The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-16 00:00:00

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT
AT DEFFORD.
MottraY, SEPT. 15.—The adjourned inquest on the bodies
of the unfortunate men who recently lost their lives on thet
Bilanifigham and Bristol line was *united this morning, before
C. Beet, Esq.
--
The c_oj,g, . e ence adduced on
A-- Vif'—a"the fernier e witness now called was
_09661 13'itird, the stoker of the goods train—l belong to
Sootlanci, and am a stoker on the Bristol and klirmiaihmil
line. I knew Joseph Ward when
engine No. 75 on that.iipa. I k.'ol stoker to that engine.
We left Gloqeeeter n the night of the 30th of August, just
after, OM %ail train, leaving about nine o'clock. We had
%ag trucks, eighteen of them loaded and two empty. We
had wood and iron rails. Coming to Bretla,l4 the pniiatO
the engine rather filled. WargaVatiiti Tet pint more
fire to the engine, bedinN, thtught we need to put it out.
Towarde Fal'AVlon he said the pumps were working very
welt, and there should be more fire put on. I dictio; Canting
to Defford station, and on passing titer, AMA said there
was something wrong. FlgaVit'quil 'off the steam. Imme-
diately afterwaes I •kh'i tribwn on the ground, and do not
recollect *hat, theiii tiath took place till I found some one put-
Ti ig me. Whia was sober when we left Glettettter% ‘VI
took *VII. at Cheltenham, staying theme about ten minutes.
‘On. approaching Defford I ealce lio signal lights, as my head
was down attendieg to the fire all the way from Eckington
to Defford. On passing Defford-road-bridge I saw no eig-
net% I ,suppose he saw the truck when he said there was
isolnething wrong. I did not see the truck. Ido not know
on what part of the train the guard was. Ward Wits a
steady driver. He has never neglected signals that I know
of. We were hot going very fast wlitil we came to Defford.
We had been going about 30 miles an hour before the pumps
Were out of ' order, but I cannot say what pace it was at
Defford. Between' Dredon and Dermal the steam was twice
let off on amount of the pumps being out of order. [The
witneeawaapressed to define the exact rate of speed, but at
first declared rather warmly that he could not, though at
length he said it might have been thirty miles an hour.] It
is, in many instances, the duty of the guard, and in °there
that of the driver, to inquire at the stations what time other
trains have left. I saw the mail train- leave Gloucester. We
had no wish to "be before that train, as we were ordered to
stop till that hat{ gone forward. I did not notice any lamp
at the rear of, that train, for I did not look. Ward said
nothing to me about having seen signal lights between
Eckington and Defford. If there had been lights, and in a
proper place, he must have seen them.
By the jurors—.1 consider the engine-driver to he one of
the highest officers that should be. We sometimes discourse
on the affairs of the company, and if any Officer were dis-
charged, I should hear of it. I have heard or engine-drivers
being discharged from this and other lines for disregarding
signals. I cannot name any one in, particular, nor have I
been with any engine at 47.e1i a time. On approaching
-Defford there was no whistle from our engine; it is the en-_
gine-driver's duty sound it, and he should do so on ap-
proaching every station. Ido hot know that he neglected it
on any previous occasion. Sometimes when the boiler is too
full of water, the whistle will not sound. The night of the
accident WM dark. I should think a light might be seen for
a mite and a half on a straight line. It is usual, when any.
' one'on the engine sees a danger light, to communicate with
his companions. There are two lights at every station, which
may be Made Into signals by reversing them. [The solicitor
to the company (Mr. Whateley) here stated that the com-
pany were about use lamps of an improved construction,
incapable of being blown out.] There has been an increase,
rather titan a decrease, of servants on the line. In case of
accident to the driver I was capable of driving. Ido not be-
lieve that Ward was smoking; he was in the habit of chewing
tobacco. His wages might be 6s. a-day. My wages are
3s. 6d, *'.day.
bts.'Whateley here called Mr. M'Connell, the engineer, to
speak to the character of Ward, the deceased. He deposed
that Ward had been an engine-driver for eight years, and
