The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-06 00:00:00

THE FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT A 2
LEY2IBII TOWN.

CORONER'S INQUIRY.-(THIS DAY.)

At twelve o'clock the Coroner, Mr. Humphrey, resumed
the inquiry at the Vestry-hall, St. Pancras-road.
Mr. Metcalf, the barrister, appeared for the London and
North-Western and North London Railway Companies ;
Mr. Lewis, of Ely-place, appeared for the relatives of
Emma English; Mr. Charles Watson for Elizabeth Allen.
Captain Yolland, the Government Inspector, was in
attendance.

The first witness called was,

Mr. George Greenwood, Allen-terrace, Fairfield-row,
Bow, who identified the bodies of the two boys who were
killed. The eldest was eleven and the youngest seven

years of age.

Mr. James Rees, 21, Walcot-place, identified the body
of Mary Sellis, as that of his sister.
Mrs. Elizabeth Turner identified the body of Mai y
Clement. The deceased was her cousin and 44 years of
age.

Mr. Henry Stacey, Bird-in-hand •yard, Bow, identified
he body of Eva Stacey. She was about eleven years of

Mr. Thomas Saunders, of Harold-terrace, Bow, engine-
driver, identified the body of Richard Saunders.
James Hills, Portland-street, Stepney, identified the
body of Richard Hills, as that of his brother. The de-
ceased was about 32, and was a telegraph clerk.
Mr. William Emmerson, of North-place, Queen-square.
The deceased, Elizabeth Allen, was brought to my surgery
on Monday evening, about half-past eight, She died in
consequence of a fractured neck.
Mr. J. D. Hill, house-surgeon to the Royal Free Hospi-
tal, said—Thesleecased,Emma English was admitted to,the
institution on Monday. She died an hour afterwards from
concussion of the brain.
Mr. Willis, house-surgeon of Middlesex Hospital, said—
The deceased man, Standing, was brought to the &spite'
on Monday quite dead. The organs of the abdomen
were thrust up into the chest, which caused death. The
two Greenwoods were admitted at the same time. Both
died in consequence of ruptured liver.
Mr. S. Ringer, house-surgeon, 'University Hospital, said
—Mary Sellis died in consequence of concussion of the brain
Rhoda Oliver died from rupture of the liver; Clara Maria
Clements died from fractured ribs and injuries to the lungs ;
Eva Stacey died from fractured skull and fractured leg ;
Richard Saunders died from fractured skull ; and Edward
Hills from rupture of the abdomen and other wounds.
William Hall identified the deceased, George H. Bolton.
He was a fireman on Hampstead Junction Railway.
Mr. Ringer (the house surgeon) recalled—He said the
deceased died yesterday in University Hospital from
scalds.
Mr. IV. Yeomans identified the body of John Yeomans
as that of his brother.
Mr. Ringer said he died in consequence of a fractured
neck.

