The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-08 00:00:00

THE .RAILWAY CATASTROPHE NEAR
DUDLEY.

Yesterday Mr. T. M. Phillips, coroner, resumed
the inquest at the Bell Hotel, Brierly-hill, on the
bodies of 13 of the 24 persons who have died from
the collision on the 23d August, on the Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway, near to
Brettel-lane station.

The inquest upon Mrs. Rogers, who died at Tip-
ton on the night before the last inquest, was opened
a day or two ago, before Mr. Hinchcliffe, coroner
for that district, but upon the application of Mr.
King, solicitor for the railway company, it was ad-
journed until the sth October,, after this inquest is
concluded.
John Cording, the under-guard in the train that
separated, deposed—l lived at Worcester on the
23d of last month, when I accompanied an excur-
sion train from Wolverhampton to Worcester.
Frederick Cook was the head guard. Heard no
complaints of defective machinery or engine on that
morning ; 29 carriages in our part of the train
arrived at Worcester. We put on some extra car-
riages at Dudley. One engine left Wolverhamp-
ton. There were two guards' vans. I rode in the
front van. At Tipton, before we put on more car-
riages at Dudley, four or five persons were in my
van. I had them in my van because there was no
room for them in the train. lam not aware that
anything broke down before we arrived at Brettel-
lane. Some more carriages were put on at Stour-
bridge ; about seven carriages were put on at Dud-
ley. After repairing the broken shackle at Brettel-
lane we started, having before taken in more
passengers, When Cook gave me the signal at
Brettel-lane that all was ready for starting, I gave
it to the engine-driver, Jonas Lockwood. Another
engine having been put on at Dudley, there was
another driver also. His name was Thomas Benson.
The shackle broke just as we were starting from
Brettel-lane, about 15 carriages from the front; one
bow of the shackle was broken, and the other bow
pulled off one of the pins upon which it worked.
Cook was at the point of breakage when I got down,
and he replaced the broken shackle with a strong
goods chain. Another breakage took place at Hag-
ley, instantly after we left the station. In that case
also the shackle was broken. We repaired that
breakage by hooking on the spare shackle that was
suspended near to the broken one. The assistant-
superintendent, Mr. Charles Harris, was in the
train from Dudley to Worcester. I don't know whe-
ther Mr. Harris or the head guard made a report of
the accident at Worcester. Before we left Worces-
ter at night the chains were all repaired but one.
I saw them. They were repaired by a blacksmith.
I don't know what chains were used in coming
back from Worcester. We left Worcester at 6.30.
In the first portion of the -train from Worcester
there were 29 or 30 carriages. H. Cook had the
charge of the first portion. There was one engine
at starting, but we put on a secogiVengine at Stour-
bridge to take us up the incline from that place to
Dudley. Robt. M'Gee was the driver of the engine
that was put on at Stourbridge. Nothing occurred
till we got to Round Oak station. Just before we
got to that station I looked out, and saw that the
train was all right. Just as the signal was given to
go on again from Round Oak, the engine-driver
Burke told me that the train had divided. The
breakage did not, to my knowledge, occur till the
breaks were put on at the station. After Burke
had told me that the train had broken and gone
adrift I looked out and saw that the lights behind

had gone. I then went back to where the breakage
had taken place. The number of the carriage from
which the shackle broke was 114, through Bristol
and Liverpool. The side chains of 114 through car-
riage were not broken, but the side chains of the
carriage to which it was connected were broken.
I went back with some carriages, and,under the direc-
tion of Mr. Ivetts, brought on some of the wounded
in a train of 12 carriages. The break I had coming
back Cook had in the morning. It was in good
working order. I saw Cook at the place of the
collision. He did not complain about sly portion
of the couplings and seemed quite sober.
The Coroner—Do you think, if the break had
been,properlrapplied the train could have been
stopped before the collision took place ?
Mr. King—We have scientific evidence on that
point.
The Coroner—But surely this man, having been
in the habit of working trains upon the line for
years, is able to give some practical information.
Witness resumed—He did not think that the
guard could have stopped it on that night, because
the rails were greasy.
By the Foreman—l did not perceive any jerking
in the morning, and heard no complaints from pas-
sengers wishing to get out. lam quite sure that
the train did. not break until we got to the Brettel-
t lane station.

