The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-30 00:00:00

WANDSWORTH.

THE LATE DISTRESSING ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH-
WESTERN RAILWAY.—John Stubbings, aged 26 years,
described in the police-sheet as a pointsman, was
brought up in the custody of Mr. Thomas Bent, the
officer employed expressly upon the South-Western
Railway, and placed in the dock before Mr. Paynter,
charged with neglect of duty by improperly shifting
the points at the Nine Elms junction, thereby endan-
gering the lives of the passengers.
Bent handed the magistrate the following certifi-
cate :

"St. Thomas's Hospital.
" I certify that William Matthews is in St. Thomas's
Hospital, in great danger from a compound fracture of
the loft hip bone, and from several other injuries. His
recovery is very doub;ful.

" TICRELL, House Surgeon."
Mr. W. Wadman Young, the superintendent of the
line, was present to watch the proceedings on behalf
of the company.
An imperfect account of this unfortunate accident
appeared in this journal of yesterday, and it is only
just to the South-Western Railway Company, who
are entirely exonerated from any want of caution, to
place the facts before the public in its proper light.
For some considerable time past self-acting points
have been laid down at Nine Elms, one line of rails
reaching to Waterloo terminus, and the other to the
goods depot at Nine Elms. In June last a
man was expressly employed for the purpose
of watching and holding the points as the
trains passed, in order that they should not
shift and cause any accidents. When any
trucks were required to enter the goods department,
his only duty was to push open the point, and the line
would then run the trucks into Nine Elms. On
Thursday last the pointsman was taken suddenly un-
well, and the prisoner, who had been connected with
railways for some years, and who was generally em-
ployed as a plate-layer, was directed to take charge of
the points, being considered at the time qualified for
the duty in every respect. He performed all his duties
properly until Saturday evening, when he inadver-
tently, or from want of proper judgment, pushed open
the points as the 7.20 train from Twickenham arrived
for Waterloo. The train necessarily passed into Nine
Elms, and the tender came into collision with some
trucks, from the effects of which the tender was over-
turned and damaged, several trucks destroyed, two
horses killed, and several persons narrowly escaped
with their lives. The passengers were terribly
alarmed, but fortunately escaped from any serious in-
jury. Matthews, one of the porters, was thrown
under one of the waggons, and the prisoner fell under
the box, which was also knocked down. Mr Young,
the superintendent, was speedily upon the spot, ac-
other officials, and assisted in placing
companied by
everything in order.
The following evidence was add'aced before the
Magiatrate:—

Richard Richardson was first examined, and he
deposed that he was an engine-driver in thOservice
of the South-Western Railway Company. He had
charge of the engine which was attached to the 7.20
train from Twickenham on Saturaay evening last.
On arriving about 300 yards from the Nine Elms
Junction, he blew his whistle and thut off the steam.
He then noticed that the signals and points were
right for Waterloo terminus. On arriving about
three yards from the points he then noticed that the
points were open for the goods department, and the
train immediately passed into that place. The ten-
der struck the trucks which were stmding upon the

line, the effect of which was to overturn the tender
Some waggcns were destroyed, and the tender was
damaged.
John Maithouse, pointsman, said he was standing
within a short distance of the prisoner on Saturday
evening last. The 7.20 train was expected, and wit-
ness saw the points were correct for Waterloo. He
hoisted the signals that the line was all right, and
when the train passed it went into the goods depart-
ment, instead of proceeding to the terminus. Witness
examined the points after the accident had occurred,
and found them perfectly right. They must have been
open as the trai❑ passed, or he would not have found
them closed. The points always closed by the force
of the trai❑ passing.
In answer to questions, the witness said he did not
see the prisoner push open the points. He had them
correct shortly before the train approached.
Richard Carey, another pointsman, gave similar
evidence, and added,that three waggont*ere destroy Ed,
and the poiutsman's box WAS knocked down. The sig-
nal-man was thrown under the roof of the hex, and
Matthews, who was standing near the trucks, was
thrown under the broken trucks.

