The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-06 00:00:00

`nil FATAL RAILWAY COLLISION AT
WARRINGTON.

WARRINGTON, Friday.
The adjourned inquest upon the bodies of James
Partridge, James Gill, Mary Elizabeth Adcock,
Edmund Gibson, and Sarah Cockin, killed by the
recent railway accident at Warrington, was held
before the Coroner to-day.
Mr. Mason, assistant general manager of the
London and North-Western Railway Company,
was present with other officials ; Mr. Roberts,
from the office of Mr. 13!enkinsop, Loudon, was re-
presenting the railway company ; Mr. Jones, soli-
citor, was present on behalf of the deceased Thomas

Jones.
Early this morning Mr. William Jones, of Bath,
who had received serious injuries in the chest and
head, died in the Convalescent Hospital, whither he
had been removed from the scene of the accident.
This makes eight deaths as the result of the collision.
The jury having visited the scene of the accident,
returned to the inquest-room, when the following
witnesses were called :
Mr. Skelton said —I am a marine store dealer,
livingin Warrington. On Saturday last I was at
Walton Pits, about a quarter to 12. I was about 50
yards from the railway bank on the Arpley side of
the London and North-Western Railway, from
Warrington to Crewe. I saw a coal train standing on
the Chester line, and at the same moment I noticed
a passenger train coining from Warrington. The
passenger train went on the Chester line, and I
heard a great cash.. My face was at the moment
turned away from the railway. When I heard the
crash I turned round, and saw the coal flying about,
and some of the passenger carriages reared up one
over the other. I got over the bridge and got on
the line, and saw several persons seriously injured,
and some appeared to be dead. I assisted some of
the wounded, and while I was standing there a
young man, who was'a stranger to me, suggested
that we should go and see the points on the shunt
line. The points were from 50 to 60 yards dis-
tant from the place at which the collision occurred.
As we went towards the points the young man
who spoke to me made a remark about the points.
He seemed thoroughly to understand them. I did
not notice anything particular about the signals. I
did not look at the pointsman's box, and cannot say
whether the pointsuaan was there or not. When we
went to the points we found the points on the Arp-
ley sile were cpen, and those on the Bank Quay
side were closed.
The Coroner here observed that he would not ask
the witness what the remark made to him by the
young man was, but it was very important to the
inquiry that., if possible, he should be produced as a
witness. He (the Coroner) had inserted an adver-
tisement in one of the local papers requesting the
young man referred to to come forward and give
evidence, and he trusted that he would do so before
the inquiry closed.
By Mr. Moore—About five minutes elapsed be-
tween the time when I saw the coal train standing
and the time when I saw the passenger train. Be-
fore I heard the crash I heard some one sty, "There
is going to be a pitch in." The crash of the collision
followed upon this shnost immediately. I should
know the young man with whom I went to see the
points if he were here. Neither the rails nor the
points were injured in any way. I did not see any
coal nor the appearance of any coal having fallen
between the points.
By Mr. Moore, through the Coroner—When I
say that certain points were open and others closed
I mean that the points were in such a position that
the passenger train was obliged to follow the coal
'train on to the Chester line.
Mr. Joseph Wm. Chatfield identified the body of
the woman hitherto unknown as that of Mrs. Sarah
Cockiu, widow of the late John Cockin, of East
Retford. She was 63 years of age. She was travel-
ling from Liverpool to Birmingham.
At this stage of the inquiry the Court adjourned
for half an hour.
On the Court resuming, Mr. Roberts stated that
he had just received a telegram from Col. Yolland,
the officer appointed by the Board of Trade to in-
vestigate the circumstances attending the accident,
in which he said that he should leave Euston-
square for Warrington at 9 o'clock on Monday
morning. He (Mr. Roberts) mentioned this for the
information of the Coroner and jury, and he should,
if possible, like to know what would be the course
pursued with respect to an adjournment in case they
could not complete the evidence on that day.
The Coroner said there was little doubt that it
would be necessary for them to adjourn again, and
and he suggested Friday next as a suitable day.
This suggestion was, after some discussion, agreed
to, and the examination of the witnesses was pro-
ceeded with.
Robert Crook said—l am employed by the rail-
way company as a shunter at Walton Junction.
John Rowson and Wm. Pilling are the pointsmen
there. I remember a coal train being shunted on to
the Chester line about a quarter to 12 on Saturday
morning last. It was not part of my duty to shunt
that train. About 10 minutes after the coal train
had been shunted I saw the passenger train coming
up from Warrington. After seeing the coal train
shunted I went up to the pointsman's box. This
was before the passenger train came up. Rowson
was in his box. I observed when it was too late
that the points were open for the Chester line. I
called out, " Oh, my God, Rowson, them points !"
I don't know whether Rowson said anything. I
didn't hear him, if he did. I don't know whether
he did anything. The passenger train ran along
the line rightinto the coal train. The engine smashed
the van of the coal train, and several of the carriages
were doubled up. I cannot say that I noticed whether
the safety signal was up or not. Rowson was sober,
Pilling, the other pointsman, was not there. Row-
son had been on duty about an hour when the acci-
dent took place. lie had gone off duty on the pre-
vious night at 6 o'clock. The break-van of the coal
train was about 50 yards distant from the points at
the junction.
By a Juryman—The passenger train had not left
Warrington when the coal train was shunted on to
the branch line. At the time when I made the ex-
clamation to Rowson about the. points the passenger
train was about four yards off the points, and too
late for Rowson to do any thing.
By Mr. Moore—Rowson has a bit of land near
his box, which he cultivates. I can swear that
Rowson was in his box at the time the coal train
was shunted, though I did not.see him there. It
was the duty of Rowson, when he had books, to en-
ter the time of departure of every train. I did not
see him making any entry in the book. I did not
examine the points or the rails after the accident.
There is only one siding at the junction, and it is on
the branch line. The points are facing points ; but
I don't know whether or not they are self-acting.
Thomas Carter said—l ani an engine-driver in
the service of the London and North-Western Rail-
way Company. I have been with them 30 years. On
Saturdaylast Idrove the passenger train from Liver-
pool to Birmingham. It left Edghill at 10.44 a.m.
We left Warrington at 11.35. We were then ten
minutes late. The distance signals showed " all right."
1 saw them as soon as I came round the
carve; thabout
t
was about 200 yards off. The distancesignal i
As
signals,
soon as I
500 or 600 yards from the points.
passed the distance signallsaw the j
unction
at
and they were also " all right." I hal blown my
whistle before I got to thedistance signal, and when
1 saw it was 6' all right" I came on at full speed. 1
blew my whistle because they were wrong for me ;
but when I blew they were set rigt. I wreachas goed the
ing at
from 15 to 20 miles an hour. Whhen we
points I did not notic'e that they
on the Chester line.
were wrong. I did
not know till I found my engine
I did not see th train till I was within 14 or
15 yards of it. Iliad no time to do more than shut
the regulator and hold on fast to the wheel. The
fireman was in the act of firing at the moment. I
could not give the least idea of what followed.
By a Juryman—lt is not unusual to cross a junc-
tion at the rate of 20 miles an hour, supposing the
signals all clear. We have to go at from 31 to 36
miles an hour on this journey to keep our time.
By Mr. Moore—l never before saw a coal or lug-
gage train shunted on the Ch.shire Junction line
when we were passing. If there had been a stone or
anything between the points, we should have felt a

