The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-12 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Saturday an inquest was held at Northchurch,
about 26 miles from town, before Francis Ostialeis-
tone, Esq., Coroner for HertfordsFre, on the body of
Mary Bye, who was killed near Berkhampstemi. on
Thursday, by the break;ng of an axle of one of the
engines on that Pne.
The first witness called was Robei tßye, who stated
that he lived at Aylesbury, and was husband to the
deceased, who was nearly 70 years c age. On Thurs-
day last, about 11 o'clock, he accompa-iied her to the
railway-station house at Aylesbury, and put her into
a second-class carriage for London, and saw her off
by the train. She was then in good health, and sat in
the last carriage. He heard that day that an accident
bad happened upon the railway, and that some per-
sons were injured, but did not learn at that time that
his own wife was one of them, though he went to the
station at five o'clock. On that night he received a
note, which caused him to go to Northchurch, and be
then saw his wife. She was quite dead at the time..

The CORONER here asked- if Charles Callom, the
driver of the engine at the time of the accident, was in
attendance ?

Mr. Barker, the superintendent of the Railway
Company, replied that he was not in a fit state to be
present, and handed to the Coroner a certificate to that
effect.

Mr. Hilder, a surgeon at Berkhampstead, deposed
that on Thursday last, about twelve o'clock, he was in-
formed that an accident had happened on the railway
on the Dodswell embankment, near the Northchurch
tunnel, and he, in consequence, hastened there. ®n
approaching the spot, he observed the carriages in
great confusion, and several of them off the line of rail.
When he first saw the deceased she was in a cart, at-
tended by one of the passengers, and he observed that
she had a large wound upon the front of her head, and
several slight wounds about the face. She was at the
time insensible and in a state of collapse; and he
ordered her removal to Northchurch. On reaching
the latter place he dressed her wounds, in which he
was assisted by Mr. Brown, gave her stimulants, and
had her put to bed. She was in such a state when he
saw her, that it would have been dangerous to bleed
her. e continued to visit her until the time of her
death, which took place about nine o'clock on the
same evening, and she never once rallied.
CORONER—What, in your opinion, was the imme-
diate cause of the deceased's death ? Witness— The
concussion occasioned by the accident, and the shock
to the nervous system.
Joseph Channell, of Aylesbury, labourer, deposed
that, on Thursday last, about twelve o'clock, he was
at work on the London and Birmingham Railway,
near Dodswell, where the embankment was about 15
feet from the level, and observed a train coming to-
wards him. When it had reached him within about
100 yards, and while going at a regular speed—he
should say about 25 miles an hour—he saw the en-
gine fall off the embankment on the left hand side,
and the carriages on the right side. The tender,
which was next the engine, fell with the engine on
the same side, and a second class carriage, which was
next the tender, tumbled down the embankment on
the right hand side, leaving the remaining part of the
train, he thought three carriages, on the railway. He
did not notice particularly how many carriages the
train consisted of, but he thought there were two first
class and two second class carriages. Immediately
after, the accident witness and two other men who
were at work with him, hurried to the spot, and the
first person he saw was Low, one of the Company's
overlookers, lying on the bank to the right. He next
saw the deceased in one of the compartments of the
second class carriage that had fallen on the right
hand bank. The carriage was lying on its side, and
he had been obliged to get upon the other side, which
was uppermost, and to get through the door, to her
assistance. He found her with her head under the seat,
and her legs 'doubled under her. At the time he
thought she was dead, but upon moving her she
groaned, and he found that she was not lifeless. He
assisted her out of the carriage, and she was attended
by a passenger, who was a medical man, and also by
Mr. Hilder. She was the only person in the carriage.
The Rev. Christopher Erle, of Hardwick, was the
next witness. He stated he was a passenger in the
first compartment of a first class carriage, which
immediately followed that in which the deceased had
been in on Thursday last, on his way to town.
While the train was proceeding at the usual pace,
along the embankment near the Dodswell tunnel, he
heard a dreadful crash, and a report as loud as if a
field of artillery went off, and at the instant the pannel
of the seat behind him was stove in, and the flooring
underneath his feet broken up with great violence.
On looking out he saw on the left the wreck of the
engine and tender, and on the bank lay the engine-
driver and stoker. He, witness, got out as soon as
he could, and went to their assistance; first to the
stoker, and then to Callom, the engine-driver. The
latter was evidently much stunned, but notwithstand-
ing this nothing could exceed the exertions which he
made to assist the passengers. In fact, nothing could
be more praiseworthy than his exertions, and no
blame whatever could attach to him. The Rev. Gen-
tleman, in conclusion, said he was in the habit of
frequently travelling by the train of which Callom
was the driver, and he felt ikto be his duty, from the
high estimation in which he, Callom, was generally
held by the inhabitants of Aylesbury, for being a
steady, well-conducted man, as well as in justice
towards the Railway Company, to come forward on
the present occasion to give evidence of that which he
had witnessed.

