The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-20 00:00:00

N°. 18,094.] LONDON, FRIDAY EV NING SUN SEPTEMBER 20, 1850.

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE
ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION (Euroßad under the Friendly
Society's Acts) and BENEVOLENT FUND, 42, Dioorgate street,
London. _ .

CYDER CELLARS TAVERN,
MAIDEN-LANE, COVENT-GARDEN.
The Concert Room having been re-decorated, SINGING will com-
mence for the Winter Season en MONDAY next, September 23, by
a large and talented company of Vocalists, including th, two best
Comic Singers of the day, Messrs. ROSS and MOODY. The Chair
taken every evening at Half-past Eight o'clock precisely.
Suppers and every kind of Refreshment of the best quality.
N.B. An Entrance from the strand, Two Doors West of the Adelphi
Theatre.

THE AWFUL ACCIDENT ON THE
EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
NINE LIVES LOST.
BRENTWOOD, THURSDAY VENING.—An accident
of the most appalling nature occurred on this rail-
way yesterday morning, by which no less than nine
men were instantaneously hurried into eternity.
At eight o'clock in the morning a number of men,
who were engaged in new ballasting the line, were
at work near the bridge just beyond the Brentwood
station. Having discharged a quantity of gravel be-
tween the rails, they jumped from the waggons and
commenced spreading it over the ground, and while
so engaged the early train from Colchester ap-
proached the spot. Unhappily, in cons( quence of the
dense fog at the time and the noise of the engine of 1
the ballast-trucks blowing off its steam, the approach
of the up-train was unheeded until it was within
fifty yards of the workmen. The foreman of the
gang cried out to the men, who by some strange
fatality stepped on to the up-line instead of on the
middle space. The engine passed over nine of them,
causing instant death in every
,case, and mutilating
the bodies in a frightful manner. As soon as possible
the train was stopped, and the bodies of the sufferers
were conveyed to the shed at the station.
The utmost horror and consternation prevailed in
the neighbourhood for some time, and, as usual, the
most exaggerated reports as to the extent of the cala-
mity began to be circulated. Anxious relatives were
momentarily inquiring at the station, and many were
with difficulty convinced that some friend or con-
nexion was not amongst the number of the victims.
A telegraphic dispatch was immediately forwarded to
London, and Mr. Glyn, the deputy-chairman of the
company, Mr. Roney, Mr. S. Ellis (director), Mr.
Gooch (superintendent), and other gentlemen, were
promptly on the spot. Tie moat searching investi-
gation was made as to whether the train was out of
its time, the rate at which it was travelling, and the
probable cause of its approach not being perceived.
The spot on which the occurrence took place was a
curve between two bridges, about 480 yards asunder,
and a gentle incline towards the Brentwood station.
The cutting is rather deep, and the embankments
are of an amphitheatrical form. It is therefore. difficult
to conceive how the sound of the approaching train
should, under any circumstances, not have been heard.
The names of the sufferers are James Fisher, James
Wardel, William Butler, John Sheppey, William
Murrell, William Burrell, B. Hales, William Ward,
and James Brown.
At six o'clock in the evening Mr. C. C. Lewis, the
coroner for the eastern division of the county of Es-
sex, held an inquest on the bodies at the Railway
Hotel, near the station.
Several of the directors were present, and a good
deal of excitement prevailed amongst the inhabitants
of the immediate neighbourhood.
The jury, having been sworn, proceeded to the spot
where the bodies lay. It is scartely possible to con-
ceive a more terrible sight. All were frightfully
mutilated, and in one case no trace of the human form
remained, Several of the relatives were present in
order to identify the bodies, but in the majority of
cases recognition was difficult.
On the return of the jury,
Benjamin Neythorp, a time-keeper on the Eastern
Counties Railway, was sworn. Having been per-
sonally acquainted with all the unfortunate men, he
was first examined as to their identity. He then
stated that at eight o'clock in the morning the deceased
men, with about sixteen others, were engaged in
unloading several ballast waggons. He went
to the place where they were engaged, took their
time, and walked towards the Brentwood-station.
When he had got about 150 yards away, he heard
someone on the top of the bank cry out " train " and
on turning round he saw the engine rushing through
the men. He ran back, and found eight men quite
dead, and one died about a minute after his arrival.
The men had unloaded the ballast-waggons and
jumped out, some between the rails and some on the
up-line. The train which came up at the moment
was due at the station at six minutes past eight o'clock.
The morning was very foggy—it was impossible to
see 200 yards distinctly. There were twelve ballast-
trucks and the engine attached was blowing off the
steam and making a great noise. He heard a whistle
from the train approaching. When the man on the
top of the bank cried out " train," immediately after
the engine was amongst the men. Had been engaged
on railways for the last six years. It was usual for the
