BURNT TO DEATH IN A RAILWAY TRAIN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3590, 13 January 1883, Page 4

BURNT TO DEATH IN A RAILWAY TRAIN.

A London paper of October 30th has the following , :—On the arrival of the Midland night express, -which left St. Pancras at 9.i<5 on Saturday night, at Hunslet Railway Station, near Leeds, at 2.15 yesterday morning , it was discovered that the Pullman sleeping car was on lire. There were four passengers in the car, and three of them grave the alarm to the conductor just before the train reached the station. On the officials entering , the carriage one of the occupants, Dr Arthur, on his way home from Ceylon to Aberdeen, was found to have been burnt to death. The top of the car was destroyed and the sides and other parts "were considerably damaged. It was at once detached from the rest of the train, and removed to a siding, where the flames were extinguished. The train then proceeded on its way to the north. The body of the deceased was taken possession of by the police, and was conveyed to the public mortuary. He was last seen alive at Leicester, where he had some refreshment. Tn his possession was a gold and silver watch, gold guard, and other articles, and £15 in gold and silver. The body was found on the bed, and it is conjectured that the fire was caused by the deceased having been smoking. His clothes were entirely burnt, and also two of his rugs. One of his legs was reduced to ashes, and the other portions of his body were terribly disfigured. Deceased was over six feet in height. His luggage was labelled "Dr Arthur." He had with him also other luggage labelled "J. Dove, Esq., Edinburgh and Dalkeith." The deceased was son of the Ptcv. David Arthur, Eree Church minister, Banchory, Devenick, near Aberdeen. Ten years ago he graduated at Aberdeen University, and almost immediately afterwards proceeded to Ceylon, Avhere lie was engaged in the Government medical service atDimbula. Here he remained until about five weeks ago, when he left Ceylon to take up his residence in Scotland. Dr. Arthur was n. young m;m '■'/■i years of age. iind was unmarried. His brother with one or two friends assembled in Aberdeen Station yesterday afternoon to welcome him. the deceased having sent a telegram stating that he would arrive at the time indicated. AMien, however, the p;irty arrived at the station they were told by Mr Boyle, the stntion agent, that a telegram had been received from Mr Elliot, the ageijt at Leeds, intimating that a gentleman had been burned to death. This intelligence had been previously communicated to the residence of the deceased's brother, and he telegraphed the melancholy intelligence to the father, who was then engaged in the morning service at the church of which he is minister. The worst had already been anticipated, since with considerable regard to their feelings the Aberdeen station agent had sent intelligence that Mr Arthur had met with a serious accident, and was lying at Leeds Station. The grief of the family may be imagined. They had not seen the deceased, except on one occasion, for ten years.