The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-19 00:00:00

RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

STOCEPORT, WEDNESDAY.— An accident of a very serious
character, involving the loss of two lives and nearly sacri-
ficing four others, happened on the works of the Maccles-
field branch of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway,
early on Sunday morning, a few miles distant from this
town. The particulars connected with the melancholy oc-
currence may be gathered from the subjoined notice of the
evidence adduced yesterday, at the town infirmary, before
Mr. Hodson, the coroner, on thebodies of John Seal and John
Birtles, the unfortunate men who perished. It appeared that
the deceased were married men, the former a dyer by trade,
in the employ of Messrs. Marsland, in the town, and the
latter a labourer on the line, in the service of a Mr. Parkin-
son, a sub-contractor, and was employed in throwing the
sand from the bank near the town station. In consequence
of the men at this particular part of the works having been
up two nights at work on the line, and being desirous of
having a good night's rest, they refused to unload a number
of earth waggons on the night of Saturday, which would
have occupied them until two or three o'clock on
the following Sunday morning, and accordingly they were
allowed to work on that day in order to facilitate
the traffic of the line. Seal went casually in the course
of the morning to view the operations, and unfortu-
nately joined in the work. That was about eleven o'clock.
There were thirty waggons to unload, and an engine, num-
bered 27, took at first fifteen. They were emptied on the
main line, and the ballast was thrown upon another lime
parallel to it, on the Manchester branch in the township of
Woodford. While they were being unloaded, the engine
went back for the remainder, which were emptied and
brought back to the Cheadle Hulme station. They were left
on the Macclesfield branch, a trifling distance off the main line,
and the wheels of several were tied by the fastening down of
the breaks, to prevent them running on the main line, when
the other waggons behind came, up. The engine then set the
behind carriages in motion, and when about 140 yards off,
the train of standing, waggons, it was detached and
" shunted " off to the opposite line of rails ; as the road is
an incline the waggons were left to descend to the others by
their own gravity. Prior .to this, however, the engineer
had, by the use of his breaks, checked the impetus of the
train just before he left the waggons, and as their
velocity was considerable directions were given to those
on them to put down the breaks. The deceased and
four men were on the breaks when the engine was
detached. Two of them were thrown off by the sudden
check given to the impetus, the other two jumped
off from fear as the danger, increased, and the deceased, it
seems, retained their positio, and were crushed severely be-
tween the carriages. They .were removed to the infirmary,
and died in dreadful suffering in the course of the day.
Birtles had the bones of both hips fractured in several places,
and the pelvis crushed extensively. Seal bad a compound
fracture of the right thigh, and extensive injury of the soft
part of the limb. It was impossible for them to have lived
after such injuries. Mr. Parkinson, the sub-contractor, said,
he never allowed the men to work before on a Sunday in his
life. There were only three waggons that had not breaks.
It having then been proved that there was a sufficient num-
ber of breaks on the carriages to stop their downward
velocity, and that their not being properly used was the
cause of the accident, the jury found—" That the deaths of
the deceased were accidental, caused by the breaks of the
waggons not being sufficientry ma,de use of, and they re-
commended that in future no strangers, nor any one not ac-
customed to the breaks, should be entrusted. with their use."
It was stated during the proceeding.: that the Company bad
400 waggons of a similar description to that which met with
the accident, and that not more than ten were without breaks.