up-train to whistle about half a mile from the station,
just between the two bridges, where the accident
happened. The fog was sufficiently dense to prevent
the driver of the engine from seeing them beyond a
distance of 120 yards, until it was too late to stop.
The train was going about fifteen miles an hour. Has
read the rules of the company in reference to passen-
ger and ballast-trains and to signals. In case of a
dense fog, signals are placed on the line within a dis-
tance of 500 or 600 yards of the station. An intima-
tion that the train was due was given to the men. A
man named Battle had a watch in his hand when
witness passed, and he said, "-Now, chaps, look sharp,
the train is nearly due." He spoke in reference to
the up-train. A man had been sent from the
station with a red flag, to keep engines from ap-
proaehing too rapidly. It was generally known to
all drivers that that portion of the line was being
ballasted ; the men had gradually worked down the
line. There was no particular arrangement of signals
for telegraphing trains on different up-lines. In this
case the train and ballast waggons were on different
lines. Could not say whether the steam of the up-
train was on or off. It was not necessary to signal
the up-train, as it was on a different line.
Thomas Wilson, a bricklayer, said he saw the de-
ceased men engaged in unloading ballast waggons.
He was walking along the top of the embankment,
and was proceeding to his work. The men got out
of the waggons on to the up-line. The engine of the
ballast. waggons was blowing off steam. Witness
saw the passenger train coming up, an d cried out to
the men, but none of them appeared to hear him, and
consequently the engine ran over them. It was a
foggy morning, and
witness could not see more than
six or seven rods before him. The passenger train
whistled for about half a minute before reaching the
men. It left off just before coming up with them.
The train was not going very fast. The train did not
stop until it got to the Brentwood station. Could
not say whether the steam was on or off. He could
see better up the cutting than down it. The fog lay
near the ground, and was thicker were the men stood.
Thomas Caldwell, a plate-layer, said that he was
foreman of the
gang to which the deceased men be-
longed. The ballast waggons reached the spot where
the accident took place about a quarter before eight.
Shortly after the men got out of the waggons he
heard the whistle of the up-train, and called out to the
men, "Look up." Before he had well uttered the
words the train had knocked cl,wn five of the men,
and immediately after two more were killed. Wit-
ness jumped on to the ballast waggons. The fog was
very thick at the time ; a man could not see more
than fifty or sixty yards before him. It was the
whistle of the engine which caused him to look, and
the engine was not more than sixty yards off, the dis-
tance between two telegraph posts. Has been em-
ployed eighteen years on the railways. Could not
state exactly the pace! of the engine ; was too much
frightened at the scene he saw. The engine did not
approach faster than usual. It was usual to come at
a slow pace into the station during foggy weather,
but
and this train came at a slow pace. The rails were
tnwotocloinveesredwas
with
coveredbitlst ballast,h ballast.the
Could not say
that the reason why the men stood on the up-line was
because of the central space being covered with bal-
last. Not more than half a minute elapsed from the
time the men jumped from the waggons until they
la apace
between the
were run over. It was generally known amongst the
men that it was train time. Some of the men stood
on the top of the ballast heaps between the lines and
escaped.
Mr. Henry Marriage, of Broomfield, a member of
the Society of Friends, said that he was a passenger
by the eight o'clock train. The morning was foggy,
and the fog was very thick in the cutting between the
bridges. Witness was in the last carriage, a second-
class. A gentleman in the carriage observed that an
accident had happened, as he Saw two men knocked
clown. The breaks were suddenly put on, although
the train was going slowly. It went on to the station.
Mr. Henry Soper deposed that he resided in Spital-
that he was a passenger by the
square, London, and
train. His attention was first celled to the fact by
seeing Tupper, the guard, on the engine, beckon two
men on the bank to go back. The morning was very
foggy. The train pulled up immediately after the
accident. Heard the whistle before the accident took
place. Had passed the first bridge before he heard the
whistle. Did not hear a continuous whistle before.
Knew when he arrived at Brentwood that nine per-
sons had been killed. The reason he attended was to
state that there could not be any blame attached to
the servants of the company.
John Batter deposed that he was a time-keeper.
After they (the labourers) had unloaded the ballast
train, he gave the driver the signal to come back,
and as he started he (witness) got into the last wag-
gon. He then heard the sound of a whistle. He
turned round to ascertain the cause, and be saw the
poor men fall under the engine of the up line. When
the train got to Brentwood he got out. Shortly be-
fore eight o'clock be gave intimation to the men near
him that the train was coming, And told them to get

