The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-07 00:00:00

" 5. The want of a proper understanding between the
Lancaster and Carlisle and the lessees of the Lancaster
and Preston Railway.
' "

" 6. The rule which allows an express-train w' ich often
runs at 45 miles an hour to pass a station only minutes
after a slow train.

" 7. The wane of sufficient station accommodation al
Preston, causing all the trains to the north t start late,

" I would suize st that the two companies s' ould come
to a good understanding, and that every effort should be
made to determine the right ownership of this railway,—
that the signals be immediately replaced by others of a
better description,—that the express be not allowed to
pass till ten minutes after the starting of a preceding
train, and that means be taken to ensure, as far as pos-
sible, greater punctuality in the times of starting from
the Preston station."

THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT
AT NE W TON-ROAD-BRIDGE. -
BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY .—An inquest OR the body
of Colonel James Baird, who died yesterday in conse-
quence of the shock his system received by the accident
which occurred near Newton-road-bridge, on Saturday
night, was held before Dr. Birt Davies, borough coroner,
at the Queen's Hotel, in this town, to-day. Captain
Huish and Mr. Carter, solicitor, were in attendance on
the part of the London and North-Western Railway Com-
pany. The jury having taken a view of the body, the
first witness called was—
Wm. Gallicas—l am a surgeon residing at Stirling,
North Britain. The deceased was a Lieutenant-Colonel
in the army, and had served in India, America, and the
continent of Europe. He was all along in the 66th Re-
giment of Foot. The deceased was a married man, but
had not lived with his wife for the last few years, He
was 71 years of age. I saw him alive and well at Stir-
ling on F 1 iday last, when he told me that he and his
sister, if she was well enough, were going to see General
Nieols, an old friend, residing at Clifton. His general
health appeared to be good, although his right hand was
slightly affected with paralysis. He was very temperate.
I was summoned to attend him by telegraph, and saw
him at this hotel on Monday night. He was then in-
sensible and apparently dying. He died about three
o'clock on Tuesday morning.
Robert M'Cullum—l was in Colonel Baird's service as
vale! at Allan Park, Stirling. I left Stirling with the
deceased and his sister between nine and ten on Satur-
day morning last in the express train. We arrived at
Stafford in safety. They changed carriages for Bir-
mingham at that station. The deceased and his sister
were in the first compartment of the carriage in which
I was seated. They experienced great uneasiness in
maintaining their seats. When about six miles from Bir-
mingham the party in the carriage with myself, consist-
ing of six gentlemen and one lady, were thrown one
upon another to the right side of the line. The car-
riage fell upon the bridge. We got out in the course of
some minutes, and the first thing I did was to look after
my master and mistress. They were still in their car-
riage. I first spoke to Miss Baird. I did not see my
master, but I heard him ask if I was safe. When we
got the door open, in about a quarter of an hour, Miss
Baird came out first. She was followed by another lady,
and then by the deceased, there being only three pas-
sengers in that compartment. The deceased appeared a
little agitated. In answer to an inquiry from me, he
said he was not injured. I got him over the fence
with some difficulty into a field. He went across the
field with his sister. The pilot-engine went through
our luggage-van before I got out of the carriage.
The accident occurred about-twenty minutes to eight.
We afterwards came to Birmingham by another. train.
When I went to look for our luggage, I foutid one-half
of the van torn away. The pilot engine did not affect
our carriage. We were going a great deal faster than
we bad been going during any previous part of the
journey. A gentleman had remarked that he expected
there would be an accident; it felt as it the bottom of
the carriage would be knocked in there was such a con-
tinual bumping, and the passengers lifted up their feet
with the view to protect themselves. After Colonel
Baird had arrived at the Queen's Hotel, he went to the
water-closet, and was unable to find his way back. I
afterwards led him to the sitting room, and he ordered a
sandwich, but he could not eat it; it fell out of his
mouth. Miss Baird noticed that there was something
wrong, and she directed me to procure a doctor. Mr.
Blake was called in in the course of twenty minutes..
The Colonel was unable to speak so that the surgeon
could understand him. He pointed to his knees, but he
could not speak as usual. The deceased was stripped,
but I saw a small blue spot on his knee, but no other
injury except a little mark on his cheek. Mr. Blake re-
quested the Colonel to undress and go to bed. I had
great difficulty in undressing hint. Medicines were
afterwards sent to him, and were administered as directed.
About one o'clock the deceased became sick and insen-
sible. I supported him until the doctor came.
By Mr. Carter—l never knew him have any attacks
of any kind, excepting influenza. His hand was a little
shaky, but he wrote and potted plants as well as the
gardener.
It was here intimated by Mr. Gallicas that there was
abundance of evidence as to the cause of death. There
was on effusion of blood upon the brain, and as the
friends of the deceased were anxious that :there should
be no more done than was necessary, he wished to ask
the Coroner whether the examination should be pro-
ceeded with?
The CORONER, after stating that it was always his
wish, as far as possible, to consult the feelings of
friends, said he thought, unless they had a very strong
objection, it would be more satisfactory if the post
mortem examination was full and complete.
Mr. Gallicas then retired.
Mr. Samuel William Lloyd Titchbourne—l am an ac-
countant, residing at:Wolverhampton. I was a pas-
senger by the express train on Saturday evening. The
train usually leaves Wolverhampton at twenty minutes
past seven o'clock, but on Saturday night it was nearly
twenty-five minutes too late. We went at more than
the usual rapid rate of an express train, and in my
opinion that was the cause of the accident. Just before
the accident occurred, the train was going at a tremen-
dous velocity. The carriage I was in fell on one side, and
rested against one of the telegraph posts. A gentleman
broke the glass of the window and escaped into a field.
Ho smashed the window with his feet. Just before I
got out of the carriage I heard a violent concussion. I
understood it was occasioned by the pilot engine. We
came to Birmingham by another train in about an hour
afterwards. I made no remark upon the great increase
of the speed, because I had frequently observed it before.
Trains were not unfrequently late at Wolverhampton,
and more than once, twice or thrice he had noticed a
greatly increased speed. I have given ray evidence to
the best of my belief. The accident occurred somewhere
about eight o'clock. Ido not know at what rate express
trains travel.
James Parker—l am superintendent of locomotives
on the London and North -Westera Railway, and was
passenger by the Birmingham portion of the express
train on Saturday night, the 2d instant. I was in the
last body of the last carriage. We were behind time at
Wolverhampton, perhaps fifteen minutes; I do not know
/he cause. (Witness here identified M'Cullum as one of
'his fellow-passengers in the same carriage.) At Willen-
hall, witness observed that the wheel struck against
the body of the carriage. He looked out of the
window to ascertain the cause. The noise under the
carriage ceased for a time, but in a few minutes
it commenced again. This was at Newton-bridge sta-
tion; and then suddenly I found that the leading wheels
were off the line. We came to rest in about a quarter of
a minute. I heard the noise of the pilot engine going
by, and saw it fall over about 110 yards beyond where
the accident occurred. I inspected the line immediately
afterwards. The rails, chains, and sleepers were ripped
up where the engines and carriages left the line. The
pilot engine did not touch our carriage at all, nor do I
believe that it touched any of the carriages. From my
inspection it is my impression that our carriage got off
the line first, and that that was the cause of the engine
going off. That caused the other carriages to go off,
and the guards' van being thrown on to the down line,
and the road broken up, caused the pilot engine to be
turned off and rendered useless. I considered that the
engine, speed, and road were all quite safe. The speed
was between 40 and 45 miles an hour. I am sure we
did not exceed 45. We consider 50 perfectly safe. The
road was perfectly good; there was a little incline. I
have gone more than the 50 miles in the hour on the
same road.
Captain Huish—The express rate of speed is forty-
two or forty-three miles an hour, according to the in-
clination.
(The investigation was proceeding when this parcel
was dispatched).
The deceased entered the 66th Regiment of Foot as
an ensign in the year 1798, and joined his regiment at
Newfoundland, he served in the four quarters of the
world, and was at St. Helena during the period of Napo-
leon's captivity. Upon parting with his commission he
returned to his native town, Stirling, where he resided
up to the time of his lamented death. He was greatly
beloved by his fellow officers, and all who had the plea
sure of his acquaintance.