Died lately, at Camberwell, within a month of his
in3d birth-day, Nicholas Le Kiclieux a Protestant refugee from Nor-
mandy. Two of his brothers lived over 100 years iu France ; hie
wife died three years since, aged 93.
THE SOUTH- EASTERN RAILWAY.—The direct-rs of
this railway have given the public the accommodation of two express
trains daily both ways upon this line. One leaves the Bricklayers'
Arms at eleven o'clock in the morning, and the other London
Bridge, at four o'clock in the afternoon. The trains stop at Ton-
bridge, Ashford, and Folkestone, and make the journey both ways
between London and Dover in two hours and a half.
Some of the Railway Companies, who have failed in
getting in the half-crowns, and such small sums, as fast as they de-
sire, are pertinacious in their endeavours, and give the delicate hint
to the defaulters that theT names will be inserted in the London and
country papersecare being taken to select journals published near the
residence of the parties.
NEW DUTIES.—SILKS, &c.--The Treasury order for
the reduction of duties has just reached the Custom-house. Although
only actually taking effect to-day for dairy produce, butter, cheese,
&c., entries can be prepared and received this siterraxai at the house
for the payment of the duties on• silk, and the other articles specified
early to-morrow, and the establishment will be opened half an hour
earlier for the dispatch of the large amount of extra business ei-
pected. The parties clearing the goods give bond for the payment of
the old duties if the Bill should not pass.
WINDING UP OF PROJECTED RAlLWAlree—Petitions
are in the course of being signed here, calling on the 'various pro-
vincial committees to wind up their undertakings.—Edeseurgh Ad-
vertiser.
THE DANGER OF READXNO IN BED. Yesterday
morning, between twelve and oxe o'clock, the family of Mr. Lafon-
taine, of Montagu-street, Bryanstoue-square, were alarmed by loud
shrieks proceeding from the beed-room of Miss Jane Lafontaine, who
slept en the second floor. On proceeding to ascertain the cause, it
was found that the bed and betiding were in flames, as well as the
night-dress of Miss Lafontaine, who was severely burnt before the
fire could be extinguished so much so that her recovery is extremely
doubtful. It seems that Miss Lafontaine was in the habit of,read-
ing in bed, and in this instance, falling asleep, the candle ignited
the bed furniture, the heat and flame fortunately awaking Miss
Lafontaine, or otherwise the consequences would have been dreadful.
THE RECENT FIRE ON .LUDGA.TE-HILL,—The inquir3
into the cause 'if the late fire upon the premises of Mr. Carlin, tobac-
conist, Ludgate-street, Ludgate-hill, was resumed and concluded
yesterday afternoon, at the Goo se and Gridiron, St. Paul's Church-
yard, before the deputy-coroner, Mr. Joseph Payee. The jury re-
turned the following verdict:—•' Ws have reason to believe that the
fire was accidental, although thirre is not sufficient evidence before us
to show the precise manner in v►hich it originated." Atter the ver-
dict had been agreed to, the jury, by resolution, expressed their thanks
to the firemen and others engaged in extinguishing the fire, on the
ground that " if it had been allowed to rage ten minutes longer, it
would most probably have be ea attended with loss of life and a much
greater sacrifice of property:"
CHELSEA AND GREENWICH PENSIONERS.—By the
Bill now before Parliament for amending the Act for rendering effec-
tive the services of the Chelsea out-pensioners, and extending it to the
out-pensioners of Greenwich Hospital (which Bill, as amended, was
yesterday printed), it is proposed that the Act 6 and 7 Victoria, sec.
95, for the enrolment of Chelsea pensioners, shall extend to Green-
wich pensioners who may have served in the Royal Marines in like
manner as if they were out-pen: ;loners of Chelsea Hospital ; and that
the weole number of pensioners of both hospitals to be enrolled in
the United Kingdom is net to es :ceed 20,000 men, and that the days of
inspection or exercise shall not exceed 12 in one year. In the event
of any of the set-pensioners of ( ;reensvich Hospital FO enrolled volun-
teering their services to be kept, on duty and pay for any period not
exceeding six months, they shall only be employed within the United
Kingdom, or along the sea cos is thereof. The Lord-Lieutenant of
Ireland may call out the Irish pensioners to aid the civil power in
the preservation of the public pt ace.
REPRESENTATION OF IKANT LOTHIAN.—There have
been rumours of a vacancy lik sly to occur in the representation of
Haddingtonshire, by the retirement of the present Member. In that
event, the Hon. Francis Charte rig, who is intimately connected with
the agricultural interests of the county, has announced his intention
of becoming a candidate.--Edire WO Advertiser.

The Birmingham Mush :al Festival has this year been
axed for August 25 and three f allowing days, under the presidency
of the Right Hon. Lord Wrottesl

THE KINGFISHER.-01), Tuesday, Mr. Langford, of
Newington, shot one of those rare birds the kingfisher, in Batter-
sea-marshes. It is seldom these, birds approach so near the metro-
polis:

Mr. EluDsorf.—We regret to hear rumours of the
existence of such disagreements between Mr. Hudson and the direc-
ton of the Eastern Counties, as may possibly lead to Mr. Hudson's
retirement. We trust, for the interests of the shareholders, that
events may not confirm this rt sport. Looking to past mismanagement,
we can hardly believe that any board which had so signally mani-
fested its incapacity, would vi tature en a course of eppoeitlon to Mr.
Hudson.—Railteap Chronicle.
A few evenings ago, as the dr!ver of a one-horse
chariot, belonging to e. livery" tan, was returning hems with his car-
riage from A job, he met with:an old acquaintance, who induced him
to go to the Barriers du Main s and drink a bottle of wine together.
They enjoyed themselves over their glasses until the next day was
well advanced, when the cha loteer was upset under the table, and
lay in profound stupor. Tin s worthy companion having paid the
score, mounted the bex of the chariot, and drove it to St. Gerrnains,
where he sold the horse fer 201 '., and the carriage for Hit., although,
at the very lowest estimate th at could be made th,y were worth
1,200 f. With his 70f., or as a inch as was left after paying his ex-
penses at St. Germain', he retu reed to Paris, and there, after having
spent the whole of the money thus fraudulently acquired, was ar-
rested sport the complaint of tit a liveryman, who had got trace of
The vagabond was an oltl offender, having been already seve-
ral times tried, and twice condel tined for similar offeaces. On being
examined he pretended that he went to St. Germain' in pursuit of
his wife, who had absconded fro as him, and that, being in want of
money, ho had only pledged the horse and chariot for the 70f. He
was committed for trial.—Gedivectel.

. -
THE LAST NEW RAILWAY.—It is proposed to carry
a line of railroad front Peet's-cem sir round the interior of Westminster
Abbey. Each train will stop 1-i:tif a minute at the various side
chapels, and a minute and a hale at Henry Vll.'s chapel, to enable
passengers to view the monuments. The present conveyances round
the Abbey are considered to be to, s slow, and liscapable if holding a
sufficient number of passengers, to be consistent with the convenience
of the public. The fares, too, will be reduced.—N.E. An ewess
train, warranted to do the distance= in half the time, will be started
ten minutes before each of the services.—Punsh.
THE ROAD 1--Out of the four coaches lately running
daily from Stamford to Grantham, 'there are now but two left, via.,
" The Red Rover" and the " Leeds %fail." The Grantham " Von-
der" coach, that met the eleven o'cipck train !ruin London, ceased
running on Saturday last. Parties from Grantham will therefore
have to leave town by the first train, or stay in Stamford all night,
suit go 17 1110 Lotikagi lio_llllolll4o litining.--10(#0•4 joror,