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

DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT
AND LOSS OF LIFE.
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 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, 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, 0-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. Bewlestridge'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.