The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-07 00:00:00

THE POTATO DISEASE.

DUBLIN, JUNE 4.—A very full meeting of the Royal
Agricultural Improvement Society was held, with closed
doors, yesterday, for the purpose of receiving authenti-
eated reports of the actual condition of the potato crop,
with a view of elucidating to what extent, if any, the
symptoms of last year's blight had shown themselves.
Sir Robert Kane presided. The Duke of Leinster, the
Earl of Charlemont, and several other leading members
were present.
The SECRETARY stated that he had received various
communications from several places respecting the state
of the potato crop, giving different accounts of its ap-
pearance up to the last few days. Messrs. Higgins and
Sons, of College-green, stated that they had planted a
plot of " early martins" in the open ground in January
last, the seed of which had been saved with great care;
and about the same time they had also planted a few
sets in a green house. They both came up well, and
appeared healthy until the early part of last week, when
they all manifested unquestionable symptoms of disease,
similar in its appearance to that of last season. Those
that were under glass and those in the open air were
affected at the same time and in the same manner.
Messrs. Purdon, proprietors of the Farmer's Gazette,
stated that they had issued a circular to the secretaries
of the different local farming societies, requesting them
to send in returns of the exact state of the crop in their
immediate neighbourhood, and the great majority of re-
turns already received described it as still apparently in
a healthy state, and all the other crops looking exceed-
ingly well.
Mr. Monsell read extracts from reports of several per-
sons employed by the Board of Works in drainage, from
different parts of the country, stating that the disease
had attacked the stems generally, underground, though
the leaves and stalks appeared still healthy and flourish-
ing.
A letter was also read from Mr. J. M. Spong, a prac-
tical agriculturist in Carlow, stating, that within the past
week he had travelled over large portions of Carlow,
Kildare, and the Queen's County, in company with some
gentlemen whose names he mentioned, and that they had
found the first symptoms of the disease existing gene-
rally. It manifested itself in the stem, low down, near
the set or seed, under the earth, and afterwards advanced
into the leaves and branches. It appeared to have at-
tacked the autumn or early planted potatoes to the
greatest extent, and even the English reds, which had
escaped the disease last year better than any others, ap-
peared generally affected at present.
Mr. Spong's statement was accompanied by several
specimens of potato plants, which he stated he had pro-
cured in different places in the above counties, and
which, upon being examined by the council, appeared to
contain evident symptoms of the disease as above de-
scribed. They were also inspected by Professor Allman,
and other practical and scientific gentlemen, who fully
concurred in the above opinion, and considered that the
diseaso resembled in its leading features the epidemic of
last year.
Considerable discussion then ensued as to the course
it would be most prudent and advisable for the council to
pursue, so as to produce the best information relative to
the exact nature and extent of the disease, and to suggest
such remedial and precautionary measures as might be
deemed prudent and advisable. The chairman was
clearly of opinion, in which his Grace the Duke of Lein-
ster and the other members fully concurred, that their
best course was to seek, through the machinery at their
command, for the most accurate information on the sub-
ject, and, at the same time, to take advantage of the pre-
sent timely warning to suggest such substitutes for the
present crops as may, upon inquiry, be deemed advisa-
ble, and can be planted in time.
Accordingly, it was ordered that a circular should be
prepared and sent to the secretaries of the different local
tarm• societies in connexion with the central one, stating
that the council, having received reports from some parts
of the country, leading them to fear that the potato crop
in those districts were already showing partial signs of
disease, deemed it right to direct the attention of all
growers throughout the country to the necessity of im-
mediately examining their respective crops; and in order
to enable them to form a sound opinion on their condi-
tion, they subjoined the following short statement of the
principal external marks by which the disease can be
generally recognised ; namely—
That the disease is to be found in that part of the
stem which lies under ground, and may exist, although
the leaf appears perfectly healthy. This is shown some-
times on that portion of the stem near the surface of the
ground, but more frequently near the seed, or set, and
presents the appearance of a bruise, or dark mark, upon
the surface.
The council further recommend, in any instance where
a crop appears decidedly affected with this disease, the
immediate substitution of Swedish or Aberdeen turnips,
or of mangel or cabbage plants, where they can be ob-
tained; all of whichmay be dibbled into the drills between
the potato-stalks, without any additional manure.

