TBBHIBLB ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH LONDON BA.ILWAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4306, 9 February 1882, Page 4

TBBHIBLB ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH LONDON BA.ILWAY.

A terrible accident oocurred on the North. London Bailway on the morning of Dec. 10, four trains having come into collision, one after the other, in the Canonbury Tunnel. The branch line on which the collision oocurred was somotime ago conßtruotod by the Great Northern Railway Company. Commencing at Canonbury Junction on the North London system, it extends for about a mile and a quarter to Finsbury Pari, where it joins the Great Northern Bailway. About 750 yards of tbat distance ia occupied by the tunnel which was the scene of the catastrophe. Between the stations mentioned there aro three signal boxes; one leads trains on to the branch at Finsbury Park, and the other two are at the entrance and exit of the tunnel respectively. At the Canonbury end of the tunnel the Highbury branch joins the North London system, and just at this point the main signal-box is situated. At fifty three minutes post eight o'clock, a train to the city from Bornefc left Finsbury Park, packed, as is usually tho case at that hov.r, with business men and others going to the city. At Canonbury Junction, or, more strictly speaking, while about to emerge from the tunnel, the train wa9 stopped by hand signal, there being an engine on the section ahead blocking the way. This of course is no unusual occurrence on a line where the traffio at that time in the morning is practically ceaseless, trainß being despatched at intervals of a very minutes. While the train was so standing within view of the eignal-box, another train leaving Finsbury Park at fiftyeight minutej past eight ran into the train in front, but the collision waß not a very severe one, and the first tram soon mo red on. The •fifty-eight minutes past eight train, however, still remained in the tunnel, and presenlly an Enfield train, leaving Finsbury Park at three minutes past nine, dashed into it. These collisions put out the gas in the oarriages, and a scene of wild excitement onsued. Many people, even in the thick darkness, attempted to leave the carriages, regardless of the danger to be apprehended from traffio on the down line. It is supposed that up to this time no one was actually injured. But in a minute or two more another terrific crash came from a fourth train— that leaving Finsbury Park at nine minutes paßt nine. The force of this collision smashed the guard's van of the middle train into a thousand fragments, and killed the guard himself, while the thhd-claas smoking compartment immediately in front of the van was " telescoped," and several of its occupants killed on the spot. The driver had Btrained every nerve to stop his train on seeing the danger ahead, but owing to the bend in the tunnel he was unable to observe it in time to avoid the dreadful shock. The scene in the tunnel is said to have been " all but indescribable." Not only were the wounded groaning and shrieking from beneath the wreck of the carriages, but in every direction the uninjured and affrighted passengers were madly groping for light and air in the midst of the darkness, and in atmosphere charged with scalding eteam. Bome, in their blind leaps from the carriages, were pitched headlong on the line ; others, before attempting eecapo from the wreck, had first to disentangle themselves from the dead and the dying. luf ormstion of the catastrophe was as soon as possible conveyed to Canonbury station, whence assistance was despatched with all possible speed. Several doctors were summoned and proceeded to superintend tbe extrication of the dead and wounded. Four passengers besides the guard were found to have been killed. One of the porsons killed was literally scalded to death by the steam and water escaping from one of the engines. Seven passengers are lying seriously injured at the German Hospital, Dalston. They are progressing favourably. Many others were more or less injured, but wero ablo to go to their o»n homes.