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

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT

AT DEFFORD.
MONDAY, SEPT. 15.—The adjourned inquest on the bodies
of the unfortunate men who recently lost their lives on the
Birmingham and Bristol line was resumed this morning, before
C. Best, Esq.
The CORNER having read over the evidence adduced on
the former occasion, the first witness now called was
James Baird, the stoker of the goods train—l belong to
Scotland, and am a stoker on the Bristol and Birmingham
line. I knew Joseph Ward when living. He was driver of
engine No. 75 on that line. I was stoker to that engine.
We left Gloucester on the might of the 30th of August, just
after the mail train, leaving about nine o'clock. We had
twenty trucks, eighteen of them loaded and two empty. We
had wood and iron rails. Coming to Bredon, the pumps of
the engine rather filled. Ward would not let me put more
fire to the engine, because he thought we need to put it out.
Towards Eckington he said the pumps were working very
well, and there should be more fire put on. I did so. Coming
to Defford station, and on passing there, Ward said there
was something wrong. He then shut off the steam. Imme-
diately afterwards I was thrown on the ground, and do not
recollect what then then took place till I found some one
ling at me. Ward was sober when we left Gloucester. We
took water at Cheltenham, staying there about ten minutes.
On approaching Defford I saw no signal lights, as my head
do.ini attending to the fire all the way from Eckington
to Defford: On passing Defford-road-bridge I saw no sig-
nals. I suppose he saw the truck when he said there was
something wrong. I did not see the truck. Ido not know
on what part of the train the guard was. Ward was a
steady driver. He has never neglected signals that I know
of. We were not going very fast when 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
['Word., Between Bredon and Deford the steam was twice
let off on account of the pumps being out of order. [The
witness was pressed 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 others
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 had 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—l consider the engine-driver to be 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 of engine-drivers
ht int• tli,eharged from this and other lines for disregarding
iguals. I cannot name any one in particular, nor have 1
!teen With any engine at such a time. Ott approaching
l)eth.,cd there W11:1 no whistle from our engine; it is the.en-
tvec-drivees duty to sound it, and he should till ap-
nroaching eery station. Ido not kin m- that lie neglected it
prrviotis occasion. Sianetiinf.s when tho boiler is n
the whistle will 'lit ,ound. Tht: tight of tht•
lark. I should think a light might tie scot for
t toile and a half on a straight line.. It is usual, when any
~te_oo 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 to use lamps of an improved construction,
incapable of being blown out.] There has been an increase,
rather than a decrease, of servants on the line. In case of
accident to the driver I was capable of driving. I. do 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. a-day.

•Irk,

Mr. 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
_ _ . _

alßt:ee .
is a
good and steady driver, and that, he had satisfactory testi-
monials to that effect •om various superintendents of rail-
ways, and from Laird, Kitson, and Co., eminent engine-
makers at Leeds; and Mr. *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', wages vary from 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 on
the line. The fire-box is of considerable size; and if the fire
was low,which, as a matter of caution, the driver had allowed
it to be, owing to the failure of the pumps, thereby causing a
risk to the fire-box and tubes .if the fire were strong,Thave no
doubt that the time necessary .to replenish the fire would be
as long as the engine would take to travel the dis-
tance between Eckington and Defford. The failure
'of the whistle to act arises from different causes. When tile
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 obtain
better water. I discharged a man named Powell, in 1842,
for disobeying a signal at Stoke ; and in several instances we
have suspended drivers on similar charges till they had sa-
tisfactorily explained their conduct. Dismissal has invari-
ably followed any case of disobedience which has been re •
ported. If there is one thing more than another I impress
on drivers, it is the imperative necessity of paying strict at-
tention to signals, the peculiarity of our line rendering that
of the greatest importance. If a man brought in an engine
that was unable to whistle in consequence of his having
pumped in too much water, I should dismiss him. [The
witness here spoke to the fact of boards being posted at the
principal stations, Ordering reports of any defect in the en-
gines, &c., to be made to the various firemen, who would
make them known to him in their daily reports, which in-
chided the time of arrival and departure of all trains, the
,;,-,ndition of the tenders and engines, and of the men.
By Mr. Nott—lf there had been a siding on the down
line,
in du ka-bbability the accident would not have occurred.
the Conoxga—l believe the Company have no land to
n
a siding at the 'place witerQ the accident took place.
'there
1
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 sometime ago, but the number has been increased
of late. end to now quite equal. to the work. Shaw was ern-
olm-A as 3 +u-,111-niein on the night of the accident. No. 75
rt.l-i,ii. 1, :44, worth alS,itt'l,3oo/., and No. 30. 900/.
Li t 1,, -.1 ti rv---d have not la my recollectiOn had, occaAioil
%., 1.:!,,i,11 Joseph Ward for .neglect of duty. Ho was a steady
~u,o. :,,,,11 !lad contideliCe In .ldin., Thirty miles an hour is
t,,,, ~,,,..i ~.pi.,:il tilr a luggage train. -.1 has e never to my re
.01, , :,„, ,•,...civ..d any report of his inattention 'to signals.
jofiun =Aids a t had been a good,! guard, but at his own tc-
'l." "".
' all'' "-t t„ take Ibe duties of a porter occasionally.
'The g-iiaisi% is a very responsible situation, as from him- the
driver takes his signals: .If the guard on that occasion, as he
stated, was between two trucks, and not in a position to see
in both diretions, he was bra wrong position. I consider
t hat Abbott was very fit for the duties of a guard, although
lie occasionally acted as porter. The improvement with re-
gard to the whistle has been gradually taking place. I can-
not nssi6ni an exact date to it. The management of traffic
belOne.s to the secretary or general superintendent of the line,
Arr. Wailful o'6. •
Benjamin Giles, , the, stoker of the passenger train, de-
posed—l live at Bromsgrove, and am a stoker in the em-
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 sic 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 insight 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. Tits driver then reversed our engine, and I ran
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. 'rile red light was
thsire. as usual. Our driver was sober. We were after our
tinie, an fwcount of stopping for the mail. I saw nothing of
: Miles (deceoasd) till he came to the station-house. I saw
nothing of Joseph Ward at any time.
By the Jury—The red light Wag on our side of the plat-
form.
The inquest was then adjourned till Wednesday.