the ballast off the line. All the men were not present
at the time. There were twenty-five men employed
altogether. When he heard the whistle, he turned
round and saw the engine go over the men. Did not
hear any person call out, " train up." If a driver
knows that men are ballasting the line, it is his duty
to sound the whistle before bringing up his train.
The driver did not do so on this occasion. We re-
ceived our orders p here to ballast at six o'clock that
morning. The driver of the train coted not tell that
we should be at that particular spot. Did not know
whether it was genPrally known to the drivers that
the line was being ballasted.
CORONER—tits any person spoken to you on the
subject of the evidence you were to give here? Wit
ness—No.
Mr. May nerd, who appeared.on behalf of the com-
pany, told the Coroner that it was the desire of the
company that the fullest investigation Into the melan-
choly affair should take place. No communication
whatever had taken place between the company and
the men.
It is only fair towards the company that we should
state that the officials showed every disposition to as-
sist the Coroner and jury. Mr. George Richardson,
the superintendent of the coaching department, Mr.

Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P.
Thomson Hankey, Jun., Esq.

FORD'S WELLINGTON FAMILY and
COMMERCIAL HOTEL, DALE-STREET, LIVERPOOL.

This Hotel, situated in the immediate vicinity of the Exchange,
Docks, and other places of public and commercial resort, is fitted up
in first-rate style, and the accommodations for American, Foreign, as
well as English strangers, will be found everything that is desirable,
while the arrangements of the "Cuisine" are in the hands of a first-rate
Cook. The l'roprietor urther wishes to intimate that his Coffee
and Commercial Rooms, as well as Sitting and Bed Rooms, will be
found second to none in the kingdom.

N.B. The charges for servants are included In the Bin (except those
who only stay a few hours), viz., Waiter, Porter, and Chambermaid,
and it is respectfully intimated that all further payment is unne-
cessary.

CHEAP EDITION OF MR. AINSWORTH'S, WORKS.
.1-11,1 published, Double Volume, price Is. 6d. boards, or 2s. cloth,
U Y F A W. K -E S.
G Also, recently published, each price Is. boards, or Is. 6,1. cloth,
CR CHT ON—WINDSO R CAST LE—MISER'S DAUCHITER—
ROOK WOOD —ST. JAMES'S —OLD SAINT PAUL'S, 2 vols.—
TO AVER OF LONDON, 2 vols.
London : Chapman and Hall, 186, Strand.
Sold by all Booksellers and Newsmen.

Edinburgh;
Dublin.