that Mr. Stephenson had told him that Ward was one of the
men he had selected for the North Midland Railway, as a
good and steady driver, and that he had satisfactory testi.
monials to that effect' from various superintendents of rail-
ways, and from Laird, Kitson, and Co., eminent engine-
makers at Leeds; and Mr. M'Connell always considered him
to be considerably experienced in the management of an
engine. The witness never employed any one, and particu-
larly drivers,,without first receiving testimonials. The engine-
drivers' wagee vary front 6s. to 7s. per day, which is fully as .
high as the average Of railways, and much higher than some
in the North. The engine (No. 75) was one of the largest en
the line. The fire-box is of considerable size; and if the fire
was 10W, which, as a matter of caution, the driver had allowed i
it to be, owing to the failure of the pumps, thereby causing a
risk to the fire-hot and tubes if the fire were strong, I have no
doubt that the time necessary to replenish the fire would be
as long as the engine would take to travel the (Bs-)
tanco between Eckington and Defford. The failure
of the whistle to act 'arises from different causes. When the
water is what we call bad, it rises in combination with the
steam, and prevents the whistle from sounding distinctly.
When the driver, through neglect, pumps his engine too
full of water, the same result ensues. This is not peculiar
to any engine or railway, though some engines are better
from their manner of construction, and having more steam
room. The water on this line is bad, which of course in-
creases the liability. Our new engines are being made of the
most apprOved form, to remedy this in some measure. The
Company have been at great pains and expense to obfain-
better water. I discharged a man named Powell, in 1842,
for disobeying a signal at Stoke; and in several instances we
have suspended driver& on similar charges till they had sa-
tisfactorily explained their conduct. Dismissal has invari-
ably followed any case of disohedience which has been re•
ported. If there is one thing more than another I impress,
on driverg,,it- is the imperative necessity of paying strict ate
tention to signals,. the peculiarity of our line rendering that
of the greateit importance: - If a man brought in an engine
that was unable to Whistle in consequence of his haying'.
pumped in too much water, I should dismise him. [The,
witness here spoke t 6 the fact of boards being posted at the
principal statiOne, ordering reports of any defect in the en-
gines, &e., to 'be made to the various firemen, who viould
make them known to him in their daily reports, which in-
cluded the time of arrival and departure of all trains, the
condition of the tenders and engines, and of the men.
By Mr. Nott—lf there had been a siding on the down
line, in all probability the accident would not have occurred. 1
By the Coma:elm—l believe the Company have no land to
make a siding at the place where the accident took place.
There is a station- master and a porter at Defford on ordinary
occasions, but when extra business is expected another man
is sent for from Birmingham, and is always sent. I think
there are quite enough hands on the line now. We were
rather short some time ago, but the number has been increased
of late, and is now quite equal to the work. Shaw was em-
ployed as a signal-man on the night of the accident. No. 75
engine was worth about 1,5001., and No. 30, 900/.
tly the Jury—l have not to my reeolle•etion had occasion
to punish Joseph Ward for neglect of duty. He was a steady
man, and I had confidence in him. Thirty miles an hour is
too great speed for a luggage train. I have never to my re •
collection received any report of his inattention 'to signals.
Josiah Abbott had been a goods guard, but at his own re-
quest was allowed to take the duties of a porter occasionally.
The guard's is a very responsible situation, as from him the
driver takes hie signals. If the guard on that occasion, as he
stated, Was between two trucks, and not in a position to see
in both directions, he was in a wrong position. I consider
that Abbott was very fit for the duties of a guard, although
he occasionally acted as porter. The improvement withire-
gard to the whistle 'has been gradually taking place. I Can-
not assign an exact date to it. The management of traffic
belongs to the secretary or general superintendent of the line,
Mr. Saunders.

