The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-23 00:00:00

DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT

AND LOSS OF LIFE.

---
NOTTINGHAM, THURSDAY EVENING.—I have just
received authentic intelligence, of an alarming ac-
cident on the Midland line, which occurred this
afternoon at Beeston, about four miles from this town.
At ten minutes to three o'clock, the London train
came into collision with a Derby train, and the
result was awful. The stoker of the London train,
and four passengers, are reported dead; and many
others severely wounded. The confusion, the
dismantled engines, the broken carriages, but above
all, the cries and groans of the unfortunate sufferers
are represented to me, as being most appalling.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
NOTTINGHAM, FRIDAY.—I am now enabled to give
you authentic particulars of the accident yesterday.
As the different trains approach the Nottingham
station, it is customary to remove them from the
down line of rails to those upon which the up trains
travel. In accordance with this custom, a coal train,
which arrived about two o'clock P.m., was removed
to the up line, in doing which the tender accidentally
slipped off the rails, and was broken when about forty
yards above the Wilford-gate. Great efforts were
made to replace the tender in the right positi in, and
to remove the coal- waggons into the yard, but the
massive weight of the former defied all attempts at
removal. Finding their most strenuous efforts inef-
fectual, Mr. Lightfoot went to Beeston, to intercept
the Derby train, due at Nottingham at three o'clock.
Whilst away, Mr. Youle, one of the managing
directors, took charge of the station at Nottingham,
and it is btated that it was understood by Mr.
Lightfoot that no up trains should be started
until the train due from Derby had arrived
at Nottingham. This being Mr. Lightfoot's
impression, upon receiving the down train at
Beeston station, he joined the stoker upon the
engine, and proceeded on for Nottingham, at the rate
of about four miles an hour. This caution was highly
necessary, as a thick fog prevented the stoker seeing
more than a few yards before him, and it was probable
that some obstruction might be met with on the line.
Having proceeded at this easy pace about three
quarters of a mile, they heard the rumbling of wheels,
and the next moment they were thrown from their
elevation by a most violent concussion. In conse-
quence of having neglected entering into a distinct
arrangement with Mr. Lightfoot, the station-master,
before dispatching him to Beeston, Mr. Youle started
the London up train at about twenty minutes to
three. The stoker not having had sufficient in-
struction, or being reckless as to the consequences,
caused the train to proceed at the rate of about twenty
miles an hour—so say the passengers—notwithstand-
ing that he knew he was on the wrong line. When
the two trains met, it thus appears that the down
train was travelling at a slow pace, whilst the other
was proceeding with great velocity. Upon the two
meeting, the collision was dreadful. The train from
Derby consisted of several coal waggons and two or
three passenger carriages ; the engine was of very
powerful construction, and sustained the shock with-
out material injury. None of the passengers in the
train were injured : the shock they felt was com-
paratively slight, in consequence of the slow rate at
which they were proceeding, the strong build of
their engine, and the height of the material with
which the waggons were filled. But it was far
otherwise with the up train : it consisted of a much
lighter engine, the tender, the luggage truck,
a second class carriage, a first class carriage, and
lastly, one of the old " tubs," formeriy used as a
third class carriage. The second class carriage was
crowded with passengers, and several second class
passengers had been put into the first class carriage,
as they could not all find seats in the carriage for
