The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-01 00:00:00

'ME SUN, WM: ON, WEDNES LA v E v ENING, MAY 1 1867.

Fearful Railway Accident

One of the most disastrous accidents which have
occurred for some years on any of the Scotch lines
took place on Monday night on the Scottish Cen-
tral section of the Caledonian Railway. It was hap-
pily not attended with any loss of human life, but a
large number of cattle have been killed, and a great
quantity of railway plant has been destroyed. The
accident occurred to the goods train -which leaves
Perth at half-past 5 in the afternoon, and which was
composed on Monday of 53 waggons and two
vans—one of the vans being as usual placed in
front, the other next the end of. the train.
In the hindermost truck were -the conductor of
the train, Mr. H. Cartwright, the guard, and
a cattle-dealer, whose names we have been unable
to ascertain. The train was composed almost wholly
of trucks filled with live stock and dead meat for the
Edinburgh markets, the live stock forming the lat-
ter half of the train. The train left Perth at the
usual time, and proceeded safely on its journey tall
it approached Larbert Junction, a little to the north
of which the line crosses a small stream called the
Carron, by a bridge about 60 feet in height, and of
considerable length. At this time it was going at
the rate of 20 or 25 miles an hour, and when about
the centre of the bridge the train suddenly parted
near the middle. The engine, with about 20 wag-
gons attached, proceeded on its way ; the foremost
waggon of the latter half of the train left the metals,
tore up the road for a short distance, and was then
precipitated over the bridge, draoging the whole of
the waggons following along with it. As we have
already mentioned, the break-van was occupied by
the conductor and guard of the train, and a cattle
dealer ; and how they escaped with their lives, con-
sidering the fearful nature of the occurrence, seems.
little short of a miracle. On feeling, by the pecu-
liar motion of the train, that something was amiss,
the guard strongly applied the break, but without
effect; for the next moment they heard the waggons
dashing among the water below. In a few seconds
they were aware that the van in which they were
travelling was passing over the parapet. After this
they were for some minutes unconscious, and on re-
covering themselves they found they were lying on
the bank of the stream. The van had turned right
over, and was almost completely smashed to pieces,
but the occupants had sustained comparatively little
injury. The conductor of the train had only re-
ceived a slight wound on the head, and a heavy
stone had fallen on his breast, bruising him rather
severely, while the driver, who lay underneath him,
had his right ear nearly torn off, but was otherwise
unhurt. The other passenger was severely stunned,
but had suffered no other injury. The accident oc-
curred about half-past 8 o'clock, and in the fading
twilight the scene which presented itself to the men
on recovering themselves was most distressing. The
waggons, some 20 or 25 in number, lay piled in a
heap in the middle of the stream, smashed and
broken to pieces. Many of the cattle with which
this. portion of the train had been loaded. had been
drowned or were drowning in the water, others had
been crushed to death by the falling waggons,
while many more were severely wounded, and were
uttering the most agonising cries. But the atten-
tion of the officials who had made so wonderful
an escape was first directed to the prevention
of a still greater catastrophe, for the mail train
from the north was almost due; and Mr. Cart-
wright, the conductor of the train, proceeded to
the nearest station with the intelligence of the
accident. The mail was accordingly detained, and
a body of men was despatched from Stirling to re-
pair the line. It was found that the rails had been
torn up for several yards, and almost the entire
parapet of the bridge had been thrown down. As
the accident occurred at an early hour in the even-
ing, a large number of people from the surrounding
district congregated at the spot, and rendered every
assistance in their power in extricating the poor
suffering animals from the ruins of the train. In
this they made comparatively little progress, and
such of the cattle as were got out were so much in-
jured that it was believed they would have to be
slaughtered. The work of repairing the line, hoW-
ever, went on more rapidly, and, after a detention
of about three hours, the mail train was allowed to
proceed, and reached Edinbar.7ll about half-past
twelve o'clock, its non-arrival having created con-
siderable alarm among those who were expecting
friends by it. The cause of the accident is not
known, but it is supposed to have occurred through
the breaking of one of the wheels of the waggon
which was thrown off the line.—Scotsman.