Benjamin Giles, the stoker of the passenger train, 'sle-
posed—l live 'at. Bromsgrove, and am a stoker in the 4m-:
ploy of the Bristol and Birmingham Company. On the
night of the 30th. of August I was on the quarter to eight
train from Birmingham to Gloucester. Joseph Pickering
was the driver. There were six carriages. When we came
to where the repairs were begun we had to stop till the !up
mail train passed. We then went on at a tolerable speed.
At Wadborough we stayed, and also at Besford. When 'we
came in sight of Defford station the driver shut off the steam.
I saw the red light on the platform. I put on my break,
and on turning myself round saw something in the road
steaming. The driver then reversed our engine, and I an
to the side to jump off. We both jumped off. A collision
then took place, and I found that my arm was out of 'its
socket, whereupon I went to the station. The red light was
there as usual. Our driver was sober. We were after our
time, on account of stopping for the mail. I saw nothing of
Miles (deceased) till he came to the station-house. I saw
nothing of Joseph Ward at any time.
By the Jury—The red light was on our side of the plit-
form.

The inquest was then adjourned till Wednesday.

FIRE AT RINGWOOD. -- FRIDAY NIGHT, TEN
o'CLocic.—We write under feelings of great excitement ; a
terrific fire broke out this evening, a little before eight o'c/oek,
at the White Hart stables, which in a very short time 'were
completely burnt to the ground, being thatched. It was with
the greatest difficulty all the horses, except one fine animal,
have been safely got out. Much damage, we fear, has been
done in removing, the goods and furniture of the adjoining
houses. Theruis now a considerable mass of fire, on which
the engines are playing, but we hope no further devastation
will follow.—Hampshire Indepencknt.
.
SHOCKING OMNIBUS ACCIDENT IN THE REGENT'S- •
QUADRANT.—On Sunday night, between nine and ten o'clock,
a shocking accident occurred in the Regent's-quadrant,
Regent street, opposite, Vine-street, to a respectable
elderly, gentleman of the name of Holmes. He was crossing
the Quadrant, when he was suddenly knocked down by the
horses of one of the Brompton omnibuses, and before the driver
of the omnibus had the opportunity of pulling his horses up,
they trampled on the chest and body of the unfortunate gen-
tleman. The wheels of the vehicle also passed over his body,
injuring him severely. The stretcher from Vine-street
police station was immediately procured, and the unfortunate
sufferer was removed on it to Charing-cross Hospital. Se
extensive; are the injuries sustained, both externally and
internally, that he lies in an alarming and precarious state.
Rumours are still afloat of the intention of several
other Puseyites to follow forthwith the example of Mr. Ward,
of quitting the communion of the Church of England, and
going over to that of the Church of Rome. The sooner the
better. They ought to have been in the bosom of the latter
Church long ago. The fact of their remaining in the Angli-
can Church for years after they had avowed themselves to
be, in heart, members of the Roman system, is discreditable
to them in the highest degree, not only as Christians, but as
men. Their lips and their lives have been at variance. They
have been acting a great falsehood. The injury which such
conduct must' inflict of morals, it would be impossible to
overrate. We quarrel with no man for his religious opinions,
however much they, may differ from our own. All we ask
and all we expect is; that men will act out what they profess,
and not. practise, the very reverse of what they profess to
believe.—Advertiser. •

DISTRICT ASYLUMS FOR THE HousELEss.—The
project for erecting ,asylums for the houseless in several parts
in and- around the metropolis, has met with strong opposi-
tion in Marylebone and Greenwich. A meeting of the rate-
payers and others of both parishes have been held for the
purpose of opposing the project., and deputations appointed
to wait upon the Poor-law Commissioners. In the first pa-
rish, 24 guardians were appointed to wait upon the Com-
missioners, but the latter refused to receive such an impos-
ing array of parochial wisdom. The number has since been
reduced to eight.
IMPUDENT ROBERET.--A CAUTION.--On Satur-
day information was circulated of a robbery committed on
Thursday, at the house of Mrs. Murray, No. 1, Orme-
square, Bayswater, by two men, who falsely pretended to
be locksmiths sent by Mr. Cutting, a furnishing ironmonger
in Oxford-street, to repair the locks. They remained about
the house for, two hours, apparently busied in the repairs
of different locks;but in the meantime found an opportunity,
during the temporary absence of the butler, to steal from
his pantry a quantity of plate, consisting of old-fashioned
silver spoons and forks, of the various sizes, bearing the
crest, a " helmet." Upon inquiring of Mr. Cutting, it
was discovered that he knew nothing about them. One
of the fellows appeared to be about twenty-eight years of
age, five feat five inches high, of dark complexion, and- dressed
in black velvet jacket and dark trousers. The other was
much younger, and rather taller than his companion, and
wore a corded jacket, with fustian trousers, and brown
cloth cap. •

