. 7s.
-North British, Thirds, 11. 165.-Ditto, Extension, I 3'-
York, Newcastle. and Berwick, No. 2 (New Berwicks), 12Ws
Ditto, G. N. E. Purchase, 914.
EDINBURGH, DEC. 28.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-rd'aledenian, 361.
Ditto, New, 225. 6d.-Dundee and Northern, 275.-East
Lothian Central, 855.-Edinburgh and Northern, 15/. 151.--
Ditto. Newport, New, 255.-Great Northern, 41. 75.-North
British, Quarters, 86s. 6d.-Ditto, Thirds, 365.
BIRTHS.
On the 24th inst., the wife of J. T. Cookson, Esq., New"
beggin House, Northumberland, of a daughter.
On the 26th inst., in Blackfriars-road, airs. James J. Blsket
of a son.
On the 26th inst., at Montalto, county of Down, Ireland'
the lady of.D. S. Ker, Esq., of a son.
On the 27th inst., at Barnsbury-square, Islington, the wife
of the Rev. J. G. lleisch, of a son.
On the 27th inst., at Gloucester-road, Hyde-park-gsrdenSf
Mrs. D. Scaramangs, of a daughter.
On the 27th inst., at Lower Whitecross-street, Mrs. 'l%
Burdon, of a son.
On the 28th inst., at Rutland-gate, Hyde-park, the wife
of Frederick Pratt Barlow, Esq., jun., of a son.

MAXICIND.
Re- marriage.—Dec. 24, by special permission of the Regis-
trar-General, London, and Dec. 28, at Clifton Chords.
Clifton, by the Rev. J. Hensman, Alfred Thomas Bridget',
youngest son of John Carter, Esq., Claremont House, Clifton,
to Jane Sophia, youngest daughterof the late William Queade',
Esq., Captain of the 77th Regiment, and granddaughter or
Henry Whyte, Esq., of Whatley, in the county of Somerset,
and of the Upper Crescent, Bath.
On the 2ith inst., at St. Mary's, Bryanston-square, the
Right Hon. Henry Lord Montfort, to Miss Ann BurstreW,
daughter of the late William Burgham, Esq., of LIPtOII
Bishop, Herefordshire.

BILL
On the 16th inst., at Brompton, T. J. Downs, Esq., aged 63.
On the 2Uth inst., at Milton next Gravesend, Mrs. JasPil.
Allen, aged 86.
On the 23d inst., Mrs. French, late of Maryland point,
Essex.
On the 24th inst., at Bentley-green, limits, Henry Mon-
tague Morison, Esq., aged 40.
On the 24th inst., at Epping, Benjamin Doubleday.
On the 25th inst., Mr. C. NV. Knight, of Berners-street.
On the 25th inst., Hannah, the wife of Mr. John Gillis.,
Peckham-grove, Camberwell.
On the 27th inst., at Brixton-villas, Brixton,
wife of Edward James Smith, E.g.
On the 27th inst.. at Northampton Cottage, CanonburY,
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Dean, aged 64. Mary 'natio,

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London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at the Sun Office, No. ID;
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the count}'°`
ALiddleaex, Thursda.y, December 30, 1347.