The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-31 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 31, 1856.

THE FOG OF WEDNESDAY.

RIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND
NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
Yesterday much painful excitement was evinced amongst
the passengers by the London and North-Westein Rail-
way, through it being publicly reported that a fearful ac-
cident, attended with the loss of two lives, the victims
being a driver and a stoker, had taken place on the line the
preceding evening, or early that morning, at Wolverton,
during the dense fog, which from accounts received appears
to have enveloped the whole country. However, upon an
official inquiry being made, it was satisfactorily learnt that
although a somewhat serious accident had happened on
Wednesday evening, yet fortunately it was unattended
with loss of life. From what can be gleaned, it seems that
a luggage-train, to which had been attached two
engines (not
,working), intended to be left for repairs
at Wolverton, was proceeding up towards the latter
station, when within two or three miles -the engine
drawing the train became unlinked, and slipped off the
line, embedding itself in the adjoining embankment. The
consequence was that the luggage-vans became clogged,
and a scene of general confusion ensued on the two engines
which were in the rear corning with all their might among
the upset waggons. Immediately, through the accident
having taken place in a long cutting, the rails were com-
pletely blocked by the debrio and shattered carriages, and a
telegraphic message was instantly despatched to 'Wolver-
ton, apprising them there of the disaster. As promptly as
possible telegraphic communications were forwarded from
Wolverton to the stations up and clown the line warning
approaching trtkina not to advance, and a large body of
labourers were at once sent on to the scene of the
appalling occurrence to clear the rails. Some period
elapsed, of course, before this could be accomplished, when
on removing the engines it was found that they were much
damaged. The lines were cleared, the rails having been
.perfectly tested. The trains which had been delayed were
allowed to proceed on cautiously, the latter precaution
being taken as seven or eight trains were standing on
various parts of the up and down lines. No other accident,
happily, took place, and the working of the line continued
uninterrupted throughout yesterday. With respect to the
driver and stoker who were alleged to have been killed by
the frightful occurrence, the reporter learnt that the driver
only sustained some slight scalds, and that the stoker
escaped unhurt

~J
... +

that empty trains should be brought from Wolverton, and
that the passengers ought to be transferred, but this was
impossible, inasmuch as the rails were torn up and dis-
turbed by the collision for nearly a quarter of a mile, and
to have conducted any number of passengers along the
steep sides of an embankment during such a night, over so
great a distance, would have been attended with imminent
risk to life and limb. The more daring passengers out of
some of the trains found their way tb Wolverton, where
Pagnell and the whole supply of edibles and liquids was speedily con-
sumed. Expresses were sent to Newport Sto-
ney Stratford, and other places to obtain provisions, but
many passengers failed in even getting a piece of bread,
and a biscuit or a quarter of a pork pie is described by
the guards as having been worth a king's ransom, to such
a state of hunger were many persons reduced.
Another awkward circumstance in connection with the
accident was that, of necessity, those trains which imme-
diately followed that to which the collision occurred were
the last to be relieved. Each succeeding train added to the
existing block, and when at last Ms. Bedford, chief officer
of the company's police in the district, who was in attend.
ante almost immediately after the accident, and remained
actively engaged under Mr. INl‘Connell, the whole night,
gave the word for up traffic to be resumed, such was
the state of the trains that to adapt a Scriptural metaphor,
"The first was actually last and -the last first," the Liver-
pool mail leaving that place at 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday
night being the first to shunt on to the down rails—over
which single line, it is much to the credit of the company's
officials to declare, all the delayed traffie was safely piloted,
through an intense fog, without the occurrence of a single
casualty.
The arrival of trains at Easton has never previously been
interrupted to a like extent, and it raay be interesting to
note the variation between the ordinary periods when due
and the actual arrival of the principal up trains affected by
the accident

Duo Oct. 29. Arrd. Oct. 30.
Liverpool, 3d class 6.30 p.m.
Midland, fast train , 6.0 p.m...,.,, 10.18 a.m.
Manchester, Ist and 2d class 7.30 p.m.
Birmingham, Ist and 2d class 8.30 p.m
Liverp001, express
Manchester, Ist and 2a class 10.5 p.m.
Scotch, express

The Liverpool and Suotch mails due respectively at Eus-
ton at 4.30 aoi. and 5.1.6 yesterday morning, although the
last affected by the block, were, as already stated, the first
to shunt, and they both arrived within a few mintttes of
each other, between seven and eight o'clock yesterday
morning.

