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Leader (1850-1860), 21st June 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 579, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      natural and childish terror at the accident , and his app arent curiosity about that particular train , were all that could be brought forward to implicate him ; while there was positive testimony given , showing that he did not leave the garden to go on the line . A great deal of evidence was solicited as to whether it was safe to run the tender first , and whether , had the engine been first , the guard would have swept away the obstacle . The railway authorities—among the * rest , Mr . S . Laing ^ -thought that on short trains it was quite safe to run the tender first , apparently because , until now , not a single accident has arisen from that cause . But Mr . James Fenton , engineer of the JLow Moor Ironworks , Yorkshire , boldly

      asserted that if the engine had been first , the accident would have been more terrible than it was , and the whole of the train would have been dragged down over the embankment . The reason for this assertion being that the weight upon the wheels of the engine being less than the weight upon the wheels of the tender , the resistance to the " momentum" of the train would have been , less , and consequently the onward force greater . ' jN ' -otwithstanding these authorities the jury returned the following verdict , especially condemning the common practice of running the tender first . The last paragtaph alludes to the wrecks of the crash having been removed before the scene was inspected by the jury : —

      " The jury find that the deaths of Mary Chatfield , Sarah Chatfield , Alfred Langhorne , and George Chase , were respectively caused by the train running off the rails and passing over the Newmarket archway ; that a broken 6 leeper was found on the line after the accident , but by what means it came there does not appear to the jury . " That in this instance the tender preceded the engine , and that the train passed down the Falmer incline at a greater rate than directed by the company ; and the jury are of opinion that such practices were dangerous , and that had . the engine been placed first , or the tender been provided with iron guards , the probabilities of safety would have been much increased . " That the jury express their regret that so much connected with the accident should have been removed

      before their inspection , by which they were prevented from so complete an examination as might otherwise have been afforded . " The following verdict has been found by the jury who sat to inquire into the cause of the death of Samuel Jackson , engine-driver at the time of the late accident near Falmer : — " The jurors find that Samuel Jackson died from injuries occasioned by the train passing off the line near the archway leading to Newmarket Hill , on the Lewes and Brighton Railway , caused by a wooden sleeper having

      been wilfully , feloniously , and maliciously placed across the outer rail on the northern side of the down line by some person or persons unknown . The jury cannot separate without calling on the directors to discontinue the practice , as far as possible , of running the tender before the engine , as there is a possibility that had the engine been first the guards might have removed the obstruction , and in so doing have prevented the accident . The jurors also hope that the company will adopt some plan for strengthening the guard irons , so as to render them capable of removing heavy as well as light substances , and likewise for fixing guard irons to the tenders . "

      Mr . Faithfull said it might be satisfactory to the jury to know tliat the directors had already anticipated their recommendations .

      Untitled Article

      THE BALLOON CATASTROPHE . It is quite time " something should be done ' * to put down balloon excursions for mere curiosity . Perhaps the latest accident—which not only placed the transept of the Crystal Palace in great peril , knocked over chimney pots , and tore away coping , but nearly killed the aeronauts—may excite sufficient feeling among the soberer portion of the community , open the eyes of the public , and to the many dangers and extreme folly of using balloons for any other purposes than those connected with science . Mrs . and Mr . Gruham . are renowned for two things in connection with balloons—constant flights upwards , and continual accidents below . Not long ago , a li f ^ ht brought incautiously near to Mrs . Graham ' s balloon , which had descended near a farmhouse , set the whole concern on fire , und burnt it to tinder . Nothing duunted by this warning , or misfortune as it is termed , Bhe and her huuband hazarded an ascent on Tuesday , from Butty ' s Hippodrome . The balloon rose about seventy feet , descended rapidly on a flagstaff vrhich bored a hole in the silk , rose again to a slight elevation , floated carelessly along about one hundred feet from the ground towards the Cryntal

      Vulace ,, punned over the transept , and tore off several flagstaff ' s from the building ; while over the transept all the ballast was thrown out , und the balloon clearing the Palace , was drifted away over the Serpentine by a slight wind towards OroHvenor-gate , and thonco took a diagonal direction , falling between Half Moonstreet und Engine-street , Piccadilly ; then instantly rising again , and it was driven towards the front of the houses in Arlington-street , which fuco tho Oreen-park . " Alighting on tho park front of Colonel North's muiiHion , 16 ' , Arlington-street , tho grapnel . irons cuino in contact with tho parapet . A yu » t of wind aiot » e , und the balloon again slightly

      ascended , tearing away , by means of the renewed force imparted to it , the heavy coping-stones and a large portion of the parapet , hurling them on the roof , through which they descended , carrying away in their downward course the rafters over the staircase , which they precipitated into the hall below . The most intense anxiety prevailed amongst Col . North ' s family and household , who flew in all directions from the effects of the impending catastrophe . By this time , the escape of gas from the balloon was so great that no

      altitude could be obtained ; it drifted between the huge stacks of chimneys which surmount the houses in Arlington-street and Park-place , tearing down all with which it came into contact , breaking in roofs wherever they fell . Cowls and chimney-pots were hurled into the street as though by a whirlwind , to the great alarm and terror of the inhabitants , who state that the soot was driven down into every room in their houses , and that the gas which escaped from the balloon caused terrible explosions in descending the chimneys . "