Mr. Young said he was sent for, and upon arriving
immediately afterwards he found all the passengers had
alighted and bad left the place.
Mr. PAYNTER said it was a very singular acci-
dent; generally he found railway companies did not
employ sufficient persons to prevent accidents, but in
this case it seemed that they had employed too many.
Mr. Young said the points were self-acting, and if
the prisoner had not touched the points, but put his
hands in his pockets, the accident would not have oc-
curred, as the points would have been closed, and the
train would have passed on to Waterloo. He did not
believe the prisoner had opened the points purposely ;
but it was from an error of judgment.
Mr. PAYNTER, asked the prisoner if he had
anything to say in answer to the charge. He
need not state anything unless he thought proper ?
The prisoner said he had no idea that the points
were wrong when the train passed. He was certainly
strange to the points, as he had only been placed
there for two days. He was standing by the points
when the train passed, and he thought they were all
right.
Mr. PAYNTER asked the prisoner how long before
he let
.an engine pass ?—The prisoner said he could
not tell.

Mr.. Young said the prisoner informed him on Sa-
turday night that he let an engine through shortly
before the accident ; the points were then quire
correct.

The prisoner again expressed his sorrow for what
had occurred, but he believed the points were correct
when the train passed.
Bent said the life of Matthews was despaired of on
Sunday evening, but that morning he was considered
much better.

Mr. PAThTER said he should remand the prisoner
until that day fortnight, in order to ascertain whether
the wounded man was likely to recover. lie would
accept bail, two sureties in 201. each, and himself in
401., for his appearance on the day mentioned, to
answer any charge that might be preferred against him.
Bail was put in, and the prisoner was liberated.

