The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-23 00:00:00

YARROW ESCAPE OP THE .ROYAL TRAIN.

It is stated on good authority, that oil tine way to the
review the royal train which conveyed the Prince and
Princess of Wales had a narrow and providential escape. It
seems that from some cause or other, shortly after leaving
the Slough station, the royal train was by mistake turned on
to the up line, and just as it was getting up steam a train of
empty carriages was seen coming up on the same line from
Windsor. Fortunately, the engine-driver in charge of the
royal train immediately discovered that he had been
turned on to the , wrong metals, and he instantly, with
great presence of mind, signalled for all brakes to be put
on, and reversed the direction of the train, just in time
to save the long train of empties from dashing into his
engine, and thus a collision was prevented by about half a
carriage length. We believe the Prince and Princess were
not aware that they had had such a narrow escape, or that
the reversion was anything more than an ordinary backing.
The affair, however, caused considerable anxiety for a
few minutes to those who witnessed the danger. It is
stated that the neglect will be made the subject of inquiry,
but pending that it would not be fair to give more definite
particulars. The whole nation will rejoice in the escape of
the royal party.

CHARGE OP POISONING A RACEHORSE.

singular case has come before the Barnstaple magis-
trates. George Wdelacott, groom, was charged with
administering poison to a horse, the property of Mr. Small-
ridge. The evidence for the prosecution shewed that
Little Sally, a mare belonging to Mr. Smalhidge, had
died suddenly. She was ridden several days prior to the
Barnstaple Races, which came off June 4, at which meet-
ing the mare was entered to run for the Yeomanry Cup.
The horse was taken to Youlston at a cavalry review, and
was in charge of Mr. Smallriclge's two sons, who lodged
at an inn hard by. The horse was kept in the stable. Two
days before the races Mr. F. Strallridge, one of the sons,
galloped Little Sally round the course, and on his leaving
he was met by the prisoner, who was riding Little Fairy,
which was also intended to compete. They afterwards
met at Bishops-Tawton, and prisoner remarked, " The
race lies between the two horses." At ten o'clock on
the morning before the race Little Sally fed very
well and appeared healthy as usual. She was in
the stable of the inn. About noon three men, called
Jewell, Galliford, Hancock, and the prisoner entered the
inn. The prisoner went into the stable, and was seen
standing at the head of the mare with the halter off, and
his hand on its neck. From that time the horse failed ;
she did not eat anything the same day, nor yet the fol-
lowing morning. She was taken to the races to fulfil her
engagement, and on her way she began violently to
purge. On her arrival at the course she was examined by
Mr. Hewish, veterinary surgeon, who ordered that she
should be taken home. About twelve o'clock the horse
expired in dreadful agony. Mr. Hewish made a post-
mortem examination, and found that the horse had been
poisoned. The stomach was sent to Mr. Herapath, of
Bristol, who discovered oxalic acid, sulphuric acid or oil
of vitriol, and other poisono-Js spirits. The pr:soner's
house was searched, and the police took possession of three
bottles, one of which contained muriatic acid. The bench
remanded the case to obtain further evidence. Bail
was accepted—two sureties in £ICO, and the prisoner in
2200.