The Sun. — 1852-08-25 (London, England)

ANOTHER COLLISION ON THE', LANCA SHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY.  SUICIDE OF THE POINTSMAN.  A collision occurred on Monday evening, at near half-past nine o'clock, about a mile from the Bolton station on this railway, which ended in the destruction of three third-class carriages and the serious injury of several passengers, though, fortunately, we have not upon this occasion to mention any loss of life, except that of the man to whose neglect of instructions the accident was attributable, and he put an end to his own existence. It appears that the 5.30 P.M. train from Liverpool, which was 'due at Bolton at 7.20 P 111., did not arrive until 9.20 P.M. It consisted of thirty-six carriages, and was filled with passengers, part for Yorkshire and the rest for Manchester. It was necessary to separate those for Yorkshire from the others, but they were so mixed up that twenty minutes was spent in the work, alid while the officials were performing it, a second train from Liverpool—an excursion train of thirty-six carriages—came up, and was detained; next, a luggagetrain from Liverpool to Manchester, then an excursion train from Fleetwood and Blackpool of twentyfive carriages, and lastly a luggage-train from Liverpool to Bradford, making in all five trains brought up at one time, and reaching from the station to a place known as Bull Field, outside the town, the enormous distance of a mile lying between the ad of the first train and the tail of the last. There was a sixth train -of luggage a few yards beyond the station (in advance), taking in water, but it was out of the way. From the station the line curves up to and beyond Bull Field, and about three hundred yards from that place there is a signal-post, with a lamp and two red discs, worked by means of a lever and wire, to protect the down or Manchester line. The tail of the last or luggaga train was about 130 yards from this signal post on the Bolton side, and the driver of an advancing train would come in sight of it (the train) 15 or 20 yards beyond, before he got to the signal post, so that the distance allowed him for pulling up to save a collision was only 150 yards at the most. It was the duty of the guard of the luggage train, when it came to a stand-still, under such circumstances, to go back, and stop any trains corning up; and it was the duty of the signal-man to put on the red light and discs. Neither of these precautions were taken, and, as a consequence, while the five trains were standing, a sixth from Liverpool and Southport, consisting of sixteen carriages, came up at full speed. The driver, when he got near the signal post, and within 150 yard!, saw three red lights, with which the end of the luggage-train was furnished, but he could not then stop his train, and the consequence was that he ran into the one before him at a high speed—the recoil of his own engine drove the carriages back upon each other, and three, all third class, nearly at the front, were smashed, one being driven upon that next to it. The frame-work was uninjured, but the entire back and the right hand corner of the first, and the entire back of the second, and the front with half the flooring of that compartment of the third, were c9mpletely driven in ; so effectually, indeet, that it was scarcely pea. sible (except in the case of the floor) to tell where the ends and sides had joined. It seemed as if the buffers of a preceding carriage had destroyed the front of the first, and that the front of the third had been reared upon the back of the second. There wen sevorol persons injured, and the wond,r is that, under such peculiar circumstances of destruction of vehicles, no one was killed. instant assistance was obtained, and the following persons were removed to cottagres in the vicinity, where they were attended by medical men:—.  Edward Ilindley, residing at 100, Fairfield street Manchester.  Margaret Rothwell, of Besvvick-row, Millgate, Manchester, a severe bloiv on leg. Miss Graham, going as a servant to Mr. Sheen, of Loyd-street, Manchester, face cut and log injured. Jgnies Howell, of Flexion, much shaken. Miss Yates, of Darcy Lever, much sh.tken ; sent home in a cab.  Edward Greenhalgb. Alice Greenhalgh, his wife. Richard Greenhalgh, their son, received a severe blow on the chest, and supposed injury of the bladder. Mrs. Allemande, of Gravel-hole Great Lever, bruised on the leg; sent home in a cab. Mrs. Simpson, of 5, New Richmond, Pendleton, shaken and bruised. (3_o. Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Butler, face; Butler, two black eye 3 and cut on the of Seedley L° _g m 1 8 . Butler, much shaken. Mr. Canane, a friend of Mr. ButleTr; a special train The last four were sent bon': those who reabout hall-past twelve &Clock, et: removed next day mained at the place all night to their respective places much shaken, and all of residence. The other persons in the train were st'heeyvvrea of the train had terribly alarmed.understand that a seventh Befores,e been got out of the way car&ges came up from train of forty excursionbe brought up very sharply to Fleetwood, and had to avo!d a collision. (printed) had been issued from the A special notice reference to the trains on Monday ; Signalmen and pointsmen said-. head office i and that adwdLeti3aPidlitgehted, and be prepared for these your signal Keep have passed good look.-out for any and all future srecial trains until ,they and keep aextra trains, born! ; • ac./ of which you may not have received engines, advice. A dopy of this notice was found in the cabin of the pintsman, Leigh Bancroft, and after the accident he admitted that he bad read it. He stated that be had  --tt,lrned his signal light out at a quarter to nine 0 0,,ty,31c, pile homy Lis his proper lo time to leave .kialt-past eight, and he did'Los think he would be uquired any more ; though he mast hare known that there was at le::§t one train then due, which was abort an hour end a helf behind its time—the 5.30 train from Liverpool. or course there was neither antic'?" I ht nor clution-sisrnal to warn the driver of the train from SOUthpOri". It was at eleven o'clock that he was questioned, 003 21-lacking to relate, at about midnight his wife found ri at i he had hung himself with his handkerchief n his peintsman's hut, within a couple of hundred yarce of the place where the collision occurred, and the he was quite dead. lie has left a widow and fivechiLiren ; he has been in the employ of the company for several years, and was a steady man. What can have lid to his cxraordin:trif conduct cAnnot now be ascertained, beyond the doubtful statement he made to the persona who called him to account.