FIRE AT RINGIVOOD. FRIDAY NIGHT, TEN
o'Cl.ocx..—We write under feelings of great excitement ; a
terrific fire broke out this evening, a little before eight o'clock,
at the White Hart stables, which in a very short time were
completely burnt to the ground, being thatched. It was with
the ocatest difficulty all the horses, except one tine anlitiel,
have been ,idely got out. Much damage, we fear, has been
dort;?-in removiitg,th,e goods and furniture of the adjoining
houses. ;'!here is now a considerable mass of fire, on which
the engines are p7,-..:jna, but we hope ho further devastation
will follow.—Hatapsh e inifrytlidf nt.
SHOCKING OMNIBUS ACCIDENT iv/ THE REGENT'S-
QUADRANT.—On Sunday night, between nine and ten o'clock,
a shocking accident occurred itt the Regent's• quadrant,
Regent street, opposite, Vine-street, td A respectable
elderly gentleman of the name of Holmes. He was etussle.g
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 unfortunge gen-
tieanall. 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 (slttafimily and
in ally, 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,
pr quitting the communion of the Church AP %W., PO
til:Ang over to that of the Church of Rome. The sooner the
butter, Thily ought to have been in the bosom of the latter
chureh ima ago, The fact of their remaining in the Angli-
can Church for years after they had avowed themselves to
ltileart, members of the Bonilla system, is discreditable
Hein In the highest degree, not only as uhris•titins, 1114 gt:
Tizt..ir lips and their hives have been at variance.
4 acting a great falsehood. The injury which suds
of, morals; it would be impossible to
c soarrii lits religious-verrro.o.
how,•ver notch .:42'w Pia):
we expect set out vied. they
,protes.,
Wirer iron; cur owl! 4U! ,ask
• •
001 practise the very rev
erze of 1114 they prol
114'illt-s.'—^, It lerrtiser.
e.
Dif,TEICT ASYLUMS FOR Tag 111:,T,,LEss*-7211e
for erecting asylums for the house 45 ial Aeveo,- u7-T;
aod hound the metropolis, has met with strong' `.''PlOP
ar .T.
I in
,Ttlar:N-lebone and Greenwich. A meeting of the rote-
payera 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:
rich, 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.

T,
CAATTioN.—On Bs.tur-
urray, No. I, Orme-
daylmi:founDnEaNtiTonll:asllitirl—ted of a robbery committed on.
pretended to
'sigh iittairr,ell,.a;tlyastwattleire,
bl3,l,outslevo ofm eAn!rms.llAol
falsely
be lOcksmiths sent by Mr. Cutting, a furnishing ironmonger
in Oxford-street, to repair the lock*. They remained about
the house for two hours, apparently busied 14 o.e FP1:11.00
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 feet live mohos high, of dark complexion, and dressed
in black velvet jacket and dark trousers. The other was
muchre a rd
younger,emea jacket, with
anrathertallfeuartitan trohanita:l,ompanandionbrow
companion, and
wore
I cloth cap.