One result of the accident was that the telegraph com-
munication was entirely destroyed, several of the posts
having been knocked down, and a considerable extent of
the wires broken. It was some time after midnight before
the communication was restored.

The ordinary traffic was resumed yesterday shortly after
noon, but the up line was not restored, and fora few hours
the trains will be piloted over the down line.

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WESTERN
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CORONER'S INQUESTS ON
WESTERN RAIL WAY SUFFwopeinEhnnloos:
Yesterday evening Mr. Wm. Carter, the coroner for
East Surrey, held two lengthened inquiries one at the
Dog and For Tavern, Wimbledon, on the Cody of Wm.
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prevailed on Wednesday last.
Respecting the latter Case; John Oakley 'aid that he
resided at No. 23, Ford's-buildings„ New-road, Batter-
sea, and knew the deceased, who was employed at the
Plough-lane crossing. The line was about 24 or 25 feet
wide, and on Wednesday night it was so foggy that he
could not see across the line. On Wednesday evening,
having been sent on an errand, he approached the gates
when he heard the noise of a train approaching. He said
to deceased, " Wall, 'neighbour, this is very bad wea-
ther for your business, and-1 pan afraid we shall hear of
several accidents." Ile its reply said, "I am afraid we
shall," when he crossed over the line with his lamp in
hand to signal the approaching train. 'Witness saw him
step upon the down line to let him (witness) through.
There was not time enough for him to get out of th e
way, and the consequence was that the engine struck
him, knocked him down, and the whole of the train
passed over the middle of his body and killed him.
By the Coroner—lt was impossible to see from the
gates 25 yards ov,r the line, and he thought no driver
could see from the engine. The deceased allowed one
train to pass and then got confused ; when in stepping
ou the down line, not more at first than six yards trom
the engine, he was hurled down. Owing to the density
of the fog it was impossible to see the lights of the
engine. The spot where the occurrence took place was
not a stopping station, but a part of the main line.
He has seen the train's meet at that particular spot,
but he could net tell the times. He heard the whistle
sounded of the up-train„ but the noise it made
drowned the other one. He did not think deceased
intended to commit suicide.
Thos. Hewitt laid he was a guard in the employment
of the London and South-Western Railway. On Wed-
nesday evening he left the Waterloo-road terminus at
five minutes after 4 o'clock. Upon reaching the Wands-
worth station his attention was called to the deceased's
cap, which was en the buffer-plates of the engine. The
train was stopped at Vauxhall, and after leaving there
came on at the rate of 12 miles an hour until arriving
at the Falcon junction, when he was stopped by a fug
signal, which exploded like a gun or pistol. After pro-
ceeding about 400 yards further on the line the accident
took place. The driver of the engine had, hOwever, pre-
viously sounded his whistle from the junction to the gate.
By the Coroner—lt was impossible to see six yards be-
yond the gates ; but there was nothing to indicate after
leaving the junction that anything was wrong. Looking
at the state of the weather, he thought every precaution
had been used to prevent such a deplorable occurrence.
Both whistles sounded alike, there was no difference in
the keys. The driver first told him that he thought
they had passed over some subtance.
By Mr. Godson—There is a great difference in the
