The Express. — 1851-10-07 (London, England)

TUE SUICIDE ON THE SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY. Yesterday Mr. Carttar held an inquest at the Dartmouth Arms, Sydenham, on the body of William Harmer, aged 43, a painter, of 6, Wimpold-place, South-street, Walworthcommon, who destroyed himself on the above-mentioned railway u previously reported. The deceased was in deep poverty, and was frequently in a low and desponding condition, which rendered him frequently eccentric and apathetic. On Saturday afternoon last he repaired to a secluded spot, called l'oplar-walk, near the Green Man public-house, where he placed a pistol in his mouth and discharged it, which not proving effective in destroying his life he ran off across the fields to the embankment of the inclined plane (near the Forest-hill station), over which he rushed on to the rails, when the Brighton up-train passed over him, nearly severing his head front his body, and crushing his right leg. The distance he ran after firing the pistol was nearly three miles, and it would scent that neither the engineer, drivir, nor guard, saw anything of the unfortunate man prior to the occurrence. After some consultation the jury returned an open verdict, to the effect—" That the deceased was killed by being run over by one of the South-Eastern Company's trains, but whether by accident or his own wilful act there was not evidence to show."  --....-PROPOSED RAILWAY BETWEEN CARNARVON AND PORTRADoe.—A preliminary meeting has just been held at Portmadoc, to take into consideration the most effectual means of promoting a projected line of railway from Carnarvon, through Lianllyff, to the rising seaport town of Portmadoc. The high sheriff of the county, John Wilhams, lisel. had been requested to preside, but was unable, iu consequence of a previous engagement. At two o'clock the Rev. Griffith Owen, of Ymwlch, took the chair, at the Town-hall, and the meeting, which was largely attended, comprised the principal landowners of the locality and their agents. A letter was read from David Williams, Esq., of Bron Eryrl, who was prevented attending by indisposition, stating his full concurrence in the objects of the meeting, and promising his cordial support. Resolutions in accordance having been passed, a general public meeting was decided upon, to be shortly culled. Tho projected line is regarded in the locality as being of the utmost importance to the neighbourhood, as, if carried into effect, it is believed it will bo the means of opening to public enterprise the abundant mineral riches of the district and the adjoining county of iderioneth, now regarded as most imperfectly developed. MEANING OF "Loo-suer."—lf you have a spare corner, can you grant it to me for the origin of a word which describes an article used in every sailing and steam vowel in the world, and yet perhaps not one sailor in a thousand knows whence it is derived. I allude to the word "log-ship," the name of the little wooden float (quadrantshaped) by which, with a line attached, the vessel's speed is ascertained. Before the invention of the line with "knots" on it, a "chip," or floating-scrap, was thrown overboard forward, and the " master," or whoever it might be, walked aft at the rate which the vessel passed the "chip,' judging of his pace from experience. Ilium the I term " log-ship," or " chip," which is its true name.— Notes and Queries.