Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-04-03 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

YEAR'S RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. The returns of railway accidents and casualties as reported to the Board of Trade by the several railway companies of the United Kingdom during the year er.ded the 31st December, 18S5, was issued on Thursday. From this it, appears that 997 perse on were killed and 7,022 injured in tl.e year. Six passengers were killed and 436 injured in accidents to trains, rolling-stock, pernament-ways, Ac.; and 96 were killed and C 0.13 injured by accidents from other causes. Of servants of companies or contractors, 13 were killed sod 81 injured from accidents to trains, rolling-stock, ttc.; and 438 were killed and 2,036 injured by accidents from other cause'. Fifty-eight persons were killed and 21 wounded at level crossings; 303 trespassers (including suicides) were killed and 12.6 wounded. Of other persons not coming in the above classification, 41 were killed and 74 injured. During the year there were reported 33collisiona between passenger trains or parts of passenger trains, by wh:ch 1 servant was killed and 120 passengers and 14 servants were injured; 53 ;Mishit's between passenger trains and goods or wiineral trains, Ac., by which 5 passengers and 1 servant were killed and 133 pa•mengerli and 31 servants were injured ;22 collisions between goods trains or parts of goods trains, by which 2 servants were killed and 5 cattle-drovers and 14 sertants were injured; 1 case of a train coming in contact with a projection born another train travelling on a parallel line, by which 2 passe:.gers were injured; 65 eases of passenger ti sins or ',rids of passenger trains leaving the rails, 1.. y which 1 passenger and 5 servants were killed aid 51 passengers and 8 servants were injured ; 9 cases of goods trains or parts of goods trains Iztaving the rails, by which 2 servants were killed and 1 was injured ; 11 cases of trains travelling in the wrong direction through points, by which 1 servant was killed and 16 passengers and 4 servants were injured ; 14 cases of trains running into stations or sidings at too high a speed, by which 92 passengers and 1 servant were injured, 126 cases of trains running over cattle or other obstructions on the line, involving injury to 1 servant; 48 cases of trains running through gates at level crossings involving injury to 1 servant; 4 cases of the failure of machinery, springs, Ac., of engines, by which 7 passengers and 2 servants were injured' 377 failures of axles by which 1 servant was killed and 3 passengers and 1 servant were injured ; 3 failures of break apparatus, by which 7 passengers were injured; and 6 failures of couplings, involving injury to 3 servants. In addition to the accidents above classified, the railway companies have reported to the Board of Trade the following accidents which occurred upost their premises, but in which the movement of vehicles used exclusively upon railways was not concerned. Four passengers killed and 103 injured whilst ascendng or descending steps at stations; 32 injured by being struck by barrows, falling over packages, Ac., on station platforms; 1 killed and 27 injured by falling tit' platforms; and 39 injured from other causes. Of servants of companies or contractors, 910 were injured whilst loading, unloading, or sheeting waggons; 2 were killed and 207 injured whilst moving or carrying gods in warehouses, Ac.; 2 were killed and 193 injured whilst working at cranes or capstans ; 236 injured by the falling of waggon-doors, lamps, bares of goods, Au. ; 288 injured by falling off, or when getting on or off, stationary engines or vehicles ; 13 were killed and 200 injured by falling off platforms, ladders, scaffolds, Ac. ; 190 were injured by stumbling whilst walking on the line or platforms ; 159 were injured whilst attending to stationary engines in sheds; 1 was killed and C-1 were injured by being trampled on or kicked by nor,es ; 6 were killed and 532 injured while working on the line or in sidings ; and lip were injured from various other causes. Sixteen persons who were transacting business on the companies' premises were also killed, and 124 were injured, making a total in this class of accidents of 40 persons killed and 3,555 injured.  Robert Campbell, a lance.sergeant of the 50th Regiment, stationed at Beverley, quarrelled with his wife, and as he threatened her she ran out of the house. He then placed the muzzle of hie loaded rifle in his mouth, and pulled the trigger with a string. The charge blew off the upper part of his head, causing instant death. The deceased, who was a young man, had been drinking, it is said, since St. Patrick's Day.  A