sound of the whistles belonging to the goods trains ; but
no variation in the whistles of the passenger trains.
Had the weather been clear he had no doubt the accident
could have been prevented. Every gatekeeper and
porter is supplied with time-tables, which made known
at what moment a train was due.
The learned Coroner having summed up, the Jury
returned a verdict of Accidental Death.
The first case lasted a considerable time, at which
Mr. Godson, the superintendent of the goods depart-
ment, attended to watch the inquiry. The following
will be found to be a brief summary of the evidence :
Wm. Porter said that he knew the deceased, who was
a porter and not a signal-man. Wednesday morning it
was so dark on account of the fog that it was impossible
for any one to see across or down the line for 20 yards.
Two trains were due in the morning at one time ; one an
express, the other a passenger regular stoppage train.
Witness was employed to signal the trains, but could not
always do au on account of their not arriving at the
proper time. It was the usual practice to extend the
right arm as the signal, but when the up-line was not
clear it was the invariable practice to put up a danger
signal. As far as he knew the up-line was quite clear.
The up train having passed along, the down train was
started, and he then, for the first time, found that the
deceased was missing. He then had some misapprehen-
sions' about him, more especially as the deceased came
out of the porter's house just ,before the up train passed.
He called out "Bill," but got no answer. He then
thought he could see something on the line, and he went
upon the platform on the down side on the middle of the
up-road, in the four feet way. lEle found that his feet
were towards Waterloo and his head .towards the sta-
tion. He called to the head porter, when they found the
hands and feet of the deceased cut to pieces, and he was
quite dead. He was of opinion that the deceased lost his
life by stepping behind the train instead of going, as was
his duty, in front of it. Owing to the dense state of the
atmosphere, and the steam beating down, there was a
greater degree of darkness than previously. All the trains
whistle on passing the station, and even on approaching
it. No confusion is created by the whistling. The deceased
had been employed at the same station several months,
and had been supplied with a book of instructions and
time tables. His duty was to look to the trains stopping
at the station. It was quite likely the deceased did not
know that the express train was due...
By the Coroner—He thought the deceased came out too
late to get in front of the train, and in consequence the
other one coming up it caught the deceased and knocked
him down. He had been employed at tee station quite
long enough to know that the express was due. The
express came from Southampton, and did not stop at that
station, and the other was a ilampton-court train. Wit-
ness ran about 900 yards to put the signals on. There
via,p no necessity for the deceased to put up the signal for
that train.
Cbarles Hatchard,. the chief porter, at the station,
having confirmed the testimony of the previous witness,
added that he saw deceased on duty on the previous
day, and he ought to have been present on the arrival of
any up or down 'train. He was perfectly sober, but had
been unwell for some time, and complained of pains in
the head.
Mr. Godson, iu answer to the Coroner, said that if it
had not been for the density of the fog be believed the
poor Lilo w would be at the present time alive.
The jury having consulted, they returned a verdict of
",Accidental death," and added that no blame was attri-
butable to any of the company's officers.