which they had taken tickets. It is said that there
were about sixty passengers in all in this train, about
twenty of whom are more or less injured. One of
these, Mrs. Dean, wife of Mr. George Dean, landlord
of the Castle and Falcon, Warser-gate, has described
to us the scene, and her sensations at the moment of
the occurrence. She says—" At the time of the
catastrophe, we were travelling at a very quick pace,
and had no idea of anything like an accident.
Upon entering the carriage, I and my little daughter
placed ourselves behind my husband's brother,
who happened to be travelling in the same carriage to
a different destination. We were then sitting with
our backs to the engine ; but my daughter fancied she
should like to sit on the opposite side, facing her
uncle. I removed to please her. I had not changed
my place more than a few moments, when the colli-
sion took place. We were all stunned in a moment. I
had been sitting directly opposite to my brother-in-
law, and at the moment of the accident I could not
help noticing him; he jumped up from his seat, and
exclaimed in a tone of deep agony, O-o-h.' In the
next moment he had rolled head first out of the
window. I believe he was then dead. We all began
to scramble out at the windows as well as we could,
some of the more fortunate of the passengers assisting
others who could not extricate themselves."
Three have died, and sixteen other individuals lie
in a dangerous state.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Holderness hds., Mon., Burton Agnes ; Tttes" Cove
Castle ; Thursday, Sproatley Village • Fri., Water
Hall ; Sat., Woodmansey
Lord Yarborough's hds., Mon., Weelsby House ; Wed.,
Cabourn Village ; Fri., Cheatham-11.
Mr. Musters's hds., Mon., Epperstone; Wed., Bagthorpe-
common-2.
Sherwood harrs., Tues.,;Sherwood Hall, King's-mill-11.
Donington hds., Mon., Bunn's Park ; Wed., Cavendish-
bridge ; Sat., Hathern Turn-101.
Mr. M. Ingram's hds., Mon., Barton Park ; Thurs.,
Drakelow ; Sat., Wicbnor Park.
Rufford's hds., Mon., Langwith-bridge ; Wed., Kennels.
Quorn hds., Mon., Kebworth ; Tues., Bardon Hall ;
Thurs., Lowesby Hall; Fri.,Wattenby Stone-pits-Iq.
United Pack, Thurs., Linley.
Mr. Farquharson's hds., Mon., Doles Ash.
B. V. H., Tues., Toomer Farm.
Mr. G. Notley's harrs., Devonshire Inn, near Honiton ;
Fri., Kingstone Turnpike-gate.
Mr. Long's harrs., Mon. New Copse; Wed., Broughton ;
Fri., Knooknoll.
Duke of Beaufort's hds., Mon., Chavenage-green ; Wed
Wick Wilk Turnpike-gate ; Sat., Petty France.
Mr. A. Smith's hds., Mon., Red Rice; Tues., Oare-hill;
Wed., Wherwell Wood; Thurs., Wayhill; Sat., Roche
Court-11
Linlithgow and Stirtingshire hds., Mon., Dunmore Park;
Tues., Hangingside ; Thurs., Hopetoun House; Sat.,
Bell's Quarry.
Badsworth hds., Tues., Streethouse Bar; Thurs., Robin
Hood's Well; Sat., Wombwell Wood-101.
Mr. Foljambe's hds., Mon., Lindrick Common; Tues.,
Mettering-bridge; Thurs., Streetly Bar; Fri., Ros-
sington-bridge-101.
Earl of Harewood's hds., Mon., Harewood-bridge; Wed.,
Towton ; Fri., Tockwith-101.
Lord 11. Bentinck's hds., Mon., Stainfield Hall; Toes,,
Linwood-by-Rasen; Wed., Swinthorpe; Thurs., Nor-
ton House; Fri., Stapleford Moor; Thurs., Norton
Place-11.
Sir R. Sutton's hds., Mon., Uffington Hall ; Tues.,
Burley-on-the-Hill ; Wed., Grimsthorpe Castle ; Fri.,
Loddington Hall ; Sat., Little Dalby-11.
Pytchley Hunt, Mon., Finedon ; Wed., Sulby Hall ;
Frid., Fox Hall ; Sat., Spratton Bridge-10i.
East Essex hds., Mon., Bulmer Plough ; Thurs., Gos-
field ; Sat., Yeldham.
Essex Union hds., Tues., Rettendon Common ; Sat.,
Hazeleigh Hall.
Lieut. Col. Hildyard's harrs., Mon., Ludell ; Wed.,
Frosterley-bridge ; Fri., Faon Lees-10.
Hurworth hds., Tues., Cotcliff Wood; Sat., Kennel3-10i.
Raby hds., Mon., Whitton-bridge-10j ; Wed. (a
deer), Sommerhouse-1.2 ; Fri., Waterfield-10i.
Mr. Trelawney's hds., Tues., Plym-bridge ; Fri.,
Goodamoor—loi.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

CONTINUATION OF CAPTAIN NORTON'S
SHELL PRACTICE.-FOURTH DAY.

