The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-08 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL COLLISION. ON THE
,NORTH LONDON RAILWAY.

A collision„which caused injury to at least 30
passengers, some being very serious, if they do not
prove fatal. in 'their results, occurred on Monday
evening on the line of the North London Railway
at Hackney station.
The ordinary passenger train to London from the
Chalk Farm station at Camden-town left there at
its usual time, about half-past 5 o'clock, for London,
with the Stratford train, consisting of three or four
second-class carriages attached, and proceeded on
its journey, followed a few minutes after by a pilot
engine, which had been ordered to bring back to
Camden a goods train from the goods station at
Haydon-square. The fog NT a s very thick through-
out the line at the time, and became more dense on
the approach towards Kingsland, where the engine
was brought to a stand by fog signals, and the
driver was informed that he must proceed very
cautiously, as the passenger train preceding him
had not left the station for Hackney more than two
lminutes. The engine then went on, and the pas-
senger'train had delivered its passengers, and was
just moving from the platform of the Hackney
station, when the pilot engine referred to dashed
into the last carriage which belonged to the Strat-
ford train, and was full bf second-class passengers,
The crash of the collision was so loud that, not-
withstanding the fog, it was heard for a consider-
able distance throughout Hackney, and several of
the more immediate inhabitants rushed into the
station, as well as the police, to render assistance.
The second-class carriage was found completely
smashed, and the passengers lying about in all
directions, while the two or three preceding car-
riages were also broken, and some of the inmates
contused or injured.
Among the earliest arrivals of inhabitants of
Hackney on the platform were Dr. Pye Smith
and Mr. Clarke, surgeon, who examined and
paid every attention to the wounded and in-
jured passengers. Some of those considered the
worst cases were removed to the London Hospital,
and two elderly women were taken by the police on
stretchers to the German Hospital at Dai-
s' n. One gentleman—Mr. Bates, organist at
Woodford—was found to have his leg broken in
two places, and was removed to the residence of Dr.
Pye Smith, where he now remains. Another gen-
tleman named. Deelgy, from Birmingham, with an
injured spine, was to-ken to the Britannia Tavern,
where he still remains, also under the care of Dr.
Pye Smith. Mr. H. Vigurs, who was riding with
his wife in the smashed carriage, was dreadfully
cut in several places about the head and face, but
his wife escaped unscathed. Two sisters—Har-
riette Wood, aged 18, and Maria Wood, aged 26,
residing at Whitechapel, Susan Howell, a married
woman, aged 34, residing at Mile end, and Thomas
Miphen, a labourer, were removed to the London
Hospital ; while Margaret Squires, aged 54, and
Anne Denny, aged 67, were removed to the Ger-
man Hospital. The former are under the care of
Mr. Lloyd, the house surgeon, and the latter under
that of Dr. Feommann. Two little boys named
Smith, who were on their way home to Stratford
from school with a servant, were slightly injured;
the latter, as well as some 20 or 30 persons, who
were more or less injured and contused, were sent
away in cabs to their respective residences. Miracu-
ous as it may appear, the fireman and stoker of the
engine were but slightly injured. As may well be
imagined, the alarm created among the passengers
was very great, and loud complaints were made at
the rough usage several of them received from the
police and officials on being ejected from the
station. although anxious to render assistance.
The fragments of the broken carriages covered
the rails, and the up line was consequently
blocked for three or four hours ; and, indeed, the
entire traffic was stopped between 7 and 10 o'clock,
It is wonderful that the loss of life was not almost
as great as that resulting from the late catastrophe
on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
Railway, and yet with the coolness for which
railway officials are proverbial, this collision was
described by some of the authorities of the North
London line as a " mere trivial affair ; only a dis-
located ancle, or a contusion'or so." The following
however, are the names and state of the injured,
so far as they could be ascertained up to last
evening : _

Mr. Bates, of Woodford ; leg broken in two
places. Staying at Dr. Pye Smith's, Hackney.
Progressing favourably.
Mr. :Deeley, of Birmingham; injury to spine,
not considered dangerous ; at Britannia Tavern,
Hackney.
Mr. H. Vigurs, cut head and face ; able to pro-
ceed to his own residence.

IN THE LONDON HOSPITAL.
Harrietta Wood, aged 18, contused head and
side; no danger apprehended.
Maria Wood, 26, contusions over back and
shoulders; proceeding favourably.
Susan Howell, 34, of Mile-end, contused head
and face and contused legs.
Thos. Miphen, 35, labourer, cut and contused legs.