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

DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDEN T
AND LOSS OF LIFE.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
(PROM 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 position, 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 stated 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, Warner-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.
(From a Second Edition of the Nottingham Journal)
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Mr. Dean, Hounds'-gate, dead.
Mr. John Neep, of middle age, of Retford, lies at the
General Hospital, but hopes are entertained of his re-
covery. The extent of injury cannot at present be as-
certained, and besides being sadly bruised, it is feared
some of his ribs are broken.
George Burley, about thirty years of age, stoker,
seriously scalded and burnt, the fire and boiling water
having fallen upon him from the engine, when forced
upwards by the collision. We understand he was on the
engine coming from Derby.
Mr. John Bowlestridge, landlord of the Three Horse
Shoes, Derby-road, and Miss Ann Gretton, of Dove
Cliff, Staffordshire, were conveyed to the Three Horse
Shoes, Derby-road. This young lady had been on a
visit to Mr. Bowlestridge's, and was returning with her
father, who is manager of some iron works at Stoke-
cliff; all three were much bruised, but whether any
bones were broken could not be told at the time we made
our inquiries.
The above parties were conveyed in a cart to the
General Hospital and the Three Horse Shoes.
LENTON.
The following persons lie at Mr. Pick's, the Wheat
Sheaf Inn :
Mr. Gretton, Burton-on-Trent, severely crushed.
Mr. Bradley, Southwell, farmer, leg broken.
(At Mr. Lee's, gardener.)
Mr. Varnalls, formerly butler at Colwick-hall, dead.
The distressing news of his death was instantly dis-
patched to Mrs. Varnall's, who is housekeeper at Mr.
Strutt's, Derby.

BEESTON.
Mr. Arnold, medical instrument-maker, seriously hurt.
(At Mr. Andrew's, Victoria Tavern.)
Mr. Garratt, surgeon of London, extensively injured.
(At the same place.)
Robert Thornhill, lace-manufacturer, slightly crushed.
(At home.)
David Fox, employed at Mr. Gill's silk-mill, arm
broken. (At home.)
Misses Ann and Maria Len is, of Sneinton (seriously
hurt), owing to the violence of the concussion, were
thrown out of the carriage, and their dresses becoming
entangled, they wero nearly stripped. One of them had
actually the sole of her shoe torn off.
We regret to say that the conduct of the inhabitants
of the village was characterised by anything rather than
humanity ; the Misses Lewis, who were close to the un-
fortunate Mr. Dean in the railway carriage, were per-
mitted to remain in almost a state of nudity in a field
for upwards of an hour before they were removed. At
length they were taken in a baker's cart to Mr. Ham-
mond's, to whom they were paying a visit, and were
afterwards conveyed to their home. Mr. Dean was also
treated with similar neglect.
Mr. Robinson, traveller—very much bruised.
Mr. Thistlewood, of Lincoln—ditto.
Mr. Nixon, Hounds'-gate—ditto, and tooth broken out.
Mr. George Baker, Woolpack-lane—slightly bruised.
Mr. John Wildey, Pelham-street—bruised.
Mr. Tutin, sen., butcher, Nottingham—bruised.
Miss Surplice, of Beeston, escaped injury by leaping
out of the carriage.
Mrs. Dean, sister-in-law to the deceased, and landlady
of the Castle and Falcon, Nottingham, with her little
daughter, was also severely bruised and crushed.
The conduct of Mr. Lightfoot has not escaped censure,
but it would be unjust to subject him to any animad-
versions until some more tangible data than mere rumour
can be procured.
The inquest will be held to-day.
Another accident occurred on the same day, betwixt
Leicester and Rugby. Two statements have reached us,
but the one most generally credited is, that a luggage-
train could not get along, in consequence of the slippery
state of the rails ; that the guard or stoker got off to
scatter sand upon the rails, and that another train over-
took them, but was not observed, in consequence of the
dense fog, and the poor fellow's brains were dashed out.
These events have caused great excitement.

INQUEST ON ONE OF THE BODIES.
The Nottingham Review, in a third edition, gives the
commencement of an inquest on the body of Mr. Var-
nalls, one of the sufferers. A gentleman of the name of
Gell was examined. According to his evidence, danger
was apprehended before the down train started, and,
from conversation which he overheard, he declined going
by the train. The train started, and in about two
minutes he heard a loud crash, and, running to the spot,
he saw two trains crushed into one another. Some of
the passengers were on the ground, and others were still
in the carriages. William Murden, labourer, was under
examination when the paper went to press.

TIIE REIGNING DUKE OF SAXE COBL'RG AND
GoTIIA.—The investiture of his Royal Highness the
Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, as a Knight of the
Most Noble Order of the Garter, is expected to take
place at Windsor Castle on Tuesday or Wednesday next.
The state apartments, including the throne-room, in
which the investiture will take place, are now being pre-
pared for that august ceremony. A grand banquet will
be given in the evening, by her Majesty, to a numerous
and distinguished party, to celebrate the event. The
Duchess of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha, to whom the
reigning Duke was married in May, 1842, is the daugh-
ter of the Grand Duke of Baden, and was born on the
Gth of December, 1820. Should their Royal Highnesses
prolong their visit to England beyond the 6th proximo
(which is at present uncertain), the Duchess's birthday
will be celebrated at Windsor Castle, by her Majesty,
with great splendour.
THE STEAM-BOAT AND TUB LOCOMOTIVE--.-WIN-
DERMERE.—A very elegant steam-boat is building for
Windermere, to ply round the lake with pleasure parties.
This is not in connexion with the railway, but rather in
consequence of it ; and the " true romance" of the story
is, that the gentry who have expressed such dislike to
the locomotive steam-engine are giving every encour-
agement to the aquatic steamer. The time will come
when they will recognise and acknowledge the conveni-
ences of both.—Railway Record.