.
• • 4.ar

RELATIVE CLOSING PRICES OP
RAILWAY SHARES
, • IN - •
tßlNelliAt,Mt4„Vit). TOWNS IN ENGLAND
- "SCOTLAND; AA

N AMES OF
;4.

ISept. 'Sept. Sept. 'Sere
15. 15. lb. 15.

Aberdeen • • • • • • • •
Airdrie
AfttiViitt_ un_ caw/.
Ditto S area -
Armagh, Colr.„Stportnieh 2% _
Bandon and; Bantey..,• • -
t ,ang 1141,11,Emena
mmtnt Eta I:utility Down -
Itiriciihd•Lan.&Ches.Jnc. -
Birmingham and Glo'ster 132
De. New (Ise . 07% die.) -
Ditto Half Shares
141rtninginn & Otttititint%
Blekburn, and Preston - 20M -
Blckburn, Dansm,& Boltn - 10% 11
Bolton, W Igea, & Liverpl. • -35
Boston, Stain frd and Birm 14 p mad
Brighton, Lewel, & gest.
and Exeter
Ditto New:. . •t. ; •
Hiittol Mid dotiedeter
Wish)! and S. Wales June.
British and Irish Union -
Caledon. and Ayrsh. Jane --
Caledon.&Dumbar•Jana
catedunieu ti% -
Ditto Entetilltitt 3lt 4 4
Caillifridge and Lincoln • . 434 -4%
Chester and Birkenhead.: -
Ditto New Shares _
Ditto Half Shares - •
Chester and II ,Iyhead 1914
Choltenhatii Intl OxfUrd - 234 2%
Chichester and Brighton_
Churnet Valley .• •• .. • •
Clitheroe Junction • • -
Clydesdale Junction -
Cork, Blackrck & Passage
Cork and Bandon .•. • ..•
Cork and Killarney .• •
Cork and Waterford • •
Cork and Youghal • • • • • .
Canterbury and Dover
CnVelltry and Leicester.,
Cornwall .• • •••• • • • •
Derby and Crewe . • • • • -
Direct Lon. and Manchsti --
Diu, Beccles, & Yarmoth.
DirectMan.(Remington's) 4% 4% 434
Direct Northern •••• • • •• 2% 2% 2%
Direct Norwich .•- ••• • • • - -
Dublin and Belfast June. _
Dublin, delfast, & -
Dublin and Drogheda • • ;• -
Dublin and. Galway .•• • • - -
.Dundalk and•Ennisklllen -
Dundee and Arbroath ..•
Ditto New ... • .... -
Dundee and Per.h
Durham and Sunderland
East Lancashire (No. I) -
Ditto (No. 2) .. • • • -
Eastern Counties . 19% -
Do. New.-- ...... 4% p -
Do. Perp.f. pr Ct., No .1 1% P -
1)o. do. No. P ..-
EnstDereham & Norwich -
East Union .•• •
Ditto Extension ......
Edinbgh, Glas., and Dum.
Edinburgh and Glasgow..
Do•Quarter•Shares •
Do. New Quarter Shares
Edinb. Leith, and Granton
'Do. Pref. 5 per Cent..
Edinburgh and Northern
Edinburgh and Peebles..
Edinburgh and Perth....
Ely and Huntingdon
Enniskillen and 51ig0....
Exeter, Yeovil, & Drchstr
Fltwobd, Prstn, kW. Rid.
Gnmkirk and Glasgow•••
Glasgow and Ayr.
Do. Quarter Shares •
Glasgow and Greenock:.
Ditto New.. ..•
• Ditto Preference
Glasgw,Dmfries, and Car.
Glsgw, Kilmarnck, &Ard.
Glasgow and Belfast Um.
Goole and Doncaster.
Grand Junction
Ditto Half Shares
Ditto Quarter Shares ..
Ditto New Quarters'.
Ditto Eighths-.-. -....
Grand Union .....
Great Eastern & Western
at Grimsby & Dk Extens.
Gt Grimsby and Sheffield
Gt Sthrn tc,Wstrn (IrindY ;-
