The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-18 00:00:00

THE ACCIDENT AT WALKER.

The Northern Daily Express gives the following particu-
lars of the fearful accident at Walker :—The yard is
situated on the banks of the Tyne, between the premises
of Lloyd's public chain and anchor test and the Walker
Colliery Staith, about four miles from Newcastle. The
accident occurred in the new portion of the yard nearest
the ferry boat landing. About half-past three o'clock
a number of rivetters and painters were busily
engaged in putting the finishing touches upon a
small screw steam vessel, about 500 tons burthen. Several
of the rivetters who were working at the hull incautiously
removed too many of the blocks on which she stood in
order to facilitate their operations, she started forward as
if she were being launched, the shores sprung away, and
owing to the inclination on which vessels are built, she
settled to the earth, a distance of about three feet—and so
easily that a casual pasaer-by would not have o bserve(
that the vessel was in other than its proper positi )n—
there' crushing in its descent a number of the work
men. This fact was no doubt, the
of the effects being so disastrous, for
but a minute's notice had been given many who have been
hurt could certainly have got out of the way in time to
save themselves from injury. Two of the dead who were
working immediately under the vessel, in the most
precarious position of all were killed instantaneously,
mid such was the force with which the vessel
fell upon them that it crushed them into the
earth, from which they had afterwards to be dug by
means of spades and other implements for turning over
earth. One of them (Kelly) had his head nearly severed
from the trunk, while the head of the other (Newark) was
crushed almost flat. Two others (Adams and;Johnson)
died within a few minutes after they-were picked up, as
they were being removed. Those simply, wounded were
conveyed in the ambulance connected with the works, and
others hastily constructed with planks for the occasion,
and speedily removed to the new infirmary in the town-
ship. Three others, whose hurts were of merely a trifling
description, walked home, as before stated. As soon as the
catastrophe happened there was a general rush of the
workmen in the yard to the spot, and hurried preparations
were made for extracting and removing the dead and in-
jured. Mr. Charles Mitchell, principal of the firm ;
Mr. Henry Francis Swan, one of the partners ; and Mr.
Dobson, manager, who received timely intimation of
the occurrence, arrived in good time at the scene of
the catastrophe, and superintended the operations,
the result of which was the removal of the dead to a
warehouse and the injured to the hospital, where they
were attended by Dr. Lownds and Dr. Wilson, the hos-
pital surgeons, and Dr. Aitchison. The news—as all ill
news does—spread rapidly in all directions, and before
long the relatives and friends—men, women, and children
—of the'l,6oo workmen engaged by Messr. Mitchell and
Co., had arrived at the gate, many of them from New-
castle and Shields, and the intermediate township, and
were making eager inquiries to ascertain whether any
of those in whose welfare they were imme-
diately concerned were amongst the killed or
wounded, and it was difficult to prevent them
rushing into the yard and obtaining the required
information by personal observation. It was an affecting
sight to see the crowds of anxious wives and mothers, and
weeping children, excitedly asking if their relatives were
safe, yet trembling lest the answer should be otherwise
than they desired. Affecting also was the joy depicted in
the countenances of those who found that their friends
and relatives had suffered no mishap, and in striking
contrast was the misery and sorrow expressed
in the faces of those who obtained information
of an opposite character. The accident is one
of an unusual character, many who have• been engaged
in the shipbuilding trade never having heard of
such an one before. One of Messrs. Mitchell's foremen, how-
ever, remembers having seen one of a similar character at
an earlier period of his career, but in that case the vessel,
which was a smaller one, gave timely notice, and the work-
men were thus enabled to get out of the road and escape
without any injury. The catastrophe, we are informed,
was one which would not have occurred had the workmen
observed the rules imposed by the firm upon their work-
men. According to information afforded us, the removal
of the blocks is a thing strictly forbidden, and it is said
that blocks were removed on this occasion. The ship,
which has received no damage, is intended for the French
trade.

cause

With regard to the sum of 60,000 francs, said to
have been paid to M. Granier de Cassagnac, that
gentleman has written to La Situation complain-
ing that he has been calumniated. Ile says
that the French Government have in their hands
a full account of how money deposited with him by the
Emperor was expended. lie sneeringly adds, that the
French Government will doubtless omit to publish any
account of the Empress's charities to Rochefort's children,
which he (Cassagnac) is prepared, if need be, to prove.
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