The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-16 00:00:00

Oltening

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1847.

The coroner's inquest on the bodies of those who
perished from the late fatal and melancholy accident
on the North-Western Railway terminated its pro-
ceedings yesterday, by returning a verdict of man-
slaughter against BARNARD FOSSEY, the policeman, by
whom the train was turned into the siding, and accom-
panied their decision by observations to the effect that
the company ought to be more particular in the se-
lection of officers for posts of such importance to the
safety of the public as that lately occupied by
FOSSEY ; that FOSSEY should have been dismissed
immediately on the commission of the former error
of which he had been guilty on the 31st May,
and that every train should have a number of
breaks and guards proportioned to the size and
weight of the train. In a matter were the public
safety is so deeply concerned—in which there are few,
indeed, who are not in some degree interested—it be-
comes a question of the deepest importance that every
possible precaution should be adopted to obtain the
greatest degree of safety, and to preclude the pos-
sibility of future accidents of a similar descrip-
tion. It is, indeed, a startling fact, that of
6,000 persons in the employment of the com-
pany, there are no less than 4,000 who have a control,
more or less, over the lives of the public. Under
such circumstances, it is impossible to suppose that
some one deficient in some respect may not be ad-
mitted amongst the number. The slightest want of
nerve, the most trivial negligence, may occasion some
fearful calamity. The company may have exercised
the greatest cars in the selection of fit and proper
persons to discharge those responsible duties, and yet
be deceived in some few instances. The strongest
testimony was afforded by Captain SrsimoNns, who
attended on the part of Government, as to the ad-
mirable general management of the North-Western
line, a compliment which we believe was fully
merited. But the very excellence of the manage-
ment strengthens the argument for some additional
precautions. The less the blame that may be im-
putable to the company, the greater the necessity for
some further supervision. Why should there not be
a board of public safety, who should decide on the
measures to be adopted on every line through-
out the kingdom. Such a board of competent
persons should investigate the causes of every accident
that has hitherto taken place, and direct the number
of men to be employed in all the departments. They
might subject all candidates for employment to a
preliminary examination, in which they should prove
their knowledge of all that came within their sphere
of duty, and their general efficiency, and no persons
should be eligible who had not received a certificate
of competence with respect to the particular class of
services on which he was about to be engaged. Such
regulations might, in the first instance, occasion a
little additional expenditure to the different companies,
but eventually it would be found that the increased
cost would be more than compensated for by the dimi-
nution of accidents, one of which would occasion a
greater pecuniary damage to a company than the pay
of many additional servants.

A weighty responsibility, too, would be taken from
the directors. They will still be subjected to blame,
no matter how undeserved it may be, while the system
continues in its present state. This could not be the
case if the person inculpated had gone through the

ordeal of an examination conducted by persons un-
connected with the company, and who could not be
in any degree prejudiced in favour of the individual
brought before them. There should also be a regular
periodical investigation of the works, the state of the
permanent way, the rails, the carriages, engines, &c.,
by persons of skill and ability, in order to insure
their sufficiency. By such means, although it may
be impossible to do away with accidents alto-
gether, they may be rendered of less frequent
occurrence, and their results less formidable.
The suggestion of the jury, with respect to the
number of breaks and guards, are of such obvious
utility that we doubt not they will be immediately
adopted in every district. Any present negligence
on the part of the directors of any of the companies
would probably enhance the stringency of the regu-
lations to which they would be subjected. We shall
hope that the subject may speedily receive that atten-
tive consideration which its vast importance, and the
necessity of due protection for life and limb, so ur-
gently demand.