DEATH OF JAMES FENIMORE COOPER,
THE NOVELIST.
(From the New York .Herald of Sept. 16.)
We have received the following telegraphic dis-
patch, last evening, from Utica :
" Utica, Sept. 15, 1851.
"The Utica Observer of this afternoon announces
the death of J. Fenimore Cooper, which took place at
his residence, in Cooperstown, yesterday (Sunday)
afternoon, at one o'clock."
This event, we presume, is not unexpected to the
friends of Mr. Cooper, as it is known that his health
has been gradually declining for several months past,
although some had hoped that he would recover from
the attack he experienced a few weeks since, which
then threatened his speedy dissolution, as publicly an-
nounced.
Few Americans have filled a wider place in the
literary history of their country, or have left more
enduring marks of fame as delineators of character,
and in illustrating history, through the medium of
works of romance, than Mr. Cooper; and a brief
notice of his life and literary career cannot fail to be
interesting.
James Fenimore Cooper was born at Burlington,
New Jersey, on the 15th of September, 1789; of
course his age was 62 years, within one day, at the
time of hi 3 death. His father was the late Judge
William Cooper, a descendant of an English an-
cestor of the same name, who settled at Burlington,
New Jersey, in 1769. The branch of the family to
which the novelist belonged removed, more than a
century since, into Pennsylvania, in which state his
father was born but in early life established himself
at the home of his ancestors, Burlington, New Jersey.
In 1785 he removed to a settlement then commenced
on Ostego Lake, in the state of New York, to which
the name of Cooperstown, in honour of him, was after-
wards given. An interesting description of this early
settlement, and the character of his father, the founder,
of the village, with other pioneers of the place, are
given in Mr. Cooper's novel " The Pioneers," one of
his most popular works. Judge Cooper passed his
time alternately at Cooperstown and Burlington from
1785 to 1790, in which latter year he removed his
family, including his infant son, to the new settle-
ment, where be had erected the mansion in which
both father and son successively resided, and where
both passed their last hours on earth.
Judge Cooper took an active part in politics, and
was twice elected a member of Congress, namely, in
1795 and 1799. His son, the subject of this sketch,
wes early placed at school, in Burlington, N. J., and
was partially fitted for college at Albany by the Rev.
Mr. Ellison, an episcopal clergyman. He completed
his preparatory studies at New Haven, where he en•
tered Yale College in 1802. Leaving that institution
in 1805, he obtained a midshipman's warrant, and
entered the navy. After six years in a service where
he was said to he a favourite, he resigned his office,
and retired to private life. In January 1811 he mar-
ried Miss De Lancey, a sister of Bishop De Lancey,
of the western diocese of New York, and one of the
oldest and most conspicuous families of this state.
After his marriage Mr. Cooper resided for some time
near White Plains, Westchester County, but at a
subsequent period removed to Cooperstown, the former
family residence of his parents, where he has since
spent a great portion of his life.
In 1821 Mr. Cooper commenced his career as an
author, when the late A. I'. Goodrich, bookseller, of
this city, published his first novel, called " Precau-
tion." It was issued anonymously, but Mr. Cooper
was soon known as the author, and the discovery,
perhaps, rather facilitated the sale of a work which,
being simply a tale of domestic life in England,
although finely drawn, was not peculiarly calculated
to attract attention. It had, however, a fair sale, and
the edition was gradually exhausted, but we believe
the author was never very anxious to revive the work
in future editions, although it was republished in
London, where it passed for an English novel.
The foundation of Mr. Cooper's fame as a novelist
was permanently laid in " The Spy ; a Tale of the
Neutral Ground," which soon followed " Precaution,"
and immediately became extremely popular, both in
this country and in Europe, where it was republished
in English, French, and other languages. It is,
doubtless, one of the most powerful historical tales
ever written, and is regarded by many as the best
work of Mr. Cooper. The charming novel of " The
Pioneers; or, the Sources of the Sw.quehannah," fol-
lowed " The Spy," and was eminently successful
with the public. It is the first of " The Leather
Stocking Tales," so called, the others being " The
Last of the Mohicans," " The Prairie," " The Path
Finder," and " The Deer Slayer," which followed,
but not in regular succession-some of his other
works intervening.
We should here mention that no American novels
have been so extensively translated into foreign lan-
guages as those of Mr. Cooper. " The Spy" has had
the greatest run in this way. In 1847 it appeared in
the Persian language, at Ispahan.
The novel of " The Pilot" was the first of Mr.
Cooper's tales of the ocean, which have so much added
to his popularity. To this classs 'belong also "The
Red Rover," "The Water Witch," " The Sea Lions"
"The Two Admirals," and some others.
The following is, we believe, a complete list of the
' various romances and novels from the pen of Mr.
Cooper, or of which he is the acknowledged author :
-1. Precaution. 2. The Spy. 3. The Pioneers.
4. The Pilot. 5. Lionel Lincoln. 6. Last of the
Mohicans. 7. The Prairie. 8. The Red Rover.
9. The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish. 10. The Water
Witch. 11. The Bravo. 12. The Heidenmauer.
13. The Headsman of Berne. 14. The Monikins.
15. Homeward bound. 16. Home as Found. 17.
The Pathfinder. 18. Mercedes of Castile. 19. The
Deerslayer. 20. The Two Admirals. 21. Wing
and Wing. 22. Wyandotte. 23. Autobiography of
a Pocket Handkerchief'. 24. Ned Myers (a genuine
biography). 25. Ashore and Afloat. 26. Miles
Wallingford. 27. Satanstoe ; a Tale of the Colony.
28. The Chainbearer. 29. The Red Skins. 30. The
Crater; or Vulcan's Peak. 31. Oak Openings ; or
the Bee Hunter. 32. Jack Tier ; or, the Florida
Reef. 33. The Sea Lions ; or, the Lost Sealers.
34. The Ways of the Hour (published in 1850.)
Most of the above works were issued in two
volumes each, and their variety exceeds that of any
other American writer. Though very unequal in point
of talent and interest, they have, with few exceptions,
been well received by the public, and have proved a
source of great profit to the author.
Mr. Cooper was also the author of a popular " His-
tory of the United States Navy," in two volumes
" Notions of the Americans, by a Travelling Batche-
lor ;" " Gleanings in Europe," in six volumes ;
" Sketches of Switzerland," in four volumes; a small
political work called " The American Democrat
and a " Letter to his Countrymen ;" likewise "Lives
of Distinguished Naval Officers," in two volumes.