John Rowson, the pointsman, was this day ap-
prehended on a charge of manslaughter. lie was
remanded till Monday, and bail accepted to the
amount of £4OO.

31E7 ROPOLI7 AN BOARD OF WORKS.

The members of this board met at their offices in
Spring-gardens yesterday afternoon, at the unusual
hour of two, Sir John Thwaites in the chair.

FINANCE.
The cash statement showed the following balances
in the hands of the treasurer, viz. : —ln the London
and Westminster Bank, -1222,920 16s. 2d. ; in the
Bank of England, £311,259 3s. 11d. ; total,
£534,180 Os. ld. ; and cheques not presented,
£71,552 Gs. sd. Payments were order3d to be made
to the amount of £19,591 ss. 7d. A cheque was
drawn for £l,lOO, the sum agreed at the last meet-
ing of the board to be paid over to the Royal So-
ciety for the Protection of Life from Fire on the
transfer of their plant to this board.
A report was brought up from the Finance Com-
mittee, stating, " That having considered a letter
from Messrs. Chadwick and Co., intimating that
the s!mreholders' committee considerlall creditors of
the Bank of London entitled, to interest at such a
rate as may have been agreed upon by the directors
up to the date of stoppage, in addition to the inte-
rest to be paid by the liquidators from that time, and
offering the creditors the alternative of immediate
cash payment, with such interest as the Court of
Chancery may allow in lieu of their former proposal
to pay 2} per cent., they see no reason to depart
from their former decision, and recommend that
Messrs. Chadwick and Co. be so informed.
TIIE FORTHCOMING NAVAL REVIEW.

