The Express. — 1867-07-18 (London, England)

FATAL COLLISION ON THE NORTH LON DON RAILWAY.  Last evening, shortly after 6 o'clock, a very serious collision, involving loss of life and a considerable destruction of property, took place on the North London Railway, near the new station at Old Ford, Bow. On the west side of the line, between the station and the Old Ford entrance to Victoria•psrk, Messrs. Waring Brothers, the contractors for the Midland Railway, now in course of construction in St. Pancras, have large works for brick-making. There is a siding from the main line into the brick field where the trucks are loaded ; and it appears that about 6 o'clock last evening an engine and some waggons were let into the siding from the down main lire. It would seem that the signalman made the fatal omission of not closing the points, and shortly afterwards a heavy goods train from Haydensquare goods depot, for Camden, came rattling on at a pace of about 20 miles an hour. On reaching the points the engine suddenly left its course on the main line, and with the heavily-loaded train of waggons behind it dashed into the siding, and came in fearful collision with the trucks, which were standing still, and in course of being loaded with bricks. The crash is described to have been something awful, and several of the trucks were hurled on one side and almost shivered to atoms, while others were thrown over on each other. The goods engine left the rails and went on the ballast for some distance, but fortunately it kept an upright position. It is wh►t Is called a tank engine, and the tank being first somewhat protected the more sensitive part of the locomotive from the violence of the shock. Several of the goods waggons were smashed up on one side of the line, and, an may be supposed, there was a serious loss of property. As soon as practicable, a matzoh was made with a view of ascertaining whether any of the workpeople had perished. A labourer named Thos. Meade, who had been only taken on that morning, was known to have been engaged in loading one of the trucks, and after a brief examination his mutilated remains were found almost buried in the ballast under the goods engine. The poor creature had evidently been dragged some distance, and his head was stated to have been almost crushed flat. Another workman named Frost I was also found to have sustained serious injury on the head and other parts of his body. He was removed to the London Hospital, where he lies in a precarious way. The driver and fireman of the goods engine, who kept to their post, were also hurt. As a portion of the broken up goods train blocked the down line, the station master at Old Ford took the most prompt steps to warn approaching trains, and on the first excitement somewhat subsiding, meabures were immediately taken to protect the road. Mr. Garman, surgeon, of Fairfield-road, Bow, and Mr. Gull, of Bow-road, were 110012 in attendance upon the wounded sufferers, and Mr. Kerressey, the inspector of the Bow (K) police, and a strong body of his force, were promptly on the spot, and rendered invaluable service in keeping back the great crowd which had collected.  How the signalman came to neglect the points has not transpired. He, however, has been impended to await the result of the Coroner's inquest. During the night labourers were engaged in getting the engine on to the rails and clearing away the wreck of the shattered truck.. Had it been a passenger train that ran into the siding the consequences must have been awful to contemplate. The usual information of the occurrence hu been sent to the Baud of Trade.  SUICIDE AT DUBLlN.—Sergeant H. Stewart, of the Coldstream Guards, stationed at Beggar's Bush Barracks, who was to have been tried by court-martial, has committed suicide by shooting himself with his own rifle, which was found between his legs, his foot being in the noose of a handkerchief fastened to the trigger. The muzzle rested on his nose, and the shot went through the back of his head. Verdict, " Temporary insanity." Dr. Trotter produced n. document. which he found in the I barrack after being called in to see the deceased. It was worded as follows :—" If you please Sir will you be kind enough to forward to my Dear Beloved brother of My downfall I am aqueed of the charge what I was about to be trifle by court-martial which will be a stain on my corrector as long as I am In the Regiment By men that wish me evil I have got to put up with it which the man which accused me of this he knows it to be fobs and likewise ?COI Morris at Southampton Hotel Chancery Lane Strand London Dear Brother h C office I wish you all well and not be slighted as Nuns as I have been I remain your well 'later H.