John Lodge, of Northchurch, labourer, deposed
that on Thursday, about a quarter to twelve o'clock,
he was in a brick-field, about thirty yards from the
London and Birmingham Railroad, gathering some
chips, when he saw a train proceeding towards town,
and on its coming opposite to him he saw the engine-
wheels come off, roll down the embankment, burst
through the fence, and shoot past him with a rapidity
that was truly extraordinary.
Juror—Did you observe any piece of iron, or part
of the axle, start from the wheel after it parted from
the engine ? Witness—No, Sir, it was quit flat.
Juror—l understand you had a very narrow escape
of the wheel striking you ? Witness—l had indeed.

John Pemberton —stated he was assistant-engineer
on the London and Birmingham Railway, and had
been so for three years and a half. On Thursday
last, at eleven o'clock, he left Aylesbury with the
London, or up-train, in company with Charles Cal-
lom, the engine-driver, who had been five years on
the line. The engine used on that occasion was one
that had been regularly used for six months. On
starting it was the duty of Callom and him (witness)
to examine the engine. He did so on the morning in
question, and it appeared all right, arid the axle ap-
peared as usual. There was no machinery attached
to the fore-wheel of the engine. It was the fore-
wheel on the near side that flew off. The train was
going at a steady pace at the time the accident
occurred.

Frederick Parker, foreman to Mr. Berry, the super-
intendent of the Railway Company at their works at
Wolverton, for ten years, deposed that, on the 30th of
March, 1842, the engine Aylesbury No. 2, was
brought to the works to undergo a general inspection,
and have any repairs it might require done to it. The
engine was not built at the Company's establishment,
but he, witness,. could tell whether an engine was well
built or not. The repairs done to the engine Ayles-
bury No. 2, where she had new tires on the driving
wheels, the front wheels were repaired, the pistons
were repaired, the cylinders were bored, the steam
valves and axle-boxes were repaired, the framing
round the fire-boxes and stafting-gear were repaired,
and flag signals, the use of which had been since dis-
continued, were put on her. He examined the engine
thoroughly, and the axle in particular, upon that occa-
sion. Did not detect any flaw or defect in the shaft.
If there had been a defect at that time he thought he
must have detected it. _ _

CORONER —Supposing you were, now told that the
shaft was hollow, could you account for it in any
way ? Witness—l really cannot. Had it been hollow

in March last, I feel conscious I must have detected it
from the test to wh;ch I submitted it.

CORONER—Did you sound or rang it, as it is called?
Witness—l d;d not then ;it would be no use in doing
so with the wheels on. The witness here said the
axles of those engines were made of w:ought-;-on,
and gave a description of their manufacture. The axle
in question wes four inches in diameter, but some
were made four inches and a half. Witness recol-
'ected a similar aecident to the present happening to
another engine some mqnths ago, when the axle broke,
yet the engine proceeded to its destination.
COROSEB—Had this accident occurred to a six-
wheeled engine, would the consequences have been so
serious ? Witness—The six wheels would have made
no difference. The witness, in conclusion, said there
must have been originally a flaw in the axle in ques-
tion, and it had latterly increased.
Mr. Edward Berry, the gentleman under whom
the last witness is employed, was the last witness
called. He stated that the engine in question had,
since the 2d of January, 1840, ran upwards of 40,000
miles. It was as strong as the engines originally
built for the Company, but latterly they had engines
of a greater power. The builder, Mr. Benjamin
Hicks, of Bolton, had been one of the first engine
builders in the country. It was his, Mr. Berry's,
opinion, that there was an internal flaw originally in
the axle, and that had increased until the time it gave
way. e was, however, surprised it had not yielded
to the test to which it had been subjected in March
last. Mr. Berry, in conclusion; said that the pro-
priety of placing a luggage-van between the engine
and the passengers' train was under the consideration
of the Company.
The CORONER here remarked that the cause of
death was so clear, and the evidence so satisfactory as
exculpating the Company or the servants from blame,
that he felt certain it was not necessary for him to
read over the evidence.