Ashcroft, the superintendent of works and ways, Mr.
Gooch, the locomotive superintendent, and Mr. Roney,
the secretary, were all present, and ready to give
any information in their power.
Walter Capper, a guard, said he resided at Brain-
tree. He was on the up passenger train that morning.
He was standing on the left hand side footplate. Snow-
don was driving. At Shenfield we slackened our speed,
and came slow down to the bridge near the station. It
being very foggy the driver shut off his steam. We were
going at the rate of eight or ten miles per hour. Be-
tween the first and second bridge at Brentwood sta-
tion, at about twenty yards in front of us, we saw
some men in the front of the line in a group. The
driver immediately sounded his whistle and reversed
the engine, which brought it to a stand still at about
200 yards from where the accident happened. It was
very foggy in the cutting; we could not see forty
yards a-head of us. There were three of us on the
look out on the engine at the time. We first sounded
the whistle when we passed Shenfield station, again
between the two bridges, and finally wben we saw
the men. We no sooner saw them than we went

to the 31e1

upon them. We generally blew the whistle when we
passed curreF. We never know where the men are
ballasting. Snowdon had been en the line about
three weeks or a month. There was a fog signal on
this side of the accident, but none on the other. They
ought to have provided themselves with fog signals
for their own protection. Snowdon is a very steady
driver.

At this stage of the proceedings
The CORONER addressed the jury. He said he was
quite willing to continue the proceedings if the jury
wished it, but as it was then 10 o'clock, and as there

were several witnesses to examine, he thought it would
be advisable to adjourn the proceedings.
Mr. Ellis, the deputy chairman of the company,
said before the jury broke up, as many questions had
been asked respecting the driver Snowdon, he thought
it right that he should state that Snowdon, although
he had only been in the employ of the company three
weeks, had been for nine years on the Maryport and
Carlisle Railway, and brought with him excellent
testimonials. •

A juryman said he thought it would be advisable to
finish the inquiry at once.
The CORONER replied that his object in opening the
inquiry was that the unfortunate men might be buried.
No doubt the company would call some witnesses,
and therefore, under all circumstances, it had better
be adjourned.

After some further discussion, the inquiry was
adjourned.

ALARMING EXPLOSION.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
CARDIFF, SEPT. 13.—Last evening, about eleven
o'clock, a most terrific explosion took place on board
the brigantine Gertrude, Captain Newman, laden
with a cargo of Duffyn steam-coals, shipped by and
belonging to Mr. Thomas Powell, coal-merchant, of
this place, bound to Liverpool.
Four men (on board at the time) have been seri-
ously itlund ; one is lying in a most dangerous state
and not expected to recover.
The effect of this explosion was felt a considerable
distance—in Crokerbtown, and even at Cantor, and in
an inn about a quarter of a mile from the vessel, so
great was the shock, that the inmates ran out in the
greatest terror and amazement, believing the house
to he falling upon them.
The appearance of the vessel this morning shows
how suddcn and terrific the explosion must have been.
The whole of the decks, from the after-part of the
fore rigging, are entirely blown up ; all the beams
broken, the windlass, bits, &c., drawn out, and the
fore-part of the vessel an entire wreck.
Surely this ought to be a warning to the shipping
interest to be more cautious in taking on board this
description of coal, through which several similar ac •
cidenta have occurred.

It is somewhat extraordinary that there has never
been a single occurrence of this natuie at Newport,
which is only twelve miles distant, although steam-
coals have been shipped at a much earlier period than
at Cardiff. Either greater care is taken at Newport,
or the coal at Cardiff must be of a much more in-
flammatory nature. Captains of vessels here loading
the same coals view this explosion with much appre•
pension and fear, and will no doubt take every pre-
caution to guard against a similar occurrence ; it has,
however, made such an impression that time only can
remove.

