The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-15 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL, COLLISION OV. T LIB
souTli. !TALES RIILWAY.

PORT TALBOT, OCT, 14.
A fearful collision of two passenger trains meet-
ing each other on this railway took place this day
about noon between Pyle and Port Tell3lt. One
child was fearfully mangled and killed on the spot,
and broken limbs are unfortunately very numerous.
The accident, if gross negligence can be CO called,
happened under the following circumstances
The 6.30 morning train from Cheltenham to
Milford Haven had arrived in due course at 'Pyle,
a small station next to Port Talbot, and was about
10 minutes after its time. On arriving hers a Ines- -
seneer brought the intelligence from westward filet'
a truck in a goods trim on the main line of
rails—the Irish train proceeding to meet the
packet at Milford—bad broken down and
blocked up the line. The messenger wee
accordingly sent back with instructions to return as
soon as the line was clear,this not being a telegraph
station. Before he had returned, however, ano-
ther messenger arrive:), aed, having made a com-
munication to the stationmaster at Pyle, .the train
returned back along its own line (the down line)
about a mile, to a crossing at a place o dled Stormy,
where the Llynvi Valley .Railway joins the South
Wales. There the train crossed to the up line.
Pyle was again passed, and the train had proceeded
about a mile further towards Port Talbot, when
the up-train, which left Milford at 7.5, and was
overdue, was observed aprroaching at its uses/
speed on the same lino of fails round ii curve.
It was too late, however, to avoid a cAlision,
mad the shock of the two engines was tremendous.
Both engines, from their ponderosity, ret dried
their position on the rails, but the tender of thd
up-train was thrown back upon the first carriage, a
third class, which it mounted, crushing in the roof
and dreadfully mutilating the passengers. This
tender of the down train also was crushed back in -
to the first carriage of that train, frightfully maim-
nag its occupants. The scene of the catastrophe.
was frightful to look at, and to make it more fear-
ful the up express train now became due, and its
arrival was looked for every moment. The wounded.
passengers were, with some delay, got out, and laid
upon the bank, and every assistance rendered them
that could be afforded uuder the circumstances.
Unfortunately, however, there was no medical man
in eit herr& the trains, but aYoung student resident
near was quickly on the spot, and rendered valu-
able assistance until the arrival of surgeons from
Port Talbot by a special engine in about au hour
after the collision. One of the stokers was crushed in
the wreck of the tender, and was with some
culty extricated. The line was strewn with splin-
ters of wood, broken iron, &c., and blood was
sprinkled over the ground in several places, render-
ing the spectacle (together with the groans of the
injured) horrifying in the extreme. As far as wo
could learn in the confusion incident upon the
ac-
cidens-, the following is a list of the dead and seri-
ously injured

lfoloeit Palmer, driver of the up-train, broken
leg and severe cuts on the head.
J. S Lawson, fireman of the down-train, broken
leg and other injuries. •
Mr. Ashman, pork-butcher, Cardiff, a frightfully
smasht d leg, and other serious injuries about the
Dead and face. It is feared his case will end fatally.
'[he flow of blood was so great that, after forming
a pool round him, it flowed away out at the door
of the carriage in which he was placed for removal
to the hospital.
Mary Thomas, or Timtnina, of Cardiff, broken
leg and other injuries.
John Prince, carpenter, Bristol, severe, injuries
on the back ; incapable of moving.
Mr. Brewster, printer, of Swansea, compound
fracture of the leg and other injuries. The paSsen-
ger had taken an insuiauca ticket, whieli-fact be
carefully communicated to his fellow-passengers in
the midst of Ilia .sufft-rings.
Mr. Thomas Williams, draper, AberyS t with, iu•
ternal injuries.

Mr. Cecil, wife of Police-Sergeant Cecil, of Cwm
Ammon, fiightful injuries to the head. She was

removed to -Port Talbot, where her husband met
her, and her case rec ived prompt attention:
Ann Harman, a young unmarried woman from •
Neath, internal injuries.
Sarah Haxman, aged four years, a fine little girl;
who was travelling with her aunt, the last-named
sufferer, was killed on the spot, her body being
fearfully mangled, and blackened by the coals from
the tender.