COLONEL HIC RDS' VOLUNTEER
TESTIMONIAL FUND.

A numerous meeting was held to-day at St.
James's Ilall, Piccadilly, of the Volunteer Testi-
monial Committee, met to recognise Colonel
Richards' services and unwearied exertions in the
promotion and formation of our Volunteer Force
of 1859. Lieut.-Col. Lord Ranelagh was elected to
the chair. Among those present were General Sir
Andrew Scott Waugh, It.E., F.lt.S.; the Venerable
the Archdeacon of Ely ; Col. Warde, Ist London ;
Lieut.-Col. Aikman, V.O ; Lieut.-Col. Laurie;
Martin F. Tupper, Esq. ; the Master of Lindsay ;
the Rev. J. Baty ; the Rev. 11. Cookesley ; George
Townsend, Esq. ; George Leverso,,, Esq. ; Alfred
Elwes, Esq. ; J. A. Nicholay, Esq. ; Dr. Lomas,
M.R.C.P.; F. G. Tomlins, Esq.; W. Griffith, M.D.,
A. Brett, Esq.; F. Lawrence, Esq.; Sergt. Earle,
of the 4th M.V.A., &c., &c., &c.
Captain BERTRAND PAY NE, the Hon. Sec., read
several letters of pology. Among those who sent
their adhesion were General Turr; Lieut.-Colonel
Cruikshank ; Lieut.-Col. Wahnisley ; Harvey
Lewis, Esq., M.P. ; W. 0. Foster, Esq., M.P. ;
G. H. Whalley, Esq., M.P. ; the Hon. Joseph
Howe; Sir John Trelawny, Bart. ; James Grant,
Esq., Dante Rossetti, Esq. ; R. H. Patterson,
Esq. ; Captain Mathew, commanding 4th Carnar-
yollV.R. ; F. Sandys, Esq., &c.,
The Hon. Secretary stated that the letters of the
Poet Laureate and General Garibaldi had already
received a wide publicity.

R NorthernE LA n
G it beganatio
rs o
b byt the saying
wantof generosity,
that foreigners
accused
ee dthought John Bull always rea ly to reward
patriotic exertions. Ile would not, like so many of
the members of the press, call Col. Richards " ori-
ginator" of the Volunteer movement, as it sprung
from causes that were scarcely personal. - Colonel
Richards came forward and practically brought the
force into existence at a meeting which no doubt
had mnch to do with originating the movement.
Col. Richards hiriaself did not claim to be the sole
originator, but chief of those who had claims on the
honour. The first even of a regiment generally
receives some testimonial, and he thought they
were only pursuing a course worthy of English-
men, by rewarding a gentleman who had taken
the most steps in the right direction. (Cheers.)
Captain Busk had better not have exhibited him-
self as originator, as he only did it for self. lle puts
himself forward most improperly and in a manner
not creditable to him. Captain Busk had said he
was cheered at the first review in Hyde Park ; he
had never heard of it, nor seen any one else who
had. (A voice—" I was a member of Ills company
on that occasion and never heard it.") (Laughter.)
Lord Ranelagh then quoted the first edition of
Captain Busk's Manual sneering at the idea of
" counterskippers and clodhoppers" being riflemen.
(Hear, hehr.) He therefore called upon those pre-
sent to do what they could to reward, as he deserved,
one who had done so much as Colonel Richards.
(Cheers.)
Mr. LAWRENCE was at the meeting on April 16,
1859, and he could tell them how Colonel Richards
had worked against almost insuperable obstacles
and bore the labour and expense himself. The
Volunteers had existed at the end of the last cen-
tury, but he thought Col. Richards had mainly car-
ried the 1859 movement.