COURT OF COMMON douNciL.—Llit the court held
yesterday the Lord Mayor informed the court that the
Corporation of Boston had presented to the Corporation
of London two beautiful volumes relating to the City of
Boston. The books were ordered to be added to the
Guildhall library. Sir J. Key presented a very long
list of persons applying for the freedom of the city. The
report of the claim committee recommending the repeal
of so much of the acts of 06"mmon Council as relates to
the nomination by the Lord Mayor of persons to serve
tl6 office of sheriff was brought up by Mr. Wood. The
report was agreed to.

GA;

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

EAST INDIAN.

The ninth half-yearly general meeting of the proprie•
tors was held yesterday at the office of the company,
Alderman's-walk, New Broad-street, Mr. R. W. Craw-
fsohradrehode
presiding.irs. There was a numerous attendance of
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the reception and adoption
of the report (an abstract of which has already appeared
in The Suss), said that resolutions would be submitted
to the meeting authorising the directors to convert the
paid-up capital of the company into stock, as mentioned
in the report ; and these resolutions, if passed, would
have immediate effect. No further issue of capital was
proposed during the present year. The directors
believed that there existed a sufficiency of capi-
tal for ordinary purposes, and they thought they should
be consulting the wishes of the shareholders in not at
present calling upon the public for any very large amount
of additional stock. The mail from India which arrived
in London on the previous day bad brought them the reve-
nue account for the past half-year, which had not before
been in their possession ; and he was happy to tell them
that the statements which appeared in The Timers of
that morning with regard to the results of that account
were in every respect correct. The increase in the num-
ber of passengers had been alluded to in the report. He
had to announce now that the receipts from passengers
had amounted in English money, calculating the rupee
at 25., and not at the exchange of ls. 10d., to 25,745/,
in the half-year ending the 30th of June, against 22,0251.
in the previous half-year. This was on the same mileage.
The receipts from parcels, luggage, live stock, carriages,
and excess fares were 3,0917. against 2,272/. The re-
ceipts from merchandise were 10,516/. against 6,385/. ;
those from minerals, 11,428/. against 7,456/. ; the whole
receipts fur the last half-year being 51,012/. against
38,6367., as compared with the previous half-year. (Hear,
hear.) Satisfactory as that result would appear to them,
the figures under the head of "charges" were much
more so. The very important item, " maintenance of
way and works," presented a charge of 12 per cent.
upon the receipts against 6 per cent. for the preceding
half-year, Upon the face, of it, thfs did net appear a
point for much congratulation ; but it mum: be remem-
bered that, whereas hitherto the maintenaceo of way
and works was chargeable upon capital, it had vow to
be defrayed from revenue. In the locomotive depart-
ment the charge amounted to 17 as against 20 per cent;
and the whole proportion which the expenses of conduct-
ing this large company bore to the gross receipts was
404 per cent, as against 58 per cent. in the previous half-
year. (Hear, hear.) This statement was, he thought,
sufficient to remove from the minds even of the most

sceptical individuals in this country the impression that
railways were not to be carried on in India without
the risk of loss. (Hear,) The directors found that they
were now enabled to make, at the close of every half-
year, large repayments to Government in respect to the
advances made to them on account of interest. In the IN
first half-year Government had received from this cona.
pany 10,000/..; in the second 20,000/. ; and during, the eu
present half year, 30,0001. ; making altOgether during
three half-years a repayment of 60,000/. He did not of
say that these repayments were likly to be con tbi
-
tinued in the same proportion, but if they went on on
anything like this scale it could not fail to be considered na
very satisfactory indeed. At all events, it put an end to Cc
the impression that shareholders could ever be without a
rat
dividend, or. would have 'to return the railway upon the mi
hands of the East India Company. - After referring to
the death of Mr. • Larkins, a director, and the election in
his room, of Mr. Beaumont, one of the auditors, the chair co
-
man remarked, with regEet, the return to this country of
Mr. Stephenson, whose health had broken down in con-
sequence of anxiety and the arduous nature of his duties,
and who had consequently requested them to supply his
place by the selection of another gentleman to represent
the company there. Remembering the great services ce
performed by Mr. Stephenson to this company the favour-
able consideration of the directors would be given to that
gentleman's position. The board looked upon the selec-
tion of a proper successor to their late agent as a matter
of the greatest importance ; but they had not yet been R
enabled to supply this place, nor had they any individual
in their minds whom they thought likely to receive the
appointment.. The chairman concluded by moving the
adoption of the report. r,
After a few remarks by some of the thareholders, the
motion for the adoption of the report was ,carried unani-
mously.
The CHAIRMA, in acoordance with the report', pro-
posed resolutions converting the paid-up capital into
stock.

The resolutions having been carried neat. con.,
Mr. STEPHENSON shortly explained his position with
regard to the company, and said he was quite satisfied
to leave the consideration of it in the hinds of the direc-

tors, feeling assured that they wished, if they possibly
could, to retain his services in connection with the corn-

pany.
A vote ollethanks to the chairman and directors ter-
minated the proceeding.

