The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-15 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL coLusro 0 Tin
,WALEs RAILWAY.

PORT TALBOT, OCT, 14.•
A fearful collision of two passanger trans meet-
ing each other on this railway took place this day
about noon between Pyle and Port. Talbot. One
child was fearfully mangled and killed on the spot,
and broken limbs are unfortunately very numerous.
The accident, if gross negligence can be so called,
happened under the following circumstances
Tee 6.30 morning train from Cheltenham to
Hord Haven had arrived iu due course at- Pyle,
1, small station next to Port Talbat, and was ab:ub
10 minutes after its time. On arriving here a rre.e..
sengeebrought the intelligence from westward that
• truck in a goods train on the main line of
rails—the Irish train proceeding to meet the
Packet at Milforth—bad broken down and
blocked up the line. . 'The messenger was
accordingly sent back with instructions to return.as
soon as the line was clear, this not being a telegraph
station. Before he had returned, however, ano-
ther messenger arrived, and, having made a coin-
munication to the stationmaster at Pyle, the train.
,eturned back along its own line (the down line)
about a mile, to a crossing at a place o filled Stormy,
where the Llynvi Valley Railway joins' the Sott't
Wales. There the train crossed to the up Hite.
Pyle was again passed, and the train had. proceeded
about a mile further towards Port Talbot, when
the up-train, which left Milford at 7.5, and was
overdue, was observed approaching at its usual
speed on the same line of rails round a curve.
It was too late, however, to avoid a c
sad the shock of the two engines was tremendous.
Both engines, from their ponderosity, retsined
their position on the rails, but the tender of the
up-train was thrown back upon the first carriage, a
Laird class, which it mounted, crushing in the roof
and dreadfully mutilating the passengers. The
tender of the down train also was crushed back in
t) the first carriage of that train, frightfully maim-
ing its occupants. The scene of the catastrophe
was frightful to look at, and to make it more fear-
ful the up express train now became due, and its
arrival was looked for every moment. The wounded
passengers were, with some delay, got out, and laid
upon-the bank, and every assistance rendered theca
that could be afforded under the circumstances.
Unfortunately, however, there was no medical man
in either of the trains, but ayoung student resident
near was quickly on the spot, end rendered valu-
able assistance until the -arrival of surgeons from
Port Talbot by a special engine in about an hour
after the collision. One of the stokers was crushed in
the wreck of the tender, and was with some eiffi-
cuity extricated. The line -was stet) wri'w th splin-
ters of wood, broken iron, &c., and blood was
sprinkled over the ground in several places, render-
ing the spectacle (together with the groans of the
injured) horrifying in the extreme: As far as we
could learn in the confusion incident upon the-ac-
cident, the following is a list of the dead and seri-
ouslymj injured:—

Robeit Palmer, driver of the up-train, broken
leg and severe cuts on the head.
J. S Lawson, fireman of the down-train, broken
leg and other injuries.
Mr. Ashman, pork-butcher, Cardiff, a ftigbtfully
smashed leg, and other serious injuries about the
head and face. It is feared his case will end fatally.
The flow of blood was so great that, after forming
a pool round him, it flowed away out at the door
of the carriage in which he was placed for removal
to the hospital.

Mary Thomas, or Timmins, of Cardiff, broken
leg and other injuries.
John Prince, carpenter, Briptol, severe injuries
on the back ; incapable of moving.
Mr. Brewster, printer, of Swansea, 'compound
fracture of the leg and other injuries. The passen-
cter bad taken au insurance ticket, which fact be
carefully communicated to his fdlow-passengers in
the _midst of his suff.rings.
Mr. Thomas Williams, draper, Aberystwith, in-
ternal injuries. _ _ ,

Mr. Cecil, wife of Police-Sergeant Cecil, of Cwm
Ammon, frightful injuries to the head. She was
removed to Port Talbot, where._ hor husband•met
her, and her case received prompt attention.
Ann Harman, a young unmarried woman from
Neath, internal injuries.

Sarah Harman, -aged four years, a fino little girl,
who was travelling with her aunt, the last-named
sufferer, was killed on the spot, her body being
fearfully mangled, and blackened by the coals from
the tender.

Sidwell, severe injuries about the head and-

An aged woman, nanie unknown, internal
injuries.

There were also a great many other persons who
had received cuts about the heads and legs and
contusions on various parts of the body, and in.
fact two-thirds of the passengers in the two trains
were more or less injure I. The above, however,
are the most serious cases.