The Coroner said he had been informed that there was a
witness who it was very desirable should be examined, and
as he was in a most precarious condition, he thought it
would be desirable for the jury to proceed to the University
Hospital and take the injured man's depositions. The jury
could then also view the body of Boulter.
This course was agreed to, and while the conveyance for
the jury was being got ready, the Coroner said, in order not
to lose time, they would proceed with the examination of
witnesses.
John Perkins, the driver of the ballast train, was then
called, he said the flagman was holding the punts at the
time. I had been conveying ballast for Bor 9 days. 20
is the regular number of trucks for a train. When I saw
the train coming I opened my whistle. Not the least
notice was taken of it. I foresaw there would be a colli •
sion, and to.d my mate there would be an accident. I was
not in any way injured by the collision. All I saw of the
collision was that the excursion train was coming at a
great speed. I did not see the engine run off the
line or turn over, because the trucks were across
the line. I saw the effects of the collision about
ten minutes after it occurred. I saw some of the
excursion train carriages on the left hand side of the em-
bankment. At this time my engine and one truck was on
the down-line, and the remainder on the six foot and the
up-line. I did not signal after the accident had occurred.
I have been seven years in the employ of the company.
Examination by Corener continued—When I went on
the siding the engine was attached to the trucks. I then
opened the whistle for a signal to the policeman at the
Kentish Town station. I got an answer to my signal from
him. His name is Rayner. He waived his hand
meaning by that that I was to leave the yard. 1
came out after seeing both signals, the one at the station
and the auxiliary one on the down line for Camden• town.
Both signals " blocked" the line. I then came out from the
aiding. The guard detached the engine from the trucks
and proceeded on the down line and recrossed again on the
up line. My flagman was at the points. His name is
Stuart. I mean that he held the points for me to get on the
line. There was no pointsman there but my signalman. He
held the handle of both points. Having recrossed to the up
line the engine was again attached to the trucks by Stuart,.
The effect of that was that the engine was in front of the
trucks; she was in the first instance at the rear. Altar the
flagman had turned me on the down line again, I
was then driving the train across the line. The train
consisted of 18 trucks and break van. The signals when I
crossed the line was standing at " Danger." After I had
proceeded for a short time, I saw the excursion train. Be
fore I got the engine clear of the up-line I saw it coming.
I took it to be an excursion train by its following so closely
after the regular train. I had waited for the regular train
to go by. I knew there was ono due about that time.
While I waited for the regular train I was on the down-
line. As soon as the regular train passed I opened the
whistle. I had not the slightest idea that an excursion
train was due about the same time as regular one. We are
furnished with information relative to the time and run-
ning of the reguiar trains, but not of the excursion trains.
When I saw the train coming I kept onward to get my
train clear if I could. I was not enabled to get it clear,
and a collision took place. When I first saw the train
coming she was near the Kentish Town station. She
seemed to me to be going at quite 40 miles an hour.
She was going fully at that speed. She had not passed
the station when 1 first saw her. She did not
attempt to pull up at Kentish-town station. It was not
usual for excursion trains to stop at Kentish-town without
they aro timed to do so. The result of the collision was to
knock a great many of my trucks to pieces, and sent them
over the right hand side of the embankment. The
second truck from the engine was the first struck.
The engine and first ;truck escaped uninjured. The fire-
man was riding with me. The guard was at the back. I
am an engine-driver in the employ of the London and
North-Western Railway. I was employed on the line on
Monday evening, the 2d instant, removing ballast from
Bushy to Kentish-town. I recollect arriving at about
5 30 p.m. at Kentish-town. I discharged the ballast, and
then went to the Camden. road for fuel and water. I
returned to the siding. I had a guard with me
at that time. It was about five minutes past seven.
, Juror—How do you come to know the time so exactly
then ?

Witness—l looked at the clock in the Camden yard.
By Mr. Park, counsel for the Kentish Town signalman
—I could not have got back from Camden Town earlier
than I did, after taking in fuel and water. There was a
signal between Hampstead and Kentish-town stations. If
the signal stood at " danger," the excursion train ought not
to have been coming at so great a speed.
By Mr. Wyatt—l had to travel about a mile and a half
to get the fuel and water. There had been no unnecessary
delay in delivering the ballast. There were other engines
beside my own getting water and fuel. I can't say how
many—not whether there were two or half a dozen. I did
not feel alarmed at the approach of the train. I did the
best I could to prevent it.
By Mr. Wilson, a juror—We have no particular time for
leaving Bushey. We leave as soon as we get loaded. We
have papers given to us relative to the ordinary trains, and
our orders were to keep clear of them. We have no informa-
tion regarding other trains, and were never told when they
were coming. If the danger signal was on at
Kentish-town I should not pass it as the line would be
blocked. That signal was not up when I passed, but
as soon as I had passed I knew the danger signal
was placed up. I can't say how long it remained
up. I know it was up when I was shunting. When I saw
the train coming I did not look at the signals. I did all I
could to prevent a collision. The main signal was between
me and the coming excursion train. I did not look at it.
Mr. Metcalf—He has said he was using his utmost exer-
tions to prevent a collision.
By the Coroner—The engine drawing the excursion
train was what is called a " tank engine," and was travel-
' ling in front.
By Mr. Lewis—l produce the book of regulations. [Book
handed in.] I bring up my own flagman and guard. I
saw the flag in the man's hand, while with the other he
turned my train across the line. I did not see the train
coming when the man first had hold of the points. This
was about two minutes before the collision. It was less
than a minute from the time I saw the engine that the
accident occurred.
Mr. Metcalf—The train he has said was coming forty
miles an hour, .
Witness continued—The passenger trains are signalled
in the ordinary way when a ballast train is on the line. I
always see that the signals are at danger before I com-
mence shunting. The guards always book the time in shunt-
ing. The book is sent to Mr. Lamb. Everything done
during the day is entered in a book. I have given a state-
, of tlto abooidiatt to Ntr:Bruyers, of the liorth.Westerzt