Mr. NICHOLAT wanted to know if application had
been made for tickets to enable the members of the
board to be present at the forthcoming naval review
at Spithead. It would be remembered on the last
occasion the board was overlooked, and no tickets
would have been sent bad not he (Mr. Nicholay)
applied at the last moment to Mr. B. Osborne, who
was backed by Lord Fermoy, on which occasion 20
tickets were sent, and regret was expressed by the
authorities at the omission.
The CHAIRMAN said that application had been
already made, but no answer had been returned.
TILE MAIN DRAINAGE BATE ACCOUNT.
The CHAIRMAN said that the board were required
on the Ist July in each year to make a return of the
metropolis main drainage rate account. These ac-
counts had been verified by Mr. llamilton and him-
self, and there was a cash balance in hand of
£152,290 ls. 7d.; but in addition to this there were
outstanding precepts amounting to £41,081 18s.
6d., making a total of £193,372 Os. Id. For this
there was in the Bank of England for interest due,
and made up to the Ist of July, £55,821 lls. 61
They had this year paid off or redeemed bonds
numbered 88 to 95, for £lO,OOO each, making
£BO,OOO ; whereas in the former year they had only
redeemed seven of such bonds. This they bad been
enabled to do on account of the increased sum re-
ceived from the main drainage rate. There would
then remain a balance to meet the half-year's in-
terest due on the Ist of July, 1868, of £59,550 Bs.
7d. He therefore asked the board to give authority
to Mr. Hamilton and himself to invest that amount
that
the public securities to meet the claims for interest
would become due on the Ist of Junuary next.
A MEMBER suggested that the amount should be
invested in Exchequer Bills as the most profitable
investment.
The matter was then left in the hands of the

chairman.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE BELGIAN VOLUNTEERS AND

THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.
Mr. SILAS TAYLOR wished to ask if it bad oc-
curred to the chairman or any member of the board,
the propriety of permitting the public to have ad-
mission to the Thames Embankment works near
Westminster-bridge, for the purpose of witnessing
the procession up the river of the Belgian Volun-
teers, and also their landing on their arrival in Lon-

don.
The CHAIRMAN said the works were at present in
the possession of the contractors, and if they were
interfered with or injured the board might be in-
volved in serious responsibilities as to compensation.
TUB METROPOLIS GAS BILL.
The SOLICITOR reported that the committee of
the House of Commons on the Metropolitan Gas
Bill had come to certain resolutions, which had been
submitted to the different companies for their con-
sideration, and that the committee would meet again
on Tuesday next.
Mr. NEWTON said it was his opinion that there
should be only two gas companies, one on the north
and the other ou the south side of the river.
The CHAIRMAN thought that was hardly the pro-
per time to express an opinion, until they saw what
course the several gas companies intended to take.
Until some issue was raised, he thought that board
ought not be called upon- to express any feeling
upon it.
Mr. BIDGOOD believed that Mr. Wyatt, the Par-
liamentary agent, would be glad to obtain an ex-
pression of opinion upon the part of the
either ard.
ex-
r. NEWTON said that board ought eith to
Mpress an opinion upon it, or refer it to somebody
that could.
The CHAIRMAN said the gas companies had until
Tuesday next to make
Bye their
Tuesday mheintdhsoausghtto
atnhye
course they would pur ,
opin expressed by the board in the absence of
that inio nformation would scarcely be respected. The
general committee would meet on Monday and
Wednesday next.
It was finally determined to take no further action
upon the subject until after the meeting of the com-
mittee of the. House of Commons on Tuesday.
The other business was of a routine character,
and the board adjourned.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AT HENLEY RAGATTA.—
On Thursday evening a sad accident occurred at Henley-
on-Thames regatta. Au elderly man named Moffett, who
is said to have been a professional cricketer at Oxford in
former years, passed about ten yards in front of the signal
gun at the moment the piece was fired, and the charge
entered his body. The injuries inflicted were of a most
serious nature, and it was not expected that the unfortu-
nate man would recover.
LOCII-LEVEN.—Excellent sport is being got on
this famous loch. After a year or two of wretched
sport all its old fame has revived again, and anglers are
flocking to it from all :quarters. On Saturday last there
were two parties over from Perth. One boat, Mr. Sidney
and Mr. Macgregor, had about 111bs. ; another Mr. J. Steele
and Mr. Robert Gentle, had about 141bs. ; and a third, Mr.
J. Watson Lyall and Mr. Skeeto, had about 241bs.—the
former having made 1711bs. to his own rod. Mr. Russel, of
the Scotsman, was also out, and had about 101bs. ;
and Mr.
Stewart, the angling author, had about nibs. Other ang-
lers were also pretty successful. A lot of large trouts were
got with the fly, and six caught by Mr. Lyall weighed
close on 121bs. Ou Thursday Mr. Wilson, Perth, and a
friend were out, and had the best basket we have
Journ heard
al. of
his season, namely, 521bs. of trout.—Perthshire