Ditto Extension ••• • • • -
Great Munster.- • • ...... -
Gt Northern of Scotland 834
Grt Northern'of England -
Do. New 401. Shares .. -
Do. New 30/. Shares .. -
Great Western- •••• ... 169 • •
Ditto Half Shares .... 94 -
Ditto Fifths ...... 36
Farchm, & Ports. 3% -
I.laiwieh :1. • . • - -
Hutlrsfld& Man: R. & Can't
Huddersfield and Sheffield -
Hull and Gainsborough • • •-
Hull And Selby .. • • • -
Ditto Quarter, Shares.. -
Ditto Half Shares „2231 -
Invhcheas and Elgin •• • • -1%
Isloror Jersey " .•• ' - -
Kendal and •Windermetk - •
Kingstown and Bray • - -
'Junctions ....„ .- • -
Lancaster and Carlisle
.54 - -
Lancaster and i'reitton .. - 61% -
Leeds and Bradford - -
Ditto Extension .. •••• •--•
Leeds and, Dewsbury.... ' • -
Leeds and Think ........ - 1934 -
Leeds & W.. Riding June. 1b... 16
Leicester & Birmingham - 334 atq
LlEcester and Bedford .• . 5% p 4% 4%
Limerick and Waterford - -
Limrek, Ennis, &•Kll. Jue." - - -
Lincoln, York, and. Leeds - -
LIT. Mats. &GtN. of Eng. - -
Live/Iml and Manchester - 216
. Ditto Half Shares • • - -
• Ditto (raider Shares.. - -
Liverpi3Ormskrk, & Praise -
London and 'Birmingham
Ditto Thirds.... -
Ditto Quarters .sees.. 28
London and Illackwall v. 9%
Loridoh anil Dilgaton, • •••-1 78%
-Ditto Consolid. Eighth., ,;"-• -
London and' Croydon •• .. 9434 -
DlLteNew... .. . ..
Do. puarant. 6 per Cat. 75
• London and Greenwich •77.- ,
Do... Pref. Oi Privilege . _
London and &MU) Westrn 80 7734 _
• Do.-New Cons. Eighths -
Do.• New, 301 Shares.. -
Do. New, 40/. Shares,. •
Londpq and York . • • • • • •
Ditto (Bairtry)
London anti Windsor • • • •
" Loud's:Salsbury, & Yeovl
Londonderryls Coleraine' •• 6% _
Londonderry & Enniskilln -
Lynn. and Ely • • ..... • t•• 734 -
.Lynn.and Derpham .• •• • . 4%
'Mancheatei and Leeds • • 207
Dittb Half 'Shares • • •
Ditto Quarter Shares • . -
Ditto- Sixteenths • • • •
Manchstr and Birkenhead _ 3
Manchester fel3irmingifin .. 1534 77 7734
Ditto Quarter Shares ... -7-• 14 137 i
• Ditto Ns* Quarters . • - 11 11
Do.• Con.& Welsh June: • - 4
Mannhestr; Bonn,* Bury -..,. _
3lnchstr, Rurta, Ma"' '93iP
Man. Shef. and Mid. Junc.
Manchestr & Southamptn.
Midlan4.. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
' Dian Fifths ". ••••• • • • • -
'Side New .. .... ••• • • 25.
'•
Do. Con.-Birm. & Derby. -
.Midlnd.GLlYeatra.(lrish). -
Do. Extension to Sligo
Newestl &DaringtnJune, 55 _
Ds. Weir "(ifrindllng) • • 44 43
Newcastle and Berwick • • 16%
Newcastle and Carlisle.'. -
Ntvc.stio, Durham, & Lan. -
Newport & AbergavennY
Newry and Enniskillen.•
Newark and Sheffield • •
North 'British • - • -:•• • • • •
• Dittb New Shares •• •
Northern and Eastern • •