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i SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.I
DONCASTER RACES.
DONCASTER, WEDNESDAY NIGIIT.—The unlooked-for
issue of the first " beat" for the St. Leger, and the im-
possibility of obtaining particulars in time for the train,
obliged us to forward our parcel from the course with-
out the usual details of the running, and to rely on the
electric telegraph for the result of the deciding heat.
The following a serve to complete our report of the
most exciting St. Leger-day ever known.
FIRST HEAT.—Tbo s'art for k Owe about twenty-
five minutes past three, Beehut.ter taking a clear lead
imnie4iately lifter quitting the post, ft Bow' d for a few
strides by Russborough. and then by Windis-
chgreoz Russborough lying next, in company with
Chatterbox and Voltigeur; Italian nd Pitsford in the
rear. 'I he rearmost horses closed with the ruck in
rising the hill, and before they had got to the mile
poet Pitsford was in advance of Ruseborough; half way
between there and the Red House he went up to
Beehunter, forced the pace, and head-d him round the
turn, Bolingbroke end Ru•sborough waiting on
them, the Italian and Voltigeur (the latter having been
disappointed in attempting to go up) lying in the rear.
At the bend of the rails, about a quarter of a mile from
home, the two leading horses were beaten, and were
passed by Voltigeur and Bolingbroke, the former lead-
ing about three parts of a length; next to them from
the distance came the Italian, and outside of them,
fourth, Rassborough. This lot ran well together to the
stand, where Bolingbroke was disposed of. Rusaborough
then went up. but coming in collision with Bolingbroke,
drove him against the Italian, whose jockey asserts that
it deprived him of a fair chance of winning. Bo this as
it may, Russborough cleared them a few strides from
the chair, and Robinson, by one of his splendid efforts
at the finish, made it a dead heat, Marson, who evidently
looked for danger on the left instead of the whip-hand,
having to use the persuaders to save the race, Boling-
broke was beaten nearly three lengths; the Italian was
fourth, and Beehunter fifth. Run in 3 min. 21 seta.
DECIDING HEAT.—Betting-6 to 4 on Voltigeur, who
laid a couple of lengths from the Irish horse until with-
in the distance, took the lead from Mm half-way up, and
won cleverly by a length. Run in 3 min. 24 secs. The
cheering, waving of handkerchiefs, ancrtbrowing up of I
hats, on the winner returning to scale, lasted for at least
ten minuter. Such a scene of excitement, wo venture
to affirm, has never been witnessed on this or any other
race-course, indeed, the St. Leger of 1850—the third in
succession carried off by the winner of the Derby, and
the second for which a dead heat was ever run —may
be fairly pronounced one of the most memorable on re-
cord. The concourse was so immens9 that after the
dead heat it was impossible to keep the course clear,
and in the succeeding racer, from tbemobclosing in upon
them, horses and riders were placed in imminent peril ;
that Marson and Robinson piloted their horses safely
through the living avenue up the distance is a miracle.
The races were brought to a close a few minutes after
five o'clock, and then ensued a scene at the station, of
which no description can give an adequate idea ;
for hours was the place literally besieged, and
hundreds were unable to get away until long after
midnight, and many who did got into the wrong trains
and travelled south instead of north, and not a few
had t ) remain in Doncaster all night, half fa-
mished and bedless. As a proof of the unprecedented
number present, wo may mention that, although liberal
provision had been made at the houses of entertainment
in the town, several were, to use a vulgar expression,
" eat out of house and home " before the day was half
over. It is no small triumph for the authorities of Don-
caster, and for the management of the different railway
companies, that in the midst of such unavoidable con-
fusion not an accident or disturbance of any consequence
occurred. We must not close our account of this event-
ful day, without adverting to the disgraceful want of
accommodation at the Post-office; with business enough
for a dozen clerks, there was only one little beggarly
pigeon-hole for the delivery of letters, many, in conse-
quence had to wait for hours before they obtained their
letters. It is to be hoped that the authorities at head-
quarters will give the post-master a " rap on the
knuckles;" assuredly he richly deserves it.
The subscription-room was fully attended at night,
and the dead heat having induced nearly all to hedge,
made the settling comparatively harmless. Some brisk
speculation took place on future events. The following
were the latest prices:—