The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-28 00:00:00

FEARFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Between 12 and 1 o'clock on Saturday morning a fear-
ful accident occurred at the Church Fenton station, on
the Leeds and York division of the North-Eastern Rail-
way, by which two persons were killed, one so injured
that be is not expected to recover, and six others sus-
tained injuries of a more or less serious character.
The Church Fenton station is a junction for York and
Harrowgate, and it appears, from the inquiries made,
that between 12 and 1 o'clock on Saturday morning a
heavy cheap train, which had been to the Market
Weighton cattle show, arrived at the station, and was
being shunted on to a siding in order to go forward on
the Harrowgate line, the train being thrown right
across the up-line. In addition to this unfortunate cir-
cumstance the signalman, instead of turning on a danger-
signal, while the train was across the line, allowed a
white semaphore to remain. At this time a goods train
came up from York, and, seeing the signal " All right"
exhibited, the engine•driver and guard anticipated no
danger, and they ran into the centre of the passenger
train. The goods train paned literally through the
passenger train, smashing three or four carriages to
atoms, and throwing the engine on its broadside. The
scene was one of fearful confusion—the groans of the
dying and wounded mingled with the screams of the
Affrighted passengers, awl the crash of the falling and i
broken carriages for a moment paralysed every one, and
excited fears of an accident still more terrific than it ulti-
mately proved to be. Immediately after the collision as-
sistance was rendered to the passengers whose carriages
had been crushed, and in a short tims two dead bodies
were discovered, one of them that of a wheelwright from
Tadeaster, and the other of an innkeeper from the same
❑eighbourhood, Shortly afterwards another man was
found with his thigh broken, and so injured teat he is
ost sap.sted to recover ; and is the course of a short
time six others were found seriously injured.
The injured were removed to the neighbouring houses
and medical assistance was rendered as early as possible.
The nature of the accident was telegraphed to York
and in the course of an hour or two a largo body of
:nen and officials arrived from York; and by -8 o'clock
the hno was again in working order. The permanent
.:ay was but little injured.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
An accident of a very fearful character, and attended
with loss of life, occurred at the Church Fenton station,
on the North-Eastern Railway, at about a quarter past
L 2 o'clock en Saturday morning. The occasion of the
c‘tastrophe was a goods train from York running into
a heavy passenger train from Market Weighton.
A. special train left Market Weighton about 10,0 clock
for Wetberby, conveying passengers who had been at-
tending the agricuaural show held at Market Weighton.
The train, which was a very long one, consisting of
about 20 carriages, arrived at Church Fenton station
about a quarter-past 12 o'clock, and it was necessary for
the train to be shunted in order to get on to the Church
Fenton and Harrowgate branch. The engine pushed
tue train hack for this purpose, and the end of the train
went along some portion of the up line from York to
Leeds. Just at this moment a goods-traiti from York
dashed into it, shivering one second and three third class
carriages into fragments, killing two of the passengers
and injuring about 14 others, some of them very
seriously.
Mr. Copeland, of Clifford-cum-Bostom, a farm hind, a
man apparently about 50 years of age, was killed on the
scot, and his body, when found, presented a dreadfully
mangled and mutilated appearance. Mr. Godfrey Bra-
ham, landlord of the Railway Hotel, Tadcaster, had his
skull fractured, and received other injut les, which caused
his death in about an hour afterwards. Mrs. Brahatn,
his wile, also received a severe cut on the head, but her
injuries, it is hoped, will not prove fatal, Mr. Water-
house, jun., of Tadcaster, received some internal and
0, her injuries of a serious character, and but slight hopes
*are entertained of his recovery. The other personi who
received serious hurts are Mr. Heptonstall, of Clifford ;
Mr. Jackson, of Tadcaster, leg broken ; and Mr. T.
Robins ..n, of Stutton. The names of the other sufferers
we were unable to learn.
In addition to the two unfortunate men who were
killed, about 14 persons were more or less injured, but
the remainder of the passengers, who numbered in all
between 40 and 50, escaped without sustaining anything
beyond a were shock.
The engine of the goods-train was completely over-
turned and crushed, but the driver of the engine and the
fireman miraculously escaped, almost without injury,
the fireman being merely scalded at the back of the
neck. The guard of the goods-train was thrown upon
his face, which was cut, and the driver of the passenger-
train also received some injuries.
With as little delay as possible medical assistance was
obtained. Mr. Scott, of Sherhurn, was sent for,and arrived
in a short time, and Dr. Williams came from York in a
special train. These gentlemen, assisted by Mr, Lewis,
of Sherburu, and other medical gentlemen, did evetr
thing they could for the unfortunate sufferers, all of
whom, with the exception of Mr. Waterhouse, were re-
moved to tneir respective homes about 3 o'clock by spe-
cial train.

Mr. Waterhouse was taken to the Railway Commer-
cial Hotel, where he at present lies, and, as alrea•ly
stated, without much chance of hia recovery. The re-
mains of the p,rs..ris who were killed were placed in
i
two of the rooms at the station to await a coroner's n-

qu?st.
L► addition to the four carriages shattered to pieces,
two cattle trucks, forming a portion of the goods train,
were also broken up, and the different pieces of the
carriages were scattered about the line in every direc-
tion. The rails were torn up fur a considerable dis-

tan,.e.
With regard to the cause cf the accident it appears
that the goods train was expected about the time it ar-
rived, and either the person whose duty it was to signal
to the driver that the line was clear or otherwise must
have neglected to do so, or the ()river must have disre-
garded the signal or not observed it.

The following, offlo;al account is from the secretary
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
"North-Eastern Railway.—Secretary's-office,
York, July 26.
"Sir,--It is with much regret that I have to inform
you of a serious accident which occurred on this rail-
way about half:past 12 o'clock this morning. While a
passenger train was sopping at the Church Fenton eta
tion a merchandise train came up from York, and
ran into it, causing the following casualties :
" John Copeland, farm servant, Cliff )rd, near Thorp-
arch killed ; Mr. Braharn, innkeeper, Tadeastor—
; Mrs. Braham, wife of the above —had cat and
concussion of the brain ; Mr. Jackson, tallow chandler,
Tadc.aster—leg broken ; sir. Hepton,tall, farmer,
Thorp-arch—arm broken ; Mr. Waterhome, jun., tim-
ber merchant, Tadcaster —internal injury ; Mr. Nichol-
son, the constr.hle of Tadoaster, Mr. Richardson, of
Brarnham, and three or four persons had also been hurt,
but co:, sevelely.
" Mr. Waterhouse remains at the Church Fenton