Do. Scrip (Ism. at 5 din.)
Do. Quarter. Shares • •
North Devon • •• •••• • • • ,
North Eitit • ; • •'• • • • • • •
-North Staffordshire •• • •
North Eastern ••• ;•'•• • • • •
' North Union (A) • • • • • • • •
Ditto (11) • • • • •
North Wales Mineral. • • •
Ditto Neiv Shares • • • •
North Western • • ......
•North Wales • • • •-• • • • • • •
Norwich and Brandon .r.
: Ditto New.. ••••• • • • • •
Not., Belvoir, & Grant's=
Nottingham and Boston
Butt.; Er wsh: Val. & Man.
Nottingham "& Mansfield
Oxford and Birming. Jung
Oxford and Worcester • •
Oxford And Cambridge •••
Perth and Inverness • • '
Portsmouth Direct • • • • • •
Preston aid Wyre • • • • • •
• . Ditto Half Shares •• • • •
• Dc..Pret 5 per Ct. Guar •
Do. Pref. 5 per Ct. & div. •
Preston &, Wyre. Exteae., -
Richmond & W. End June
Rugby, Worceiti, & Tring -
Scottish Central -
Scottish Midland
Sheffield and Manchester -
.Dltto:Quarter Shares • -
Ditto ditto.
,(Ne. 2) -
Ditto ditto (No. 3), -
Sheffield and Lincoln
Sheffield and Rotherharn
Shrewsbry & Grand June. -
Shrowsb., wor:; & Crewe 41
Shrws.,Wolv.,Dndi,& Bir 8
Shrwsbey & Trnt Val. Ust. - 3 •
Shrws, Herefd,&N. Wales -
Slamannan . ••• • • - • -
South Derni • . -
South•Nidlincr.. .... • 63- 77,4 -
South Eastern and Dover '45 -•-
Do. New (155.32/.) No. 1 *20% ,•-•
Do. (W. 331.6314.) ~ 2 -1434 -- -
Do., (Iss. 301.) „3 • .t% 1134 934
Staines and Richmond . • •
Staffordshire & Shropshire
Stirling and Dunfermline
South Wales • .••• • • • •
Teat and Dove Valley
Trent Valley ..sees 1734 - -
Do. and Holyhead June. .31A 3% 334
Yale of Neath.. • -
West Lohdon; 'Old Shares - -
West End & sou= Coun. -
Wexford and Carlow .... -
Warwick and Cheltenham
Waterford, and Kilkenny
Watrfd,Wxfd,Wick & Dub
Wakefield and Bradford..
Wakfld, Pontafret, & Gool
Wakefield and Harrogate
Warwick and London .
West Lancashire.. ..
Worcester and Tring....
Whitehaven and Furness -
Do. New Half Shares.. -
Welsh Midland..
We,t Cornwall. •• • ...... -
West Yorkshire • • ...... -
Wllsontwn, M.& Coltness -
Wilts, Somrst. & Weymth 434
Yarniouth and Norwich.. - -
Ditto New •• • • -
York and Carlisle . .....
York and North Midland 115' -
Ditto Half Shares .... - -
Ditto Scarbro' Braneh 5534 -
Ditto Selby • • - -
Ditto Extension
.29%1 -
Yorkshire & Glasgow Oh

15 I 15U

lo I

b% ISi .....
13h _

341 _
a%

5% -
- 1 -

, -

s I

3% 3U -
2% VA -
4% -

9%1=

4 I 4U

3

4%.4% 4%
113 234,5.
24

7 1 7

6%1

10341 -

169 1172

4%1-

SCI: ail

614 s 1.-
2$ a 7
_

4UI

-6%! __--

7-4 15 %

N 4 _
43 4%, _

- 4 -
-5%
1% 10% 11
-2%

42341 14941

jul -7-

a%j

9%1_
- B% f -

7%
8% 8%
4 --

%1-

7:1 33

2%1-

-4,5i1 -4%

4%1 4 18Ss9d

- --.
15%! 16%

THE ARMY.
CAVALRY.