The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-11 00:00:00

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON
THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
BIRMINGHAM, SATURDAY EVENING.—The adjourned
investigation concerning the death ofLieutenant-Colonel
Baird, who died from the shock sustained by the late
accident at Newton-bridge, on the line of the London and
North-Western Railway, was resumed this morning, at
nine o'clock, at the Queen's Hotel, before Dr. J. B.
Davies, the coroner for the borough of Birmingham.
The proceedings excited great interest. Captain Sy-
monds attended to watch the proceedings on the part of
the Government; Captain Huish, and Mr. Carter, soli-
citor of Birmingham, represented the London and
North-Western Company; and Colonel Nicholls at-
tended on the part of Miss Baird and other friends of the
deceased.
Prior to the resumption of the evidence,
Mr. Carter observed that as the jury had expressed a
desire to view the spot where the accident happened, he
begged to inform the coroner that the company had made
arrangements to convey the jury in a special train to the
place, and that every facility would be afforded them for
that purpose. He would suggest that the earlier they
went the better, as it would interfere less with the ordi-
nary traffic of the line.
The CORONER said. the plan he proposed was first to
take as much evidence from passengers as possible. The
jury would, after refreshment, then proceed to Wolver-
hampton, and examine the line up to Newton-bridge.
This done, he would then take any further evidence
which might be offered, in order to conclude the inquiry
that evening.
A juror trusted they should not be taken to view the
line when it was too late to see it.
The CORONER said he would take care they should
have every opportunity.
The court was then formally re-opened, and the panel
having answered to their names,
The Rev. George Yarnold Osborne was first examined
—I reside at Thames-house, Worcester, and was a pas-
senger in the express train from Manchester on the
evening of the 2d of September. I did not remark any-
thing before coming to Stafford; but there was consider-
able delay at that place. I should judge that the delay
was certainly more than ten minutes over the usual time
for stopping. I have very often travelled on the line,
and by that train. The cause of the delay was a passen-
ger's luggage being sent by the Trent Valley line in mis-
take, instead of to Wolverhampton. After leaving the
station we stopped for a minute and a half on reaching
the bridge; but I do not know why we stopped there.
We reached Wolverhampton at the usual speed, and left
that place exactly at a quarter to eight o'clock. I knew
that was the time by my watch, which was correct by
railway time. We left that place at rather an increased
speed, but not much, to the best of my belief. There
was a slight oscillation, but not more than that I have
usually felt at that rate, and by express trains. I was in
the centre compartment of the middle carriage. There
were three carriages. I first noticed the oscillation close
to Wolverhampton; but nothing else attracted my at-
tention. There was no " bumping" of any sort. The
five passengers in the compartment in which I was were
thrown together rather forward. I think it was five
minutes to eight o'clock. It was just before the accident
happened that I looked at my watch and saw the time.
The passengers being thrown forward was the first notice
I had of the accident. We were all thrown from our seats.
I was sitting in the centre seat, facing the engine. When
we recovered ourselves, which was in a moment, we got
ont of the window. The carriage was then off the
line, and thrown towards the left. The other car-
riages appeared to be thrown to the same side, and with
the same inclination. (A plan of the position of the
carriages after the accident was here handed to the wit-
ness, which he said was quite accurate.) I cannot state
the length of time that elapsed before the pilot-engine
came up and the crash took place, but lam sure it did
not strike the first of the carriages. I should say be-
tween three and six minutes, but it is impossible to say
accurately. Being at the time in a field off the line, I
did not see the pilot-engine coming, but the first thing I
heard was the crash. I was not on that side of the lice,
and therefore my attention was not drawn to it. 'I af-
terwards saw the pilot-engine lying upon the line. In
consequence of there being but little assistance at the
Newton station, of course but little could be ren-
dered at first; but afterwards everything possible was
done, and the kindness on the part of the neigh-
bours was beyond description. Having stopped
to look after some luggage belonging to some
ladies, I cause on to Birmingham in the second
train. At the time of the accident my impression is
that the train was going at the rate of from 40 to 45
miles an hour. I think we came seven miles and a halt
in ten minutes. There did not appear to me to be an
acceleration of speed just before the accident. I did
not experience it in the position in which I sat in the
carriage. If there had been any great acceleration of
speed just before the accident I am sure it could not have
escaped my notice. If there had been any " bumping"
I must have felt it more sensibly, as I was sitting for-
ward in my seat. lam convinced there was not. I was
told the rails were torn up, but I did not see them. I
travelled down by the express train a fortnight previous,
but it is four months since I came up the " up line" by
express, but on neither occasion did I observe the line to
be out of order.
By Mr. Carter—l am aware that the line descends from
Wolverhampton to Birmingham, and that there is more
oscillation at that part than any other, on account of the
descent. lam not aware that the line is on the ascent
between Stafford and Wolverhampton.
