SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDERT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 253, 8 April 1880, Page 3

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDERT.

On January 15th a fearful acci.'eat took place at the Brickfield Sulm*, .»u the Lancashire and V-,rksliiiv Railway, England, which has resulted i" the death of ten men and injury more or lets severe to more than twenty persons. Through some blundering on the part of the signalman on duty a Bnrscough the train . hicli left tin- junction nt five minutes past sic for Liverpool was turned on the down linty and it had not proceeded on its way more than 200 vurds wlunit dashed iui o an express train from Liverpool. Th- Crash was terrible, both engines being telescoped and completely embodd.-d in each other. The van uf the Hursc u.yli train was thrown over tho <n-riiiw, th> first t-u, carriages of each ran wen.- compleu-ly, scattered, and tlxj passn.g r.s tnrown ' about in all directions. Those who were but slightly injure-1 scrambled out of the carriages, ti:il thc I;l !wn - y t,m ' ix]i '- i who had heard theshouk of tne collision, immediately made preparations for extricating the injured passman.. A nuiuber of medical gentleman went <Wn by special train and rendered very valuable service. The permanent way \7a« much damaged, and one line was Slocked. Gangs ot men were engaged all m>ht repairing the injuiy. The injured wcr • taken to Preston Infirmary by special train at 10 o'clock. The explanation given by the nation authorities is that o:i getting the signal from the plstf, that all was ready the station signalman through some misunderstand'ng, must have turned the points back. He states that the points were properly fixed until ho saw that a train had passed them, when ho let them go and signalled to the Burscrugh cabin for the othei train to come < n The incpucst was opened on Jknuary 17th. Anthony Melia, the j intsman, was taken into custody, and was present during the inquiry. Most of the people injured in the collision were progressing very favourably when the mail left.