The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-08 00:00:00

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A serious event occurred on the Buckinghamshire
Railway on Saturday evening, by which no less than
six persons lost their lives, and many were injured.
Excursion trains left Oxford on Monday and Tuesday
mornings for London, with the understanding that
passengers could return at stated times as late as
Saturday. On that day when the excursion train left
the Euston Station for Oxford, it consisted of fourteen
carriages, drawn by one of Stephenson's six-wheel pa-
tent engines. Some of the carriages were unoccupied.
There were however about 200 passengers. The
train left London at about five o'clock, and approached
the Bicester Station at a rapid rate at about 7.30.
On passing the "points" the engine became discon-
nected from the tender, went off the line to the right,
knocked down the farther gatepost by the side of the
turnpike road to Aylesbury, which crosses the line
on the level, and approached close to the back of the
station-master's house, which in all probability would
have been forced down but for one of the rails becom-
ing twisted round the wheel of the engine, and the
ponderous machine becoming embedded in the sand.
Several persons who were by the side of the road as
spectators were placed in imminent danger. Two or
three, on seeing the engine off the line, ran under the
porch of the house, to which the engine approached
within a few inches. The three carriages next to the
engine tender went off the line to the left, knocked
down the opposite gate-post, and went over with a
dreadful crash into the turnpike road. The scene
was terrific, and can only be understood by those
who witnessed it. The cries of the suffering passen-
gers, and of their friends who were waiting at the
station, were appalling. From the station being so
near the town the event was soon known, and many
of the inhabitants forthwith hastened to the spot, and
assisted to the utmost of their ability. The sad acci-
dent was forthwith communicated to Oxford. A
telegraph message was also sent to the locomotive de-
partment at Wolverton fur assistance, and in about an
hour Mr. Bedford, the inspector, arrived with a staff
of assistants, and the necessary implements, &c., for
assisting the sufferers, and righting the line, &c.
The rails were found to be torn up. and impas-
sable. Some of the sufferers had thrown them•
selves out from the carriages, others were unable
'o do so, and some were, it was evident, dead.
The work of extrication lasted till morning. Mr.
Al'Connell, the head of the I,,cornotive department at
Wolverton, and Mr. Bruas, from the Euston Station,
were at the scene as soon as possible. Mr. William
Acton, surgeon, of 46, Queen Anne-street, Cavendish-
square ; and Mr. F. G. Wyatt, of 11, Queen-street,
Oxford, a student of King's College, were passengers
with the train. They immediately rendered every
assistance in their power, and saw to the proper re-
moval of the sufferers. The resident surgeons were
also soon in attendance, as were other professional
gentlemen from Oxford and Winslow. Alderman
Browning, of Oxford, one of the directors of the
Buckinghamshire Railway Company, with other gen-
tlemen from that city, was at the spot in the course
of the night. Every arrangement was made for the
comfort of the sufferers. Several who were only
slightly hurt proceeded to their destinations, but the
injuries received by ten of the passengers were so
serious, that they were forthwith removed to the
King's Head, the Nag's Head, and other inns. The
line was ere daylight made passable, but the engine
and the carriage on the road had not up to that time
been righted. The other two carriages were, from the
crash and the sawing, to relieve the passengers, cut
to pieces. The cause of the accident will form the
subject of a legal inquiry, and it would perhaps be
scarcely fair to give
,publicity to the rumours on the
subject.
The following persons are now lying dead at Bi-
cester, viz. :
Corporal Noon, No. 63 of the 7th company of
Royal Sappers and Miners, a promising young man,
the son of a builder at Oxford. He had leave of
absence from Kensington-barracks until Thursday
next.
Mrs. Shelton and infant child, of Ashley-place,
Oxford.
Elizabeth Easley, of about 18, from 2, Draper's-
place, New-road, London.
Carrier a lad of 14, son of the engine-driver
who had charge of the engine at the time of the
accident.
The following are seriously injured, and are now
lying at Bicester :
James Luckett, a young man of about 24, who was
on his way to Oxford.
Life Guardsman Davies and his daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Bariogton, from London.
Mr. Bailey, from London.
Mr. Bolton.

Mr. Smith, on his way to No. 1, Clarendon-place,
Oxford. This gentleman will, it is thought, be able
to proceed home this afternoon.
A female of the name of Collis, from 53, Moorgate-
street, London, sister to Mrs. Shelton.
A female of the name of Terry, on her way to Bull-
street, the Friars, Oxford, and Mr. Daniel Shelton,
brother-in-law to Mrs. Shelton.
Sir H. Verney, Bart., M.P., the chairman of the
board of directors, visited Bicester this afternoon
(Sunday) and made personal inquiries.
Since the above was written poor Luckett has
breathed his last.
(OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.)
An accident, attended with fatal consequences to
several persons, occurred on Saturday evening to a
return train from London at the Bicester station.
The engine, in passing the points, appears to have
taken the wrong line, became detached from the
train, ran off the rails, and some of the carriages
were overthrown.
The information at present received is very scanty ;
but we understand that a soldier, three children, and
a woman have lost their lives, and that eight or ten
other persons are wounded. The company's officers
and a director of the Buckinghamshire Railway were
very shortly on the ground, and offered every assist-
ance in their power.
The inquest will be held immediately

------
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOU.4E OF COMMONS,— 1
The Right Hon. Mr. Shaw Fefevre, Speaker of the House of ,
Commons, and his son-in• law, Sir Henry Mildmay, who sr.
rived hero last week, in the course of a short tour in the
Highlands, went south on Monday morning, by the Edin-
burgh Castle, Captain Turner, along the Caledonian Canal,
and proceeded that evening as far as Oban.—/nverness
Courier.
TUE AFPICACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—
We understand in consequence of the recent indisposition of
Sir George Grey, AIX., that the nuptials of Miss Bernal,
daughter of Ralph Bernal, Esq., M.P ,is unavoidably post-
ponedi
.A., as the Honourable
with the Rev. Mr. Sandford,
Baronet was to have ofliciAted on the happy occas on to give
the lovely bride away.—Kelso Chronicle.

DEATH. Or 11IR. ANSTEY'S FATHER.-mr. T. AD-
stay, of Van Diemen's Land, died in March last at Anstfy
Barton, his seat in that colony, and where he had settled for
some \ ears. The deceased was father to Mr. Chisholm An-
stay, M.P. for the borough of Youghal. The deceased
we believe, a member of the Church of England. 1118" U
is
a =yea to the R9Data Catholic