The firing continued again on Thursday morning, at
nine o'clock, at the top of high water, for the
purpose of testing the qualities of these formid-
able missiles, as ricochet shells—the Swiftsure the
target. The guns used were as before, 68 and 32-
pounders. Twenty-five shells were thrown at a very
small elevation of the gun, to make the first graze
about eight hundred yards from the Excellent, the
object being to test the operation of the shell on
striking the water. We understand that a number of
the shells fired were not pointed at the Swiftsure, but
merely to try whether the shell would explode by
the resistance of the water, which it did not do
except in one or two instances, and then we suppose
the shell came into contact with the hard ground
under the slight coating of mud and water ; about 10
shells struck the ship, four of which exploded with
tremendous effect, one entered through the quarter-
deck, and did not explode, but was picked up and
taken back to the Excellent. _ _ _

We subjoin a list of shells fired, &c.
No. 1. First graze about 800 yards, passed over
Swiftsure, grazed water eight times ; no explosion.
No. 2. First graze about 850 yards, second graze
into ships' bulwark, quarter-deck, port side, splinter-
ing timberheads, side-planking, &c. No. 3. Ex-
ploded in the air, about 700 yards from the Excellent.
No. 4. First graze 800 prds, third graze into ship
and exploded. No. 5. irst graze about 800 yards ;
at third graze struck ship, passing through quarter-
deck bulwarks, and into deck ; no explosion seen.
No. 6. First graze about 800 yards ; at third graze
struck ship through quarter-deck by skylight, through
main deck ; no explosion. No. 7. First graze about
850 yards ; struck, third graze, passing through
quarter and main deck ; exploded on main deck.
No. 8. Ricochet, nine times, passing ahead of ship ;
no explosion. No. 9. First graze about 900 yards,
passed ahead of ship, grazed nine times. No. 10. First
graze about 900 yards, passed ahead, grazed six
times ; exploded. No. 11. Passed ahead of ship,
grazed water twenty times ; no explosion. No. 12.
Into ship the fourth graze ; no explosion heard.
No. 13. Into ship the third graze, struck port fore-
castle bulwark, and exploded. No. 14. Into ship the
third graze, and exploded. N 0.15. First graze about
800 yards, passed over ship; no explosion heard.
No. 16. First graze about 800 yards, struck ship the
third graze, and exploded. No. 17. First graze about
800 yards, struck the third graze into ship's water-
line. No. 18. First graze about 950 yards, passed
ship, grazed water twelve times. No. 19. First graze
about 950 yards, passed, grazed seven times, and ex-
ploded. No. 20. Struck water about 950 yards, and
exploded. No. 21. First graze about 900 yards,
missed ship, grazed water twelve times. No. 22.
First graze 950 yards, missed ship, grazed water
twelve times. No. 23. First graze about 700 yards,
missed ship, grazed water twenty times. No. 24.
First graze about 800 yards, missed ship, grazed
water thirteen times ; no explosion. No. 25. First
graze about 900 yards, missed ship, grazed water
thirty times ; no explosion.
Sir T. Hastings, Colonel Dansey, and Capt. Stevens,
inspected the Swifture after the firing ceased.
The Daedalus, 20, Captain P. M`Quhae, is ordered
from Woolwich to Devonport, where she will be paid
advance and receive orders.
The Black Eagle steam-yacht, Master-Commander
B. Cook, has returned to Woolwich from Dover.
The Champion, 18, Commander Clavell, has arrived
from South America at Portsmouth, sailed from Val-
paraiso Aug. 10. She worked out of the bay with
a French frigate, bound to Otaheite. The Dublin,
50, Captain Tucker, had sailed on the 7th to blockade
Callao. Left at Valparaiso the Cormorant steam-
sloop, Commander Gordon ; and at Rio, the Alfred,
50, Commodore Purvis, and the Crescent receiving-
ship. The Champion reached Portsmouth in forty-
seven days ; had fine weather all the passage.
The Satellite, Commander Rowley, arrived at
Monte Video, from Rio Janeiro, on the 30th July.