SOUTH-EASTERN.
The directors of this company have issued a circular, to
the proprietors, ,in anticipation of a special meeting of
the company, to be held on the 13th Nov-. next, to con-
sider the propriety of extending a portion of the North
Kent line from Lewisham to Dartford. They state that,
after full consideration, they have adopted a resolution
to recommend the proprietors that they authorise an
application being made to Parliament for an act to con-
struct a short relief line between the Lewisham
and Dartford stations of the North Kent Railway. The
consideration of the subject was pressed upon the direc-
tors' attention by the great and continuous increase
which has taken place of late years in the traffic of the
North Kent Railway, and which has been still further
augmented by the recent successful opening of the Maid-
stone branch. The number of passengers booked to and
from London and all stations on the North. Kent line
during the year ending the 31st of July last amounted to
3,169,158, and of these not less than 2,654,973 were
booked to and from London and the eight stations, be-
tween London and Dartford. This statement, however,
does not include 1,214,866 passengers who were conveyed
during the same period between the intermediate stations
on the, line (not including London), and of whom not less
than 950,000 were conveyed between stations west of
Dartford ; neither does it include the journeys of season
ticket-holders, estimated to have amounted during the
same period to about 750,000, of which four-fifths were
to and from stations between London and Dartford. In
order to accommodate efficiently this large proportion of
the North Kent traffic, it is necessary to run very fre-
quent trains to and from those stations short of Dartford
—viz., New Cross, Lewisham, Blackheath, Charlton,
Woolwich Dockyard, Woolwich Arsenal, Abbey Wood,
and Erith. Notwithstanding the large number of trains
at present provided for passengers to and from those
stations, the -requirements and the capabilities of the
traffic on that portion of the North Kent Railway are
so great, in consequence of the large and increasing po-
pulation of the district and its proximity to the metropo-
lis, that the accommodation of the public and the true
interests of the company require that the train 'service
should,be increased and improved by the running of
more frequent trains at particular hours, as upon the
present Greenwich Railway. So long as the North
Kent was a local line, carrying only its own traffic, the
increase in the number of short stopping trains to and
from the stations between Dartford and London was
comparatively easy of arrangement. But the recent
opening of the Maidstone branch has brought a consi-
derable amount of through traffic upon the line, in addi-
tion to the heavy traffic of Strood and Gravesend. It
has thus become urgently necessary to adopt measures
to separate the short stopping trains from the longer
through trains, both in order that the former may be
more efficiently accommodated,.and that the latter may
be conveyed-to their destination without interruption or
delay. The adoption of this course is further rendered
necessary in anticipation of the early opening of a por-
tion of the East Kent Railway,• the traffic of which it
will be the duty as well as the interest of this company
to accommodate in the most efficient manner. The in-
cidental advantages to be derived from the formation of
the proposed relief line are thus briefly stated by the
directors :-1. It will enable us greatly to improve the
train service of the populous districts of New Cross,
Lewisham, Blackheath, Charlton, Woolwich, Abbey
Wood, and Eritb, and thereby to increase the traffic
receipts on this portion of the railway. 2. It will enable
the through traffic to and from Gravesend, Strood,
Maidstone, and other distant stations in the North Kent
district to be worked more regularly, expeditiously,
safely, and economically than is possible under existing
arrangements. 3. It will provide means of more
effectually meeting the competition which has recently
been started by the Tilbury Railway and the river boats
for our Woolwich, Gravesend, and other North Kent
traffic. 4. The relief line will open up an entirely new
and populous district extremely favourable for residential
traffic, including Eltham, Bexley, Chislehurst, the Crays,
Crayford, and other places, and create a traffic profitable
per se, independent of the other important considerations
above mentioned. The length of the proposed relief:
line from Lewisham to Dartford will be 11 mileo, with
a junction branch at Lewisham of one mile in length ;
and it appears • from the estimates submitted by the
company's engineer and surveyor that the cost of pur-
chasing the reqeisite land and completing the line will
not exceed .§50,000/. In conclusion, the directors
state that they !are convinced that the true and per.
manent interests of the company require that the
necessary application to Parliament should be post-
poned go longer, and that the proposed relief line
should be constructed with as little delay as possible.
Should the proprietors confirm this view the directors
are satisfied that the wisdom of the course now sug-
gested will be amply justified by the results.

WEST-END OF LONDON AND CRYSTAL
PALACE.

The first section of this line, from the Crystal Palace
to Wandsworth, was formally opened for traffic yester•
day..
The line commences by a junction with the Crystal
Palace Railway.station, and passes, by means of a tun-
nel, under a portion of the Crystal Palace, • between the
main btilding and one of the water towers. The length
of the tunnel is 720 yards. The line then proceeds for a
distance about two miles to the next tunnel, which is