EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 642, 19 March 1864, Page 7

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.

On Tuesday an accident happened to a passen* ger train on the North Eastern Railway, which in its results has probably been without parallel m the history of railway misfortune.

The circumstances are very brief. At 7.15 a.m., the government train to Hull and Leeds left York, and proceeded without interruption to the first station, Copmasthorpe, some three or four miles from the city. The morning was Tery dark, but otherwise favorable for travelling, The train, consisting of an engine, two guards' vans, and some eight carriages, left Copmanthorpe station and proceeded on their journey at an easy rate, but when opposite the fifth post from York, Reynolds, the guard, in the first van, was alarmed by feeling a sudden chuck, which shook him violently. He was about to look out of the van window, when another shock threw him back with considerable force into the van. As soon as he recovered,* he looked out and saw that some six or eight carriages were loose from the first portion of the train and were turning topsy turvey down an embankment some 10 or 15 feet high. At the seme instant the screams of the passengers, and the crash of broken carriages led to the impression that a frightful accident had occurred, and of course the mo3t prompt measures were resorted to to stop approaching trains and to alleviate the sufferings and alarm of the passengers. The engine was detached from the train, and at the next station transferred itself to the other line, returning to York at the greatest speed, to spread the alarm. In an incredibly short space of time Mr. T. Cabrey, the Company's engineer, and Mr. A. Ohristison, the general passenger superintendent, were quickly on the spot, accompanied by Mr. J. Butter, Mr, Nicholson, and Mr. Baines, the chief officials, and a body of workmen. On arriving at the scsne of the accident, it was found that the whole of the passengers, some fifty in number, had scrambled out of the carriages, and were crowded about the awful debris of the smashed carriages. Several medical gentlemen had been called upon, and they accompanied the " special* train to the spot, where they at once busied themselves in ascertaining the extent of the injuries of the passengers, and now we have to relate the most remarkable poition of this otherwise serious accident. Though some fifty men and women had been turned over and over, down an embankment, in railway carriages, proceeding at the rate of some twenty miles an hour, not a soul was killed, nor was there any one seriously injured. Indeed bruises were somewhat scarce, and the doctors had but little claims upon their attentions. One man had his foot crushed in ona of the carriage doors, but his injury is not serious and he proceeded to Kork by the next train. Another mao wag very much shaken, and he stayed during the day at an adjoining farmhouse. The third of the wounded was a gentleman, whom it is feared has been injured internally, though he was sufficiently well to proceed on his journey home. Several of the other passengers were alarmed, and had sustained slight concussions, but nothing of that serious nature which was expected from the character ot the accident. The exertions of the railway officials were of the most strenuoug nature, and the debris was so soon cleared away that little or no intermission took place to the traffic on the line. We may also add that the strength of the Company's carriages was a powerful means of preserving the lives ot the pasaenpers. The gentleman injured internally is from Leedß.— " Leeds Mercury."

War's Alarms.-— A curious incident oceared in Yokohama Bay. A convivial party had met on board the Carthage, and, as the evening progressed, fired off some rockets as a signal to friends on shore to come on board. Three rockets had unfortunately been the signal agreed on for the debarkation of the naval and military force. Accordingly, the troops immediately landed to the consternation of the residents, and the entire settlement was soon in a state of wild excitement. As soon as the cause was discovered, the party oa board the Carthage was taken oa board the Euryalus; the circumstances, however, were aoou explained, and ignorance of the private sigealspleaded as aa excuse.—" London and China Telegraph.'*