The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-10 00:00:00

having arrived before those from Leeds, were placed
first, and the carriages from Leeds were attached
behind ; the train cor7prised altogether ten carriages,
with about fifty passengers. Immediately behind
the tender, and placed on a truck, was a table of
cast iron for a weighing machine, 12 feet six inches by 5
feet six inches, having boles round the side 12 inches
deep. This ponderous piece of iron, the weight of which
was about two tons, was despatched from Leeds, fastened
to a truck by ropes only. It must be here stated
that the table of iron was placed across the truck, and
that just before the fatal occurrence took place, it was
observed by the policeman on the lire to be hanging
over. He instantly did all in his power to alarm the
engineer, but unfortunately his warning came too late.
The table fell off the truck on the right or south side,
and one end of the immense plate pitched betwixt the
two rails of the parallel line of railway, whilst the other
end, falling obliquely against the waggon, lifted it up,
and threw it quite off the rails, tearing it loose from the
engine and tender. Either by the same :aass of iron, or
(more probably) by the impetus given to the truck, the
five carriages which followed were all thro via off the
rails ; and owing to the great velocity with which the
train was moving, the consequences were dreadful be-
yond description. The carriages ran into a delph or
ditch on the side of the railway, and were flung all on a
heap, and shattered in the must terrific manner. The
first carriage behind the track WaS a third-class carriage,
vihieh has no cover ; then a second class, which has a
cover, but no sides ; and then a first class. The carriog,.s
Selby and York carriages
whilst ,
in the train, including those
Isrnolm'tsiLetdehet'dolgas,esrtteliciejetrieve''derneoti h
carriages
injury, and were not thrown off
the rails.

As soon as the passengers who had escaped could
recover from the shock, a dreadful spectacle presented
itself. Under one carriage were found two passengers
quite dead, and in the inside of the carriage a respect-
able female also dead. Two other gentlemen were so
dreadfully injured that, on being conveyed to Howdcn,
they died in a few hours. Thus five lives have been
lost. Other pass ,ngers received serious injuries. Tan
strength of the iron table, and the force with which it
must have borne agaiaxt the waggon, are indicated by
the fact that the table cut clean through four or five of
the thick wooden transverse sleepers on which the rails
are fixed ; whilst the velocity of the train is proved by
the fact that the mass of iron was pitched to a distance
of forty feet from the place where it forced the carriage
off the rails. Tim engine and tender were not thrown
off the rails.

This most lamentable catastrophe is a fearful lesson
to the managers of railways to fasten all goods firmly
upon the carriages, :Is the want of this secure fastening
has been the sole cause of the present disaster.
The following is a correct statement of the parties
dead and wounded, so far as we were able to ascertain
the particulars up to seven o'clock last night :

KILLED.
Mr. Nicholas Veltmann, merchant, of Hull, aged 45
years ; bad sustained a broken leg, and his body was
mutilated in a dreadful manner. Died on the spot.
Mr. Aldersmith, of York, gilder. He was alive when
taken up, and was brought to the Half Moon Inn, where
every attention was paid him, but he never spoke, and
died soon after he was put to bed. He was much in-
jured on the head, and his thigh lacerated.
Mr. Thomas Stead, jun., comb-maker, of Castlegate,
York, aged 22—part of the carriage had gone over his
head, which was crushed in a dreadful manner, being
nearly severed from the body,—died on the spot.
A female, aged about :25, dressed in a dark merino
gown, with red spots, had on dark stuff boots, and lead
coloured silk gloves, ear-drops, and no marriage ring.
Had received serious concussion of the brain, and her
leg and thigh both broken—killed on the spot.
Mr. Thos. Craggs, of South Dalton, near Beverley,
sustained serious injury. His ribs on the right side were
all broken, the left clavicle was separated from the ster-
num, and the whole fabric of the chest was destroyed.
He had also a large wound on his head. He was taken
up alive, and conveyed to the Wellington Inn, Howden,
where he died about half-past twelve. He was sensible
till his death.

INJURED.
Mr. Joseph Meek, of Manchester, engraver, nephew
to Mr. John Meek, of York, received a slight concus-
sion of the brain, but is no danger.
Mr. James Moore, of London, a friend of Mr. Meek,
sustained a compound fracture of the leg, and some in-
jury on his head. He is, however, we are glad to say,
doing well.
Mr. George Hopper, of Thirsk, shoemaker, was in-
jured on the knee, but not seriously.
Several other persons, including Mrs. Fleming, of
Howden, and her daughter, were slightly bruised ; but
those who were not resident at that place proceeded on
their journey.
Mr. Gaggs, Mr. Metcalfe, and Mr.. Newton, of How-
den, surgeons, were in attendance on the sufferers who
required any assistance ; and the utmost attention was
paid to them, both by the medical men, and also by the
inmates of the inns where they were lodged.
An inquest was held on the bodies this morning, at
nine o'clock, before Mr. Matthew Pearson, of Selby.