Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-09-21
Gbe Obio 6tatesma,r
Terrible Railway Accident in Lon.
dOn-TWentystwO Lives Lost.

From the London Tmes of the Goth ult., we
take the following account of one of the most
terrible railroad accidents which have occurred
since the Introduction of the railway system into
England. 50
The accident took place on Sunday, Aug. 25,
on the London and Brighton Railway, In the
Clayton tunnel, about Eve miles from the Bright.
On terminus
1t is necessary (by way Of preface) to state
that an excursion train leaves Portsmouth for
London at A. NJ, and is made due for depart.
ure from Brighton at BIS I'M. There Ia also
an excursion train which takes its departure
from Brighton every Sunday morning at 6;l5,
which runs TO London without stopping at any
Of the intermediate stations. The regular
Parliamentary morning train, stopping at all
statlon', leaves Brighton at $3.50, being due at
London at 1910. There are, besides, occasion.
al excursion trains from Brighton; but when
ever these trains are pat on special instruc-
tons are cent out TO the various station mas
ters, signalmen, etc. 1t was owing to some
failure Of this last precaution that the casualty
occurred.
The Portsmouth train which, as previously
stated, passes through Brighton for London at
6;5 A. M. left the station about its appointed
time, and duly arrived at the Clayton tunnel,
where the "all right" signal was displayed
The train passed on without interruption. In
mediately afterwards, the 6l5 from Brighton
came within sight of the signalman. He, re-
memberng that the Portsmouth train had gone
by very short time previously, alleges that he
attempted to put on the "stop sigual," which he
found would not act. He then showed a red
flag, indicating danger, to the driver OF the
Brighton train, who was close upon the signal
mans box, near the tunnels mouth, at the
time. The engine driver, however, with great
presence Of mind, thinking, doubtless, from the
signal, that the train which he knew had proceed.
ed him had not got clear, Immediately reversed
his engine. The impetus prevented the train
being pulled up before it had proceeded some
distance into the tunnel.
A man is stationed at either end of each to
telegraph the entry and egress of all trains, in
order that two trains shall not be In the tunnel
at the same time. The signalman at the Bright
on end OF the Clayton tunnel, perceiving that,
In spite OF the red Gag, the second train did not
stop, imagined that the driver had not seen 1t,
and telegrapbed TO the other end TO know wheth
er the train had passed through, and received
for answer that IL had. He did not know at the
time that the driver OF the second train had
seen the red signal, that he had reversed his
engine, and that the train was in backward mo.
tion toward the south, or Brighton end. Mean.
while the $50 stopping-regular Parliamentary
train came In sight, and the signRlman, having
received the answer above referred to, gave the
usual signal for the train to proceed, which il
did, at its ordinary speed Within short dis
tance of the mouth of the tunnel, O fearful
crash ensued, the second train backing, having
come into violent collision with the other train,
which was rushing forward. The shrieks and
cries are described as being most fearful and
heart'rending, the darkness tending TO heighten
the terror of those who were unibjured, and
leaving them powerless to aid the wounded.
Alter short time some passengers in the
hrat-class carriages procured lights, and pro-
ceeded to render assistance. The engine of the
Parliamentary train had smashed the last car.
risge in the excursion train, containing forty
passengers, and the consequences cannot be
adequately described; the unhappy passengers
were scattered and mutilated in all directions
several were scalded with the boiling water from
the engine, and their yells of agony wero pitt.
able in the extreme. e
The telegraph was Immediately set to work,
communicating the terrible nature of the calam-
ity to Brighton. As speedily as possible Mr..
Hawkins, the traffic manager. Mr.. Denvil, his
assistant, Mr.. Craven, the superintendent of
the locomotive department, with q numerous
body of workmen aud others, proceeded by spe.
cial engine TO the spot, accompanied by medical
aid. Upon the fragments of the carriages being
removed, upwards of twenty persons were found
to be dead. The engine had literally sunk up
on the second carriage, and the bodies of several
OF the sufferers were underneath. They had
either been smashed or scalded to death. One
unfortunate woman had both her legs cut of
Just above the knees, and she was quite black
In the face. Another woman had her scalp
torn completely off, and both her arms brok-
en-. One man had his face crushed In such
manner as to force his eyebslls from his
head
The bodies of the dead, twenty-five in mum.
Der, were carefully placed In carriages, and the
wounded received the most careful and unre-
mitting attention from the medical gentlemen
in attendance. As soon as possible the wound
ed, the dying and the dead were conveyed to
Brighton. where the unhappy sufferers who have
died, were placed on tables in the company'e
Office, to await Identification. The wounded
were taken to the Sussex County Hospital
where Mr.. Turner, who accompanied them from
the scene OF the disaster, attended to their ne,
cessities, assisted by other medical gentlemen,
Nine of the passengers had been taken into the
hospital, and two Of the cases were &C once seer
to require surgical operations.