The Jury now retired for a few minutes, and re-
turned into Court, when the Foreman, addressing the
Coroner, said, "We find that the deceased, Mary
Bye, came by her death by accident—with a deodand
of five shillings on the engine ; and the Jury, in return-
ing that verdict, beg to recommend to the Company
that an empty col.:age or luggage van should, in each
train, be placed between the engine and the passen-
gers' carriages; and they consider that if that had been
the case in the present instance, the accident would
not have ensued."

21,-. Creed, secretary to the Company, begged to
say that the Company had such.
,a regulation under
consideration, and he was happy to say that the Di-
rectors had already made up their minds to adopt the
plan just suggested by the Jury.
The verdict was then recorded, and signed by the
Jui-ors.

Callom, the engine-driver in this unfortunate case,
some time ago received a medal from the Com-
pany, and such was the opinion entertained of him,
that he was the person always selected for any parti-
cular occasion. As an instance, he was the driver of
the engine which took Marshal Soult to Liverpool,
and for the skill displayed by him on that occasion, that
distinguished soldier handed him a present of 101.
The sufferer Tomlins was considered by his medical
attendants to be somewhat better last evening, but
considerable fears ars entertained for his ultimate
recovery. The inquiry lasted three hours, and ex-
cited intense interest.

NAVAL INTE LLIGENCE.
(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 10.—The Cambridge, 78, Cap-
tain Barnard, arrived this evening from Gibraltar,
last from Plymouth, which she left on Tuesday. She
has on board 80 cases of antiquities, which will be
landed here. She spoke the Pique, off the Staii; Point,
and passed the Thunderer yesterday, on her way from
the Downs to Plymouth.
The Wasp, 16, Commander Drew, sailed yesterday
for Bermuda.

The Fearless and Lightning, steamers, have returned
to Woolwich from the Downs. The Echo, steamer,
was also there yesterday.
The Alban and Megmra, steamers, are nearly ready
for sea, at Woolwich.

In Harbour—St. Vincent,Victory, Excellent, Royal
George, Bellone (Austrian), Sarnarang, Frolic, Nau-
tilus, Thunderbolt, steam frigate Rocket, and Volcano,
steamers ; Sovereign, transport.
At Spithead—Cambridge and Warspite.
PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

P"mTnit, to
oN—C ad
s. Hallowes (of the
S t :Vi nc°o)themnramnakoefr—j.
Captain, in honour of
her Majesty's visit to that ship on a recent occasion.
Lieut9nant—J. A. Gordon (b) of the Warspite;
Edward Peirse, of the Indus, to = the rank of Com-
mander.

Mates—Robe' ;; Hopkins • (1835), of the Warspite ;
John N. Norman (1836), late of the Racer; Frede-
rick T. Chetham (1838), of the Queen ; and Henry
R. Foote (1836), late of the Albert, to the rank of
Lieutenant.

AppoiNTmExTs.--Lieutenants—H. W. Baugh, to
the Samarang 1 • W. Horton, from the St. Vincent to
the Gorgon ; J. C. Prevost, to the St. Vincent, vice
Horton ; F. W. Horton from the Endymion to the
Dido.

sidfsrshotaimpnitntSheenu_rwgreaorrneds—pietGreic.
k:tß.tGhice.h, Bowen, to the Minden.
to the Pique ; J. T.
Thunderbolt.
CuVikASitos'ilunteers Ist Class—'S. L. Peile, to the Samarang;
A. D. Mercer, to the Tweed.
Acting Master and Pilot—E. M. Chaffers, to the
Warspite, vice Vauzetti, superseded.
Master's Assistant—G. F. M‘Dougall to the
Samarang.
' Clerks—W. Hickman (in charge) to the Spider ;
A. Messum, to the Thunderbolt.
First Engineers—John Boswell, from Wildfire, to
the Virago ; W. Dunkin, of the Gorgon steamer, has
been presented by the Admiralty board with a medal
for zeal and good conduct.
COAST7GJARD.—Lieut. William Southey, to Win-
chelsea Station ; Lieut. W. A. Ferrer, to the Fairlight
Station. Removals—Lieut. William Tullis, from
Belhelvie to Gourock ; Lieut. W. Congdon, from
Garnish to Milk Cove; Lieut. John Douglas Ramsay,
from Carrickfergus to Misner Haven ; Lieut. Frede-
rick Hire, from Priory to Cornhill. The appoint-
ment of Lieut. Henry Augustus Finucane is cancelled.