As soon as a pilut engine had arrived from Pore
Talbot the wounded passengers, who had been lying
on the embankment doze to the train, were carried
into a goods van and a carriage, and conveyed to
Port Talbot, and thence the most serious cases pro-
ceeded on to the Swansea Infirmary, where every
attention was paid to them.
Mr. Clarke, the general superintendent at Swan-
sea, immediately on hearing of the accident pro-
ceeded to the spot, and in the meantime all traffic
between Port Talbot and Pyle was stopped.
No doubt the most strict investigation will take
place, and it is hoped that the person who ordered
the down-train to proceed on the up lino will be
properly punished.

INDIAN PRODUCE.

The news from India establishes the hope that
the area of disturbance so far as regards the com-
mercial products of the country will not be extended
beyond its present limits. Au estimate may there-
fore be hazarded of the degree to which the supplies
of the various artier-s will be afflicted. The lead-
ing exports from Calcutta to Great Britain, France,
and North America consist of indigo, sugar, salt-
petre, silk, cotton, rice, hides, safflower, jute,
mustardseed, cutch, and lac dye, and the ag-
regate value of these in the Indian market, reckoned
at the present prices, may be taken at about
9,000,0001., the distribution being about 6,200,0001.
to Great Britain, 1,100,000/. to France, and
1,700,0001. to the United States. Indigo, sugar,
silk, saltpei re, and cotton are the most important,
but rice, mustard, and linseed, jute, and safflower
contribute cousider,bly to the amount. The qucs-
lion i 5, what is the proportion of the cultivation of
each in the disaffected districts. Of sugar about one-
half the total quantity comes from the neighbour-
11,‘01 of Benares, and the production will be propor-
tionably interfered with. Silk comes principally from
the Lower Provinces, and will therefore not he
much influenced. Saltpetre will suffer greatly. The
only kind suitable for gunpowder is produced
in Bengal, and of this two-thirds are obtained
from the districts in revolt. Of cotton, also, about
from one-third to a half is supposed to come from
the same region. Indigo was already affected by
the occurrence of a short crop, and as from a quar-
ter to a third of the annual production is from the
Upper Provinces, a failure of supply has been anti-
cipated, such as to act powerfully on an advancing
market. At the last dates extreme. apprehensions
were felt with respect to the stock of seed for next
season, Lower Bengal being principally sown with
seed produced in the disaffected districts. The pro-
duction of rice is a point that bears upon the native
population more than upon the external commerce
of the country. The quantity.shipped. from Cal-
cutta is not important—its value, perhaps, be-
ing 40:),000/., and, as its cost of transport is
heavy, little would be likely to be brought to the
port at a time like the present. The grand point of
anxiety, however, concetning this staple must ba
tstehieeete production
seems
tt( r
with respect to the crop available for consumption.
around the scenes of insurrection, and fears are
entertained that in many localities famine will have
to be endured. Safflower and jute are cultivated
only in Lower Bengal, and will therefore be safe.
The cutch exported from Calcutta is not a native
product, but comes from Pegu. Lac dye is
not an important item as regards aggre-
gate value, but it is obtained principally
from the disaffected parts. Hides also con-
stitute only a small item, and they are produced
generally throughout India. On the whole, there
m
de
reachauscotni of
sometio anticipate
cent,
thatp articles tnhe thex
t total
as e extent
value to
th interferedwe
an amount which would b 3 about
equal
in
hmayr)oi
rlO or
2 O
exports
m Calcutta perfr o two
most important instances—fine indigo and saltpetre
—there are no competing countries
hcouanstroicecsutroremdawkheicuhpitvhilel
deficiency, a rise in price
cause the pecuniary results to the Indian producer
to be nearly the same as if the crops had reached
an average. The only serious pressure, therefore,
that India is likely to feel from the insurrection is
that which may result from any destruction of the
rice and wheat required for the food of the people,
and there is cause to suppose that cases of this sore
will be only local and limited. Commercially it. 10.3
compelled to economise the substances
Europe and America that will suffer, -frohnait bmefuns„
_ _t
and
wilt
fall short. India will Still take will.ngdodilt.i on to pay
disturbances, al-
'Dalian:
coyf
rn st
elige u ceonnt sl
ns there seems to be though among some persons
oslhi etic, riskswh
ac-
tual anxiety that an Imperial loan should be
eqbnea
nt Icieoar ooufg hhleyr i
ownn a
t could be raised in the country suclia cow
t.
amount
tS would ol long
aalssoaeney-
granted even befiomrep
ile
twatul ilsdh be
eh
eu t rr
sl yt
possible Precedent with regard to
our other possessions.