RE-APPEARANCE OF THE APHIS VASTATOR
UPON THE POTATO PLANT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—I regret to announce that the Aphis Vastator
re-appeared last week upon the patato
i plant in every dis-
trict round London. At present t may be found
sparingly upon the under surface of the leaf, and though
within the last few days it has multiplied twenty-fold,
several plants must be examined before it can be de•
tected.
The present hot weather is highly favourable to the
rapid multiplication of this pest, which, coupled with its
early attack, must lead us to have the worst apprehen-
sions for the crop this season.
This creature has already greatly damaged the peach,

apricot, and nectarine trees. It is now feeding upon the
turnip, potato, and other plants. Allied species are de-
stroying the currant tree, and damaging to a serious
extent the carrot, parsnip, and parsley crops, that they
have exhibited in some instances the fatal plague-spot
noticed in previous years upon the potato plant.
These facts unfortunately prove that in all human pro-
bability the great plague of Aphides will again run their
destructive course this year.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ALFRED SMEE.
•
7, Finsbury-circus, June, 5, 1847.
P.S. I should feel obliged for information and speci-
mens of the Aphis from all parts of the country.

FRIGHTFUL COLLISION ON THE
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAIL-

WAY.

WOLVERTON, SUNDAY.—Last Right one of the most
alarming and fatal accidents that ever occurred on the
line of the London and North-Western Railway took
place within a short distance of the Wolverton station.

The down mail train for Liverpool, consisting of 19
carriag, s of variou, descriptions, started at its appointed
time, a quarter before nine o'ch•ek last evening (Satur-
day) from the Euston-square terminw, and we, due at
Wolverton at 15 minutes before 11. The train was
heard approaching the Wolverton station at its proper
time, and was properly signalled by Police-constable
Fossey, who was stationed at the bridge between GOO and
700 yards on the London side of the station. The signal
indicating that all was right for the train to enter the
station was hoisted at the latter place, but to the asto
nishment of the officers at the station the train turned off
into a siding instead of coming env, ard down the main
line, and in an instant after a fearful crash was heard.
(Jn the superintendent reaching the spot a shocking
scene presented itself. The mail train had entered the
siding commencing near the bridge, usually appropriated
to coal and merchandise waggons, and had come into
collision with five or six waggons laden with coal. The
fifth and six carriages of the mail train were literally
smashed to pieces, and were strewed about the line to-
gether with the passengers they had contained ; whilst,
singular to relate, the engine and tender and all the
other carriages in front of them, which consisted of the
Liverpool and Manchester parcels' vans of the second-
class carriages, were, with the exception that the engine
had its buffers and plant somewhat broken, compara•
tively uninjured.
The consternation amongst the passengers at this mo-
ment was frightful in the extreme, and some were ob-
served rushing from the broken carriages with blood
streaming from their faces ; and the groans uttered by
those unfortunate persons who were unable from the
severe injuries they had sustained to extricate them-
selves from the fragments by which they were sur-
rounded were truly appalling. As soon as the conster-
nation created by the first shock had somewhat subsided,
all the energies of the company's officers, and the more
fortunate of the passengers were directed to the assist-
ance of the sufferers, and body after body, apparently in
a lifeless condition, was removed from the line to one of
the ante-rooms of the Wolverton station, where they
were at once attended by Mr. Rogers, surgeon, of '
Wolverton, in the employ of the company, and by the
other medical gentlemen who happened to be in the
train at the time of the collision. We regret to state,
that no less a number than seven persons, who were in
the sixth second-class carriage, were found either in a
dead or dying condition, scarcely half an hour having
elapsed from the time of the occurrence before they had
all ceased to exist. The most singular circumstance,
however, connected with the deaths of these unfortunate
persons is the appearance of their bodies, so unusual in
cases of railway collision. With the exception of a few
slight scratches and bruises, none of the bodies (which
are those of seven male persons of various ages) ex-
hibit crushing of bones, and other marks of violence.
Scarcely any blood is to be seen about them, and they are
all believed to have died from the same cause, namely,
concussion, resulting from the suddenness and violence of
the shock.