THE OCEAN MONARCH.
HONOURS AND REWARDS.

A meeting of the Liverpool, Shipwreck and Humane
Society was held on Wednesday for the purpose of
taking into consideration the services rendered by the
different parties instrumental in rescuing the sufferers
from the conflagration. The splendid gold medals of
that society, executed by Wynn, of the Mint, were
voted to Mr. Littledale owner, of the yacht Queen of the
Ocean; Admiral Grenfell, the Brazilian Consul General
of this port; Captain Lisboa, the officer in command of
the Brazilian steam-frigate Affonso, and to Jerome, the
courageous seaman of the New World. A sum of money
was also voted to the crew of Mr. Littledale's yacht.
An adjourned meeting of the society was held on Satur-
day in the Underwriters' Committe-room, to consider the
services of those parties instrumental in rescuing the
people from the wreck whose cases were deferred from
the last meeting. A letter from Admiral Grenfell was
read, highly eulogizing the conduct of all on board the
Affonso, particularly the officers and four of the seamen.
To each of the officers the committee awarded the
society's silver medal of the first class, and to each of the
four seamen a silver medal of the second class. The
names of the officers are Commander Francisco Xavier
D'Alcantia, and Lieutenants Genuino Auguste de Barros
Torrias, Jose da Cote Agevedo, Joaquiva Lucio A'Aranjo,
and Francisco Leopoldo Cabral da Cunta e Teive. The
seaman's names are, Joav da Silva, Joav Candido, Mar-
ques Garcia, and Justino Jose. A:silver medal of the first
class was also awarded to Mr. Jotham Bragdon, the chief
m.ate of the Ocean Monarch, and 151. to five of the said
and pe the command or
ship's crew," .who voluntarily manned one of their own boats
under
sgtoeladm mere,drarlin wacoammeese votedof
wateand of the mate, and by great coolness
we were enabled to save many lives. A
to Mr. Dani, the master of the
sh,
which many
the judgment and energy
displayed by him, by w
m"
y
were rescued from the wreck.
The
the
silver
s tmedal survivorswas
awardedthe occasion,
andr. Batty,2s4 his
asTiate, who did good service on
distribution among his crew.