      At length the balloon became imbedded between two huge blocks , the chimneys from which had been torn away , and this circumstance arrested its progress , and prevented any further damage . A body of police , under the command of Mr . Superintendent Otway , went to the top of the house . They found the car of the balloon jammed between the two blocks bo firmly , that all means of releasing it appeared for a long time hopeless . Mr . and Mrs .

      Graham had been thrown from their seats , and were lying on the roof of the house apparently lifeless . The aeronauts were taken to the house of Mr . Moore , a surgeon in Arlington-street . On examination they were found to be dreadfull y contused and lacerated , but the surgeon expressed his opinion that no danger of death was to be apprehended . After having their wounds dressed , they were placed in a cab , and removed under the care of a police-officer to their residence at Walworth .

      The tattered remnants of the balloon were removed to the Vine-street station , where the officials afterwards attended to make a preliminary investigation . Policeman Thomas Bird , on duty at the Crystal Palace , gives the following graphic account of the flight : — " Shortly after six o ' cleck he saw a balloon arise from Batty ' s Hippodrome , in the Kensington-road . When it had risen about 80 feet , as far as he could judge , he saw it descend again , and in its descent it appeared to come

      into contact with the top of a flagstaff on that building . It then rose again , and came towards the Exhibition . It passed over the western entrance , and then making its way over the transept , tore away several of the flagstaffs . It went across the Serpentine , took a south-westerly direction over Park-lane into Piccadilly , dropped on to a block of houses between Half-moon and Engine-street , rose again , passed over the reservoir in the Green-park , darted over Park-place , and finally settled on the houses in Arlington-street , where the car became jammed between to stacks of chimneys . " Mr . . Graham is 66 years old , and Mrs . Graham 47 . The value of the balloon is estimated at £ 150 .

      Untitled Article

      ADVENTURES IN THE KAFIR WAR . The following sprightly letter was published in the Morning Chronicle , and stated to be from a young artillery officer , dated King William ' s Town , April 20 , 1851 : — " On coming out of church this morning , I received the very unexpected intelligence that , with twenty artil lerymen , acting as infantry , I am to accompany a patrol leaving this at twelve o'clock this evening , under the command of Major Wilmot ; in what direction we are to march I have not the slightest idea , nor do I care , as long a « we can find an enemy . Since my last letter to you the artillery have had but little work ; the Kafirs now know too well what our guns can do , and give them a . wide berth under these circumstances you may fancy that I am very well satisfied to take bush-ranging for a profession instead of gunnery . For Borne time past the patrols have gone out without artillery ; and I fancy now that , unless to defend a standing camp , or in charge of waggons , the light 6-pounders will see little more of the Kafir war I care very little about this , as long as I myself am allowed to take the field . The last patrol met with some resistance from the Kafirs . One officer the adjutant of the Seventy-third , and 6 men were killed and 16 wounded ; the loss , however , on the side of the Kafirs is estimated at 160 killed , amongst whom sonic influential men breathed their last . By some accident , a Rmnll nartv . consisting of about 6 officers and 12 men ,

      who had gone rashly to work pursuing cattfe , found themselves surrounded by Kafirs four miles from the division . The adjutant of the Seventy-third was with them he dropped almost immediately ; the others guve themselves up for lost , and , after Bhaking hands , determined to stand by each other to the last , and noil their lives aa dearly as possible . They were all young menthree levy officers , the fourth belonging to the Cape Mounted Jlifles . Although only fifteen in number , they all had double-barrelled guns , and these they made the most of , retiring nlowly , keeping up a cool and steady fire . The Kafirs rushed in with their assagais , and the

      foremost always fell . One of tho four ofheurs , a very gallant young fellow belonging to the levies , after Hhooting two men with his own gun , received two wounds . He then begged tho others to leave him , and try to save themselves ; this , of course , they would not do ; but helping him on an well as they could , they retreated nlowly . After receiving his wounde , this young hero

      killed three more Kafirs with his own gun . Again he begged them to leave him , when luckily Robertson , of the Cape corps , got hold of a horse , jumped on his back , and placed his wounded comrade before him . They then continued their retreat , and , after two hours' hard fighting , succeeded in reaching the division . " This , in print , would be considered false—their escape is almost too miraculous to be credited ; but it is a fact , and the four officers are heroes in the camp . I hardly know which to admire most , the gallantry of the wounded man , or that of young Robertson , who saved his life . The behaviour of the whole party , however , shows what coolness and intrepidity will do . They had been given up as lost by the division , and a large party had been sent out to bring in their bodies . "