Mr. BARNETT spoke of the early exertions of
Archdeacon Emery. There was not, however, a
stronger advocate of Col. Richards in the room
than himself.
Mr. MARTIN TUPPER said that he had much
to do with it. He had worked at the same time,
but Col. Richards' practical claims exceeded his
and others. He congratulated the meeting on
their cause.

Col. WARDE said he ought not to interfere, as

he was absent from the country at the time, and
did not know much about it. He did not, however,
think that any one man had originated the Volun-
teer movement. He came to render a tribute to one
most worthy of a testimonial, but objected to its
being presented as to the " originator."
Mr. TOMLINS had attended the meeting at St.
Martin's Hall as a member of the press. It was
that meeting which did it. It was not one who used
a rifle first or had a company first, but the one
who had written so many years and created an agi-
tation and devoted his mind to the subject,resulting
in such an event as the meeting, who was entitled
to a testimonial. (Cheers.) •
Mr. G. B. I,EvEltsoN made a telling speech in
favour of the multifarious claims of Col. Richards,
and said that he was the first who put the rifle in
the hands of the working man.

Col. LAURIE said he was Col. Richards' successor,
and he thought his exertions in the for►nation of a
working man's corps hail I,lkl to great results in the
increase of the Volunteers.

Archdeacon EMFEY spoke at some length about
the matter, and preferred some claim arising from
his own exertions, but was ready to admit that the
the practical results of Col. Richards' efforts had
been most fruitful.

After an animated discussion Col. WARDE sub-
mitted the following resolution :
" That in consideration of the unwearied exer-
tions of Lieut.-Col. Richards in aiding the first
establishment of the present, Volunteer Force, the
gratitude of the country at large is most eminently
due to him. It is therefore proposed that a com-
mittee be formed and subscriptions raised."
This was seconded by Colonel Laurie and carried
by acclamation, as also that Capt. Bertrand Payne
should be hon. treasurer, and that an account should
be opened with the London and Westminster Bank,
St. James's-square. A rote of thanks to Lord
Ranelagh was then passed.
Capt. PAYNE said that he rejoiced to see the mat-
ter thus started, and they had so energetic and com-
petent a chairman in the person of Lord Ranelagh.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

ILLUSING A WIFE.—John Cunningham, a young man
described as a cabman, of 10, Marlborough-row, Carnaby-
street, was brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt by O'Shaugh-
nessy, one of the warrant officers, charged with assaulting
his wife Harriet.

The complainant said that on the previous day her hus-
band went out, saying he was going to work. Some hours
afterwards he returned in a state of intoxication without
his smock, and on asking him why he got drunk and made
away with his smock for drink, he abused her, kicked over
the table and struck her on the jaw, hurting her so much
that she could hardly eat.

Mr. Tyrwhitt asked the complainant whether her hus-
band had ever Mused her before.

The complainant said her husband had ill used her ever
since they were married, two years ago, and he had once
been bound over at that court for six months for beating
her and throwing water over her Nrhile in bed. She had
to sit on the stairs all night with her baby in consequence
of her husband's illusaga.

The prisoner denied that ho was intoxicated, and said
his wife abused and quarrelled with him.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said it was a pity that young people liko
the prisoner and his wife should quarrel. The prisoner
would have to find two bail in £lO each to keep the peace
for six months.

SPORTING INTEL LIGENOS—This Day.

CHESTER RACES—.Tires DAY.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
BELGRAVE STAKES.

Lady Barbara
1
Aslitgad
2
Paleface
3

CHESTER CUP.

Beeswing
Eudsloigli
Lecturer

Twenty-one ran.

LATEST BETTING.
CHESTER CUP.
5 to 1 agst Lecturer (offered)
7to 1 agst Archimedes (offered)
10 to 1 agst Miss Havelock (taken)
12 to 1 agst Lucifer (taken)
100 to 8 agst Moulsey (token)

NEWMARKET.

The Rake did a Milo and a half well, but we did not
see The Hermit. Dragon had a mile and three quarters'
gallop. Julius trotted, but Opaponax wont a couple o
miles.