By a Juror—l experienced no oscillation up to Wol-
verhampt,m. I know there was a separation of the train
at Stafford, one portion going by the Trent Valley line,
and the lightest to Birmingham. I know the distance
from Wolverhampton to the scene of the accident by the
time bills of the company. The engine, tender, and lug-
gage van were thrown on the other side of the rail, on to
the down line. lam aware that a short train is more
subject to occillation than a long one.
Robert M'Cullum (valet to the deceased colonel, who
was examined on Wednesday last) was here re-called, as
the Ceroner said he understood a juror wished to ask
him some questions. He said—l got into the second
class carriage at Stirling, and changed the carriage at
Stafford. I did not observe any " bumping" between
Stafford and Wolverhampton, but I observed it about
two miles on this side of Wolverhampton. When
I first heard it it was very slight, like three
short blows, then a second and third time after
we had got about half a mile further on. The
bumping was repeated four or five times before (the
accident happened. There was so much shaking that
I thought the bottom of the carriage was coming in, and
I was obliged to lift up my feet from it.
By a juror—There was no increase of passengers at
Wolverhampton, only an exchange. I think the engine
went off the line before any of the carriages. I cannot
say what passengers were in the same carriage with
Colonel Baird, excepting Miss Baird and another lady.
My reason for thinking that the engine went off the line
first is, that it was much further away from the line
than the carriage in which I was, and which was very
close to the rails.
By the CORONER—I perceived a great increase of
speed between Wolverhampton and the place of the ac-
cident as compared with what I had before observed.
Mr. G. Last examined—l am at present staying at the
house of Mr. Kell, of Monument-lane, Birmingham, and
am a merchant. I was a passenger in th© train in
which Colonel Baird was at the time of the accident. I
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accident took place. From the moment we got off the
rails to the period of the accident two
elapse. I knew the carriages were oir minutes did not
the rails by find-
ing the one in which I was thrown over n one side.
TherZ) was great oscillation of the carriages°
ately before the accident. I was in theiddilemmedi-
partment of the leading first-class carriage at the Tin-
When the accident took place this carriage was
tht me.
over completely on its side on the up-line of rown
rail s. The
first intimation I had of an accident having happened
was hearing a crash, but it was almost simultaneous
with our own carriage falling over. I sat in the lefts-
hand corner of the carriage, with my back to the engine.
I felt the carriage in which I was move somewhat after
it had fallen over on to the ground. There were two
other gentlemen in the same compartment of the car-
riage with me. In consequence of the fall I had my
hand hurt, and the tendons of my wrist sprained. When
I got out of the carriage in which I was, I saw a gentle-
man lying near the buffers of the second carriage.
(The witness here described the position of the car-
riages, and on being shown a plan which had been taken,
said that, to the best of his belief, it was correct.)
Evidence continued—After theaccident I walked down
the line towards Newton-bridge, and I found the line torn
up in several places, and an engine and tender lying
across the rails.
By Mr. Carter—The crash of which I have spoken
might have been the settling down of the other two car-
riages to which ours was attached. It is my impression
that between Stafford and Wolverhampton we were run-
ning at a greater speed than 35 miles an hour to make
up for lost time, but I cannot speak positively as to the
rate of speed.
By the Foreman of the jury—After the accident I was
not conscious of the noise of another engine going down
the line. There was no bumping of our carriage till we
got off the rails. The gentleman I saw was lying under
the buffer of the carriage. Ido not believe that such a
shock could have been produced by an engine striking us
running at the rate of 40 miles an hour.
Colonel Nicholls here stated that he was commissioned
by Miss Baird to express her acknowledgments to the
authorities of the London and North-Western Company,
and particularly to Mr. Robinson, the station-master at
Birmingham, for the unremitting kindness and attention
which had been bestowed on Colonel Baird and herself.
He begged to say, that although that lade had been de-
prived of her only friend, she had no desire whatever to
put the company to any trouble or expense.
The CORONER—The course which
the company have
pursued is highly creditable to them.
Mr. John Percival examined—l reside at No. 1, Bel-
grave-place, Bristol-road, Birmingham. I was a passen-
eer by the Liverpool express train to Birmingham
on
Saturday last. I got into the train at Wolverhampton.
train was then 25 minutes behind time. It arrived
et Wolverhampton at a quarter to eight o'clock. Shortly
ifter starting I observed that the train was going at very
rest spend; greater speed than customary. Shortly
Liter that I felt an unpleasant reeking in the carriage,
-Ind it was immediately followed by a knocking of the
carriages together, both before and behind. I was in
the same carriage with the Rev. Mr. Osborne and three
other passengers, and as soon as our carriage, which
vas the middle one, turned over on its side, one gentle-
inun broke the window, and we jumped out and got into
in the field about half a
field. After I had been
Dimity I saw an engine coming down from Birmingham,