Amongst the passengers injured is a gentleman named
Turner, residing in Staffordshire, who received several
severe cuts about the head and face, but who was yester-
day reported to be going on favourably. Another
gentleman had one or two of his ribs fractured, and six
or seven others are stated to be more or less injured, but
were enabled to proceed to their destinations as soon as
the train was got ready to forward them, after having
received proper medical attention.
As soon as possible after the sufferers had been at-
tended to, and the broken carriages removed from the
main line, an investigation was made into the circum-
stances which had led to so frightful and fatal a calamity.
It was stated that at the Wolverton station the points
arc always kept straight with the main line, and they
require to be altered to allow a train to enter the siding.
It appears that the constable Fossey, after having given
the signal for the arrival of the mail train, ran from the
bridge, where he was stationed, to the points of the
siding, about forty or fifty yards, and held them back,
so that the mail train passed on to the siding instead
of passing onward down the main line. This was not
discovered by the engine-driver until he had
passed the points a considerable distance, when
seeing the danger he instantly applied the breaks,
turned off his steam, and reversed his engine,
and then both he and the firemen jumped off on
to the embankment, and thus in all probability
saved their lives. The train was at this moment going,
it is stated, at a rate not exceeding ten miles an hour. On
the constable Fossey being interrogated as to the causes
which led him, after signalling the arrival of the mail
train, to run down the line for the purpose of turning it
on to the siding, the only explanation which he af-
forded was, that he afterwards thought it was not the mail
train, but a luggage train, and he did so for the purpose
of securing its safety. This statement, however, being
very much doubted, the man having been employed by
the company at his present duty six months, the super-
intendent of the Wolverton station felt it his duty imme-
diately to give him into custody.
Immediately after the mail train, which was detained
nearly two hours by the unfortunate occurrence, had
been dispatched on its journey, a special engine was
started off to London with the melancholy news to the
directors, and other high officials connected with the
railway, and Captain Huish, the general manager of the
line. Mr. Bruyeres, the superintendent, Mr. Creed,
the secretary, and some of the directors, arrived at
Wolverton yesterday by the mail train for the purpose
of pursuing an investigation and ascertaining who were
the sufferers. This was found extremely difficult; but
from the cards and other evidence discovered on the
persons of the deceased parties their names are supposed
to be as follow:

J. B. Ratteray, belonging to an iron foundry at Dun-
dee; Miller, secretary of a London Ragged-school;
James Clifton, supposed to be from Coventry; T. Mac-
kinson, a collegian of Cambridge; T. Shenott and
Cooper, not known where belonging to. The seventh
is the body of a respectably attired young man, but who
had nothing upon him to lead to identity. All the
deceased persons are attired in the most respectable
manner.

The bodies were removed to an outhouse at the Wol-
verton station, where they now lie awaiting a coroner's
inquest, which, in consequence of the distance to send
information to the coroner for Northamptonshire, can-
not possibly be held before Tuesday.
The following official report of the occurrence was
furnished to the reporter by Captain Huish, general
manager of the line, after the investigation by the rail-
way authorities, this day (Sunday):—

" OFFICIAL REPORT.
" It appears that the 8 45 P.X. down mail train on
Saturday, the sth of June, left London at the usual time,
and passed safely till within sight of the Wolverton
station. At the bridge, which is distant from the en-
trance to the station about 600 yards, a siding com-
mences, into which coal and merchandise trains are
passed. The train arrived precisely at its proper time,
the steam was shut off before reaching the bridge, and
the guards were at their post. The policeman at the
bridge gave the usual signal of the arrival of the mail,
and the signal was acknowledged and repeated from the
station. At this time the points were right, and every-
thing in proper order for the entrance of the train into
the station.
" From some cause, yet to be explained, the signal-
man appears to have gone to the points, a distance of
forty or fifty paces, and to have turned the train into
the siding. On finding himself off the main line and
going into a siding usually full of goods, the engineman
reversed his engine, and worked the wheels backwards.
The break of the tender which locks all the six wheels
was applied, and the guards used their breaks. The
train, which was composed of nineteen carriages of
various kinds, after running a considerable distance into
the siding, struck a waggon of coals which, with four or
five others, was standing there. The engineman and
fireman were unhurt, and the buffer plank of the engine
only was damaged. The leading carriage was the Liver-
pool parcel van, and the second the Manchester parcel
van : both are uninjured. The next was a second.
class carriage, also uninjured, and the passengers unhurt.
Following this was another second-class carriage ' • the
fifth from the engine was a second-class also. This
carriage appears to have been lightly loaded, and from
the momentum of the train and reaction of the buffers
of the leading carriages, was lifted up on its end. The
next carriage was a second-class also, being the sixth
from the engine, and on this the lamentable effect of the
concussion was felt in the deaths of seven male persons.
The carriage was forced under the one which was lifted
up, and the injuries appear to have resulted entirely
from the iron work of the under framing. The carriage
itself is broken to pieces, and, although the leading car-
riages show marks of the collision, with the exception
of the parcel vans, the whole mischief appears to have
fallen on the fifth and sixth carriages.
" It would be improper to anticipate the evidence
before it is officially given, but from all we can learn the
accident arises entirely and solely from the pointman
turning the train off the main line. It is not an act of
omission of duty, because the points are always right
for the main line, and require bolding back to enable a
train to enter the siding. The man is in custody.
" In a collision attended with so fearful a loss of life
it might be expected that many passengers would be in-
jured, but weawdaitraherthihbaepisnpe
jyuexrtoecdes,paatyinotdnhsitswwieos ndo
do not
ent
rhoset„acTaersaier.
nmOtu :I inielt
gentleman
shaken,
any passengers were seriously hurt.':
`SUNDAY NIGEIT.
In London, throughout the day, in
rconseq of a rumour extensively circulated, that fo ty livesuence had been
lost upon the line, the applications at the Euston-square
terminus as to the truth of the rumour were most inces-
sant, and parties whose friends left last night by the
mail train were solicitous as to their safety, awaiting
the arrival of each train with great anxiety. Some of
those who were untortunately injured in the collision
were brought up from Wolverton by the York mail train.
' and were removed to their residences suffering much
from contusions and bruises.
The guards of the train had a most miraculous es-
cape, the chief guard, Haines, was actually sitting on

