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

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 traiu coming I opened ny 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 Coroner 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.
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
siding. 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. After 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-lice I saw it coming.
I took it to be an excursion train by its following so closely
after the regular train. I had waited iv the regular train
to go by. I knew there was one die about that time.
While I waited for the regular train T was on the down-
line. As soon as the regular train ?assed 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 t the time and run-
ning of the reguiar trains, but not of he excursion trains.
When I saw the train coming I kepi onward to get my
train clear if I could. I was not en.bled to get it clear,
and a collision took place. When , first saw the train
coming she was near the Kentish Cown station. She
seemed to me to be going at quit 40 miles an hour.
She was going fully at that speed. She had not passed
the station when 1 first saw .er. She did not
attempt to pull up at Kentish-townitation. It was not
usual for excursion trains to stop at I-Ontish-town without
they are timed to do so. The result the collisionwas to
knock a great many of my trucks to feces, and sent them
over the right hand side of the embankment. The
second truck from the engine NO the first struck.
The engine and first :truck escapedminjured. The fire-
man was riding with me. The guar; was at the back. I
am an engine-driver in the emplo!of the London and
North-Western Railway. I was eroloyed on the line on
Monday evening, the 2d instant, 'moving ballast from
Bushy to Kentish-town. I recolkt arriving at about
5 30 p.m. at Kentish-town. I dischrged 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 mimes past seven.
Juror—How do you come to knot the time so exactly
then ?
Witness—l looked at the clock in he Camden yard.
By Mr. Park, counsel for the Kenish Town signalman
—I could not have got back from Camden Town earlier
than I did, after taking in fuel an.water. There was a
signal between Hampstead and Kenth-town stations. If
the signal stood at " danger," the exarsion train ought not
to have been coming at so great a sped.
By Mr. Wyatt—l had to travel pout a mile and a half
to get the fuel and water. There hal been no unnecessary
delay in delivering the ballast. Thre were other engines
beside my own getting water and fol. I can't say how
many—not whether there were two w 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 havens particular time for
leaving Bushey. We leave as soon is we get loaded. We
have papers given to us relative to tb3 crdinary trains, and
our orders were to keep clear of them. Ve have no informa-
tion regarding other trains, and werentver told when they
- were coming. If the danger signal was on at
Kentish-town I should not pass it at the line would be
blocked. That signal was not up waen I passed, but
as soon as I had passed I knew tie 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 shoals. I did all I
could to prevent a collision. The man kignal was between
me and the coming excursion train. I cid not look at it.
Mr. Metcalf—He has said he was usin; his utmost exer-
tions to prevent a collision.
By the Coroner—The engine drawirg 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 :he points. This
was about two minutes before the collision. It was less
than a minute from the time I sew tie engine that the
accident occur. ed.
Mr. Metcalf—The train he has said was coming forty
miles an hour.
Witness continued—The passenger &a:us are signalled
in the ordinary way when a ballast train i 3 on the line. I
always see that the signals were at danger before I com-
mence shunting.

We are happy to learn that the donage done to
the publishing establishment of Messrs. Longman and Co.
by the destructive fire in Paternoster-row, on Wednesday
night, is comparatively trifling. Though )ne of the houses
occupied by that firm was destroyed the loss is fully covered
by insurance, and business will be carried on as usual in the
adjoining premises without the slightest interruption.