By the Foreman—The coroner cautioned me not
to say anything that might criminate myself ; but
before coming here I was twice under examination.
Mr. King objected that, as he was the solicitor
of the company, all communications that had taken
place between him and the witness were confidential.
Mr. Sheriff said he wished that the witness should
answer any question that might be put to him.
By the Foreman—There is a rule against passen-
gers riding in the guard's van, but we don't like to
leave passengers behind. It is not usual to allow
passengers to ride in those compartments of second-
class carriages where there are breaks.
By Mr. Burbridge (solicitor for the deceased)—
I have never been on any other narrow gauge line
than the Oxford and Worcester Railway, and can-
not therefore speak to the proportionate number of
breaks employed in trains. In this train in the
morning I think that in addition to the break vans
there was a second-class carriage with a break to it.
By
.Mr. Ellsworth, solicitor—When I was acting
as assistant-guard I had 18s. a-week. I was porter
as well. Before I was made porter and assistant
guard I was a lamp cleaner, and received 16s. a-
week. There were some schoolboys in my van in the
morning, and at Brettel-lane the stationmaster
directed me to take in more persons till we got to
Stourbridge, where there were some more carriages
put on. Mr. Phillips, the stationmaster at Round
Oak, might have seen me several times, but I cannot
account for his not knowing me. I was dressed as
a porter. Ido not know how many persons there
were in Cook's van.
By Mr. King—The number of one of the carriages
where the breakage took place was 114, but I don't
know the number of the other. The shackle of No.
114 was broken, but the side chains of the carriage
were not broken ; of the other carriage one of the
side chains was broken. The screw pin of the side
chain on that carriage was stripped through the nut.
I saw No. 114 and the other carriage coupled toge-
ther at the scene of the accident. After they had
been coupled I proceeded with them and others to
Wolverhampton and pointed them out to Drink-
water, the inspector of carriages' there. On the
day
.after the accident I took No. 114 to Gransmore,
the inspector of carriages, and also to Brown the
platform inspector.
Joseph Williams, boatman, of King-street, 'Wor-
cester, said—l was coming back from Worcester in
the train that broke. I left Dudley in the morning.
On coming back from 'Worcester there were more
persons in the guard's van than myself, the guard,
Cook, and Marshall, the deceased. There were
about six. The guard said, " Jump out, lads, there
will be an accident." He had been trying to stop
the train with his break, but we did not know that
we were going back till he told us. When he told
us to jump I don't know what took place after-
wards, I was so frightened, I got up to the other
end of the van. I don't know whether Cook
jumped out. Before then I don't know whether he
used the break. When he was using the break I
did not perceive any alteration in the speed of the
carriage. I was quite sober. I was hurt the
forehead. As far as I can recollect I was thrown
out. 'When I came to my senses I was by the side
of the broken carriages on the line.
By the Foreman—l had not been drinking on
that day.
By a juror—Cook was not absent from his van
from -Worcester to the place of the accident. There
was no light in the van. Cook was sober. I have
had £5 from the company as compensation for the
injuries I have received.
By the Coroner—Cook did not complain about
the break,
By Mr. Ellsworth—Only two or three minutes
elapsed between the time of the guard telling us to
wofhetnhelageide_
his.lum i.o.u.t
oanndthtehbe
break
ke
tolednCus Ctoo o
jump.
When the accident happened th ere were only three
persons.
By a solicitor—l had received my £5 before I
came here.
Mr. King protested against questions being put
which reflected upon the company. Such questions
were most unprofessional. The company, desirous
of affording all the information in their power, had
heard that Williams
l was in the guard's van, and so
sent for him to give evidence
A juror—I think he had better go, Mr. Coroner ;
we can get nothing out of him.
Frederick Cook, of .
Worcester, the guard before
referred to, after being
iede cautioned by the Coroner,
excursion train from
Wolverhampton to Worcester
on
Cording was his under-guard, and tshoena 23d August.
was the engiue-driver. There were2h4Lockwood
carriages
and two break vans. We had eight more caiTi
at Dudley and also additional passengers, with
another engine. Nothing occurred till we got to
Brettel-lane. There a shackle and the two side
chains broke at about 14 carriages from th last
van. I fetched four big links from the behind van,
put a scrag into the wheel of one of the carriages,
and made the carriages tight.
The porter at the
station agifited 111 e to do the work. I don't kII9W