_ .
the carringe that was destroyed, and on seeing that a
collision was inevitable threw himself, at all risks, off
the top down the embankment aid escaped unhurt.
The second guard also followed his example and was
uninjured.

Although every endeavour was made last night to get
a more authentic d&scriptiun of the parties dead, it was
unattendLd with success. It is to be hoped, however,
that by the publicity given to the supposed names in the
foregoing account of the accident the friends mill be dis-
covered.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION-EIGHT

MEN KILLED _ _
--
(Abridged from the Liverpool Journal of Saturday.)
We are sorry to record that, on Wednesday morning,
an explosion of fire-damp took puce at Gerard's
Bridge Colliery, St. Helen's, belonging to Messrs.
Speakman, Caldwell, and Co. There was at the time
about fifty men employed under the ground, and thir-
teen ponies. Mt st of them were g..t out in a few
hours, very little injured tint al, number wet e
found dead.

The inquest was held yest,rday, at two oVoel: in tl.o
afternoon, at St. 11, lee t, Jo:.1, s, Esq., co-
roner for the (li-trict.

Mr. Taylor, agent for the propri,-i,,rs of tbo mines,
appetrei to wateli the proceedings on their at
Mr. \V. P. Roberts, of Mancl-ester, the miners'
" attorney-general," was pr sent, as the rcpresentative
of the Colliers' Union.
The first witness called was Thomas Winn, who said
he was employed as a collier in the C.iw!ey•hill
Mine when the accident haprened. All the persons
who were killed worked in the same mine, but in
a higher level to the one in which he was em-
ployed. About five o'clock in the morning he
went down into the mine, but having a long way to
go from the bottom of the shaft it would be six o'clock
before he got to work. It was between seven and
eight o'clock when the explosion took place, there
being upwards of 50 persons in different parts of the
mine at the time. Witness worked in the place where
the fire occurred, accompanied by a man named Marsh,
who worked a little higher up than himself. Marsh,
who Ras hacking with his pick against the side of the
mine, said to witness that he thought he was going
through, or there was a " bit of a slip, or a shoot.'
Witness said to him, if that was the case he must put
his candle out. They then put both their candles out,
and witness said, "Let's be going." Marsh, at the same
time, observed, " Aye, Lord, it has fired!" They im-
mediately made their escape, and sat down in the next
opening. They both began to be alarmed lest they
should be suffocated, and witness exclaimed, " Oh dear
me, we are all done." He then put his hand to the
mouth of the upper level, and the strong foul air forced
it back again. They then both got into the bottom
level, and ran down the main road towards the pit mouth,
a distance of 400 or 500 yards from where they had been
working. Witness kept shouting to the men to put
their lights out. He never saw a breath of foul air
in the mine before, and could ,not account for it in
the present instance. Witness did not ask Marsh to
pick through, but said that if he did he must put
his light out.

In reply to a juror, witness admitted that he feared
an explosion from the pick going through the old
working.

By kr. Taylor—Was aware that it was a rule of the
colliery to provide lamps for the men.
By Mr. Roberts—He was not aware that there had
been any conversation amongst the men that there was
foul air where he was working. He never heard of
any. He had never used a lamp in that part of the
to have
avetiocranedvleers sma. w
panreyfeorneebeeel,seasusetbaenyy.givlet
ais
betterusual
light.

-Thomas Marsh, a collier, employed with the last wit-
ness, corroborated the whole of his testimony.
After some further evidence,
The jury, after about a quarter of an hour's delibera-
tion, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death, caused by
gases arising from the combustion of coal, which was set
on are during an explosion."
The names of the persons killed are John Matthew,
collier, aged 45 ; Peter Matthew, collier, his soa,
aged 22 ; John Matthew, aged 17 ; David Matthew,
15 ; and Joseph Matthew, aged 10—all his sons, all
drawers ; he has left a wife and several young aildreik.
Joseph Worral, collier, aged 50, left a wile and fis-3
children ; John. Lea drawer, 17 ; and James Morri3,
drawer, 12.