The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-22 00:00:00

.VATIVE.

18
!lose until Wednesday.

THE SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.

FATAL ACCIDENT.

On Saturday evening an inquest was held by Mr.
Carter, the Coroner, at the Royal Oak, Croydon, on the
body of Mr. James Padden Cross, a respectable master
butcher, of Croydon, who met with his death in conse-
quence of injurit a he received at the Dover Railway
station, at Croydon, on the 24th of November.
The inquiry created very considerable interest, on
account of an impression that very generally prevailed,
that the accident which led to the death of the decease i
was occasioned by a want of proper attention and
accommodation to the public on the part of the South-
Eastern Railway Company. Mr. Howell, the superin-
tendent of the traffic department, was present to
watch the proceedings, and to give any explanation
that might be required on the part of the Company.
The following evidence was adduced:—
Mr. W. Jones deposed that he was a butcher, and
reside dat Croydon. On the morning of the 24th of
November, at four o'clock, he proceeded, in company
with his orother, to the Brighton Railway station, to
meet the up Dover mail train, for the purpose of pro-
ceeding by it to town, to attend Smithfield market. On
their way they met the deceased, and they all pro?eeded
together to the station, and the train drew up at the
same moment upon the centre line of rails.
A juror asked whether this was the usual place for
the ordinary trains to stop ?—The witness said it was
uot. The trains usually stopped on the side rails where
there was a regular platform, but to get into the carriages
upon the centre rails, it was necessary for the passengers
to go round the wall, a very considerable distance, or
else to jump over the wall. He then went on to state
that the deceased, in getting over the wall, fell, and broke
his leg.
The CORONER—Then getting over the wall was not
the proper way to get to the train ? Witness—lt was
not, but the passengers by this early train generally did
so, to save going round the wall which divided the two
lines of rails.

By the jury—lt was quite dark at this time, and there
was no other light than a lanthorn, which the porter had
who attended upon the train. The ordinary trains drew
up on the side rails, and if this train had done so, the
accident would not have happened.
A juror inquired whether there was any platform for
the passengers upon the centre rails?
The witness said there was not. They had to scramble
in as well as they could. He added, that since the acci-
dent there were lights at the station for that early train,
and it also drew up to the side platform,
By the CORONER—Had no doubt that the alteration
was in consequence of the accident.
Mr. Howell here said that he was present on behalf of
the Company, and he was ready to give any explanation
that might be required. _ _

In answer to a question from Mr. Hunt, one of the
jury, the witness said that, before the accident, the sta-
tion had no lights. That there was no clerk, and the
only person in attendance was one of the porters.
Mr. Hunt. said he thought that it showed great
want of care on the part of the Company to have such a
state of things at so large a station ; and that the acci-
dent was in a groat measure to be attributed to it.
The CORONER said, in his opinion, these inquiries
were not at all relevant. The deceased appeared to
have met with the accident entirely from his own act;
if the train had gone over him it would have been an-
other matter.

Mr, Hurt said, in his opinion, it formed a very proper
point of inquiry. If the Company had taken the same
precautions as they did at present, in all probability the
accident would not have occurred.

Mr. Howell said that if the deceased had gone two or
three yards on one aide he might have crossed the rails
by a passage made for that purpose, and need not have
gone round the whole length of the wall.
A juryman said that might be, but how could he see,
when there were no lights ? Several of the jury ex-
pressed an opinion that, under any circumstances, the
centre rails was a most dangerous place to take up pas-
sengers. There was uo platform, and it was, therefore,
necessary so step up a height of eighteen or twenty
inches, besides which the train was very close to the
wall, and a nervous person might very well be frightened
at having to be placed in such a position. They wished
to know why the train could not draw up like the others,
close to the platform, upon the side rails?
The CORONER said that perhaps Mr. Howell would
give the jury some information upon this point.
Mr. Howell said the jury were aware that Croydon
was a, large goods station, and it was customary to have
the goods trucks at night upon the side litles of rails.
It was therefore considered more safe that this early
train should run into the middle line at Croydon, as that
was alway kept clear, but since the accident it had been
arranged that it should run to the side of the platform.
He went on to say that the train in question was not
originally intended to stop at Croydon at all, but in conse-
quence of a rc quisition to the Company by the butchers
of Croydon, representing the accommodation it would
be to them to get to market, it was arranged that it
should stop for that purpose. Since the accident there
had been lights at the station, and everything was done
to prevent such an occurrence in future.
A juror inquired whether there were many passengers
who travelled by this train ?—Mr. Howell replied, very
few indeed, and those principally on Monday mornings.
The jury said they thought they ought to append to
their verdict a recommendation to the Company to con-
tinue the precautions they had adopted of having lights,
and causing the train to draw up to the platform.
Mr:Howell said this would certainly be done without
any recommendation of that kind. The Company were
always desirous to do everything in their power for the
protection of the public.
The CORONER said there could be no harm iu the jury
making the recommendation in qaestion.
One of the jury said he thought that, at such a large
station, there ought to be some one besides a porter to
attend, to the train.
Mr.;Howell said that a porter, with the guards of the
train, 'was quite sufficient, and the Company would not
think it necessary to employ any one else. With regard
to having lights, and running the train to the side
platform, he pledged himself that those precautions
should' bo continued.
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IMPORTANT TO MARINERS.-DISCOVERY OF AN

ISLAND, &c.
" Adelaide, July 25, 1845.
" have the honour to enclose a sketch of the coast
f)f part of .Noyt's Archipelago, furnished me by C ptain
Irving, of the schooner Sisters, which shows a considerable
variation from Flintier? chart of 1802, doubtlessly caused by
the haze he met with marked on the map. The dotted line
shows the coast as it exists. Streaky Bay is much deeper,
while there is not nearly so deep a bay between Cape Bauer
and Montt Westall as Flinders has marked. There, however,
oxists a; bay, named 'Trial Bay,' not laid down by Flinders,
in which the Elizabeth and Rebecca, of Hobart Town, was
wrecked, as advised on the 16th May last.
" Captain Irving also reports having discovered an island,
about three miles in length, lat. 34. 47. S., and bon. 139. 39.
E., not laid down in any chart.
" I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) " LLOYD'S AGENT.
" William Dobson, , becrehry, Lloyd's."

(ADVELTISEMENT.)—A WONDERFUL CASE OF AN
ATTESTED CURE OF DROPSY BY HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND
OINTMENT.—Copy of a letter from Mr. Thomas Taylor, Che-
mist. .‘ Stockton, April 17th, 1b45. Sir,—Mrs. Clough, the
wife of Mr. John Clough, of Adam, a respectable farmer,
had been suffering from dropsy for five years, and had the best
medical advice without receiving any benefit. She had heard
of your pills and ointment, and used them with such surprising
benefit, that she has now left off taking them, being so well ;
but previously she had been given up as incurable. Signed—
Thomas Taylor." old at Professor Holloway's Establish-
ment, 244, Strand, and by all respectable vendors of Medicine
throughout the civilized world.
ALARMING FIRE IN ADAM-STREET, ADELPIII.—
Sunday night, shortly after nine o'..lock, a fire, attended with
considerable damage, broke out in the spacious pile of
buildings belonging to Mr. Edward Lewis, a solicitor, situate
at No. 7, Adam-street, Adelphi. Mr. Lewis, at the time of
the disaster, had upwards of 2,0001. worth of property in the
building, but, fortunately, what is burnt awl damaged will
be covered by an insurance in the Sun Fire-office. The po-
lice, under Mr. Superintendent Pearce, exerted themselves to
the utmost in keeping the many thousands of spectators out
of the way o. the firemen.