The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-08 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT oiv THE LoN n0.21r,
CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY.

•
TEII.ILVAL JAN. 7.
The appalling accident which occurred at a late
hour on Saturday night, on the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway, near this station, whereby two
persons lost their lives under the circumstances
detailed in 71te Sun of this day, has resulted in
the death of another of the sufferers, the engine-
driver, William Matthewson (not. Mattison, as was
previously stated), having expired last night from
the fearful nature of the injuries he had received •,
makiag the third person who has been killed
through the unfortunate occurrence. All the three
men are stated to have been excellent servants of
the company, and well acquainted with their duties.
It is, however, asserted that Matthewson, the
driver of the engine, had only been in the em ploy-
of the company a few days, having recently re-
turned from India, on one of the railways in which
country he had previously been employed. Wit( ther
this statement is correct, and bis alleged want of
knowledge of the line led to the acecident,
doubtless form the subject of investigation by the
coroner and jury. The fireman who was with him,
and who is one of the men killed by the accident,
had been in the company's employ some time, and.
is stated to have been thoroughly acquainted with
every portion of the line.
The particulars already given of the accident
convey but a faint idea of the frightful nature of
the occurrence, the railway officials and other
parties connected with the line, whose duties have
brought them to the scene of the fatal calamity,
one and all declaring that during the whole of
their experience in railway accidents they had
never witnessed one the results of which, in the
destruction not only of life but also of valuable
property, had been of such an appalling character.
The only surprise appears to be that every person
connected with the train was not killed, and that
any of the passengers escaped with their lives ap-
pears altogether marvellous.
On the engine giving the bound which caused it
to leave the metals it ran for a short distance along
the permanent way, when both it and the tender
turned completely over, rolling down an embank-
ment, on which the line there runs, and falling into
a field below. The line for some distance was torn.
up, and the rails bent and twisted into the most
fantastic shapes. The guard's break van, next the
tender, and the carriages behind, were all thrown
off the rails, and were huddled together in one
mass and dashed to pieces ; indeed, so complete
was the work oft demolition from the violence of
the shock that scarcely any distinguishable portions
of the carriages are left remaining, huge pieces of
iron, wheels, splinters and b3ards having been scat-
tered about in all directions. During the whole of
the night workmen were employed clearing the
line, replacing the broken rails, and removing the
wrecks of the carriages, and they lighted fires with
the broken pieces of wood which formed portions
of the first-class and other carriages.
It is an exceedingly fortunate circumstance that
there were only a very few passengers in the train
at the time, this being the last station at which
the down train stopped, or the number of lives
sacrificed must have been very large. Most of the
carriages were empty at the time, but of the pas-
sengers who were travelling not one escaped
without injuries of a more or less serious charac-
ter. During the whole of Saturday_ night and
yesterday relays of workmen were employed, under
the direction of Mr. Finnigan, in clearing the line
and getting the down rails ready for the traffic,
all the trains passing over the up portion of the
line. The work of getting the engine on the line
was one of great difficulty. Although of a very
large size, the manner in which it has been twisted.
and bent is most astonishing.
No satisfactory reason for the cause of the accident
can yet be discovered, but this no doubt will form the
subject of a searching inquiry by the coroner.
There appears, however, every possibility that the
late severe frosts might have been indirectly the
cause, several remarkable instances having recently
occurred which show the astonishing effects the
frost has upon metals.
All the bodies lie in the immediate vicinity of
this station, and official intimation of the occurrence
has been forwarded to Mr. T. Hills, the coroner for
West Kent.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST A

CLERGY ILAN.