      Untitled Article

      THE EXPOSITION . On Monday 63 , 769 persons visited the Crystal Palace ; and the sum taken in shillings at the doors was £ 285419 s ., so much for fine weather and the increasing popularity of the World's Fair . Notwithstanding the immense concourse of people , no inconvenience was experienced , and the utmost order and good temper prevailed . The capabilities of the building still remain untested , and there is no doubt that a large increase of spectators can be fairly accommodated within its vast area . It is found that the tide of visitors begins to ebb shortly after midday , and that thus room is made for the arrivals that take place during the afternoon . Her Majesty and Prince Albert resumed their inspection of the machinery department and their personal interviews with exhibitors on Monday morning . On Tuesday , the attendance was much greater , indeed , about three o'clock , it was uncomfortably crowded in many parts of the building . The sum of £ 3191 was taken in shillings ; and the number of visitors fully 70 , 000 . The receipts on "Wednesday fell somewhat short of the amount taken on the previous day , but £ 2897 7 s . Is a large sum to collect from Is . contributions , and the police returns give 62 , 663 as the numbers that entered the building . Had it not been for the unfavourable state of the weather during the latter part of the day , we should no doubt have had to record a still greater result . A rather serious accident took place in the machinery department , one of the attendants engaged in the working of a brick-making machine having had his arm caught in it while in motionand badly fractured in two places .

      , On Monday , the first attempt at the formation of a system of guides to the interior was successfully made , and we recommend parties who are anxious to avail themselves of the facilities thus offered at a very reasonable rate to the public , to find out on entering the building the lecture-rooms , behind Turkey , on the north side of the transept , and there to ask f *» Mr . Nasmyth , or the person who may be in attendance on his behalf . On the same day , two pleasant and praiseworthy improvements were visible in the arrangements of the

      interior . The first was , that the trees , which were beginning to pine from the want of moisture on their leaves , had been well watered , and looked freshened up and green in consequence . This was an operation attended with some difficulty and expense , from the risk to valuable property with which it was attended . The second improvement observable was , that the innumerable columns and girders had been thoroughly cleansed of the dust which had accumulated upon them . Everybody n ticed the freshened-up appearance of the building , aisle , galleries , and trees . The Queen and Prince Albert took the King of the Belgians to see the wonders of the Crystal Palace on Thursday . The number of persons admitted during the day amounted to 63 , 863 and the receipts to £ 2996 3 s .

      Untitled Article

      The interest of Thursday , however , in connection with the Exposition , was attracted to the entertainment given to the commissioners , British and foreign , and the leading officials of the Crystal Palace , by the Town of Birmingham . A special train conveyed the visitors to the town , and a number of factories were thrown open for their inspection when they arrived . An interesting scene took place at Mr . Winfield ' s brass foundry . When the guests had gone over the premises , they were conducted to the school-room , and a signal being given ,- the work-people , male and female , in their working costume , with short sleeves turned up and

      paper capson , assembled from all parts ; and " a vocal p erformance wan executed in a very effective style , an artisan , conducting , and marking the time with a baton of formidable dimensions . " When the singing was over , the foreman of the works , Mr . Atkin , read an address prepured by the men , which Lord Gran ville acknowledged in the name of the Commission . After inspecting the factories , a " f 0 te charnpetre " took place in the Botanic Gardens , at which the customary toasts were proposed and responded to . Iioril Orunville created a deal of laughter by an appropriately figurative description of the making of tho Exposition : —

      " As to the Exhibition itself , having been brought to their town ko lately by the locomotive , and having passed some time with great benefit to himself and _ to the foreign friends who accompanied him also in visiting four establishments of their great workahi j ) , it was excuHable if the idea of machinery clung to him . Ho might imagine the Exhibition to he a gigantic machine intended to register and measure the advuncc of civilization . { Cheers . ) If ho might , without want of his Hihness

      respect , observe so , he would liken Royal g Prince Albert to an inventor who , finding a thing in partial uhp , sees how it cun be applied on a more extended scale , und introduces it , for the good of mankind in the form of a new invention . Ilia Itoyal Highness hud been iissisted by the Commission , whom he might liken to tho engineer , and he had an executive committee of foremen , fitters , and draughtsmen . ( Cheers and lauqhter . ) The machine had been completed wheel within wheel : some parts inude in England , others of

      Untitled Article

      June 21 , 1851 . ] & $$ ULtattt t * 579

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 21, 1851, page 579, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1888/page/7/