A charge of a very painful character, in which
the Rev. A. Seaton, rector of Colton, was the de-
fendant, and the Rev. John T. Harland, of Bella-
moor Lodge, the complainant, was brought before
the magistrates at Rugeley on Thursday. The
charge was one of assault, alleged to have been
committed on the 27th of December at Colton
Rectory. The case was opened for the complainant
by Dr. Hill, of the Oxford :Circuit, who stated
that some few years ago the rev. defendant became
a widower, v. hen Miss Oldham, of Bellamour
Lodge, the sister-in-law of the complainant, among
many other kind offices, took charge of the eldest
daughter of the defendant. Some short time
ago the defendant was again married, and he sub-
sequently entertained an idea that Miss Oldham
had alienated from himself and wife the affections
of his daughter. On the 27th ult., the defendant
wrote to Miss Oldham, expressing satisfaction that
his wife and daughter were as fond of each other
as he could wish, and that the latter had not wholly
lost her reverence for him, "notwithstanding the
miserable slanders which she had been doomed to
listen to from the lips of herself and Mrs. Harland."
The letter, which contained further similar excit-
able expressions, was briefly replied to by Miss Old-
ham, and on the return home of the complainant a
note was written by him to the defendant, suggest-
ing that a meeting should immediately take place,
with the view of ascertaining and inquiring into
the allegations contained in the letter. With
this suggestion the defendant immediately coin-
cided, and proposed that Mrs. Harland,
Miss Oldham, and the complainant should
at once confront his daughter at the rectory.
The counsel then proceeded to detail the circum-
stances, which occurred during the interview at
the rectory. These were subsequently borne
out in evidence by Dr. Harland and Miss Old-
ham. The words "infernal liar" were said to have
been used by the defendant, who also struck the
complainant severely several times, and scratched
and kicked him. The rev, defendant conducted his
own case, assisted by a legal adviser. The language
used was not denied ; but it was argued that the
complainant was the first to take hold of defendant's
coat collar. 'The daughter of Mr. Seaton, a young
lady between fifteen and sixteen years of age, was
also summoned as a witness for the defence. She
stated that she did not see the defendant strike the
complainant, and asserted that she herself struck
the complainant's ear, thereby drawing blood. At
the conclusion of the case the chairman of the

magistrates said that everyone who had heard the
case must regret that the rev. defendant had so
far forgotten himself, and more especially would
be pained at the defence which had been set up,
and which had done more harm than anything else.
The Bench had come to the unanimous decision that
the five must be the highest allowed by law, which
was £5, including costs, or in default two months'
imprisonment.—Manchester Guardian.

MAIN DRAINAGE WORKS.

Mr. Bazalgette, the engineer to the Metropolitan
Board of Works, has drawn up a report on the pro- •
gress of the main drainage works on the north and
south side of the Thames, of which the following is
an abstract :—The bulk of the main drainage works
has of necessity been stopped for a considerable
portion of the past month on account of the frost.
The northern high level sewer works will probably
The middle level sewer,which
be recommended and rapidly finished off as soon as
the weather permits.
has been re-let to Messrs. a. Drassey and Co., also
awaits a change in the weather, The arrangements
for placing Mr. Furness in possession of the land
along the whole
completed, line of th
and northern
this work outfall sewer
are now nearly
commenced in t course of the present month. The
Ranelagh Storm Overflow Sewer, across Hyde
park, progresses satisfactorily, works to the amount
of £5,700 having been completed, in addition to
the underpinning of the old sewer to the value of
£2,688. On the south side of the river the southern
high level sewer is now in progress at five different
points, three on the main line and two on the Dul-
wich or Effra branch. The value of the work
done is £5,800, and the total length completed
is 3 miles 1,812 feet. The southern outfall sewer
continues to be carried on in a very business-
like and satisfactory manner. The tunnel
under Woolwich is about one mile in length,
and varies from 45 to 75 feet in depth ; four
shafts have been sunk, r.nd 2.253 feet of tunnel
completed, the headings being lighted with gas,
and the miners working day and night ; the tun-
nel will probably be completed next autumn. The
rest of the work is, with trifling exceptions, being
constructed in open cutting, and about 6,527'
feet have been completed, making 8,510 feet in
tunnel and open cutting. The value of the work
done is about £BO,OOO. The works for the low
level sewer under the Surrej Consumers Gas Com-
pany's property now progrYsses satisfactorily; the
water having been subdued, the excavations are
nearly completed. The Earl outlet was in a very
dilapidated condition ; it is now being recon-
structed, and the sewage conveyed through pipes
to low water, and this will form a storm overfloW
. in connection with the low level sewer.