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jitne 2i, 1851.] %t>e $Leai*tt. 579
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ascended, tearing away, by means of the ...
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ADVENTURES IN THE KAFIR WAR. The followi...
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THE EXPOSITION. On Monday 63,769 persons...
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The interest of Thursday, however, in co...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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T11h Railway Acoidknt Nkait L Kwkm. Ther...
serted 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 . Notwithstanding these authorities the jury returned the following- verdict , especially condemning the common practice of running the tender first . The last paragiaph alludes to the wrecks of the crash having been removed before the scene was inspected by the jury : —
natural and childish terror at the accident , and his apparent 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 Low Moor Ironworks , Yorkshire , boldly
as" 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 sleeper 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 that the directors had already anticipated their recommendations .
Jitne 2i, 1851.] %T>E $Leai*Tt. 579
jitne 2 i , 1851 . ] % t > e $ Leai * tt . 579
Ascended, Tearing Away, By Means Of The ...
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 hurl * d into the street as though b y 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 so 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 dreadfully 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 Wai worth .
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 ' clock 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 .
Pnlnco ,, paused over the transept , and tore off several flagstaHn from the building ; while over the transept all the lmlliiBt was thrown out , and the balloon clearing the Palace , was drifted away over the Serpentine by u slight wind towimta Uroavenor-gate , andthoncc took a diagonal direction , falling between Half Moon-Rjreet and Engine-street , Piccadilly ; then iimtniuly rising again , and it was driven towmdn the front of the houHCH in Ailington-Htreet , which face tho Urcen-piuk . " Alighting on tho park front of Colonel North '** inanition , 16 , Arlington-street , the grapnel-irons came in contact with the parapet . A gust of wind uroHe , and the balloon iignin slightly
Mrs . and Mr . Graham are renowned for two things in connection with balloons—constunt flights upwards , and continual accidents below . Not long ago , a light 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 daunted by thiH warning , or misfortune as it is termed , she and her husband hazarded an ascent on Tuesday , from JJatty's Hippodrome . The balloon rose about seventy feet , descended rapidly on a flugBtaif which bored a hole in tho « ilk , rose again to a Blight elevation , floated carelessly along about one hundred feet from the ground towards the Crystal
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 tho eyes of the public , and to the many dangers and extreme folly of using balloons for any other purposes than those connected with science .
Adventures In The Kafir War. The Followi...
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 : — " Oncoming out of church this morning , I received the very unexpected intelligence that , with twenty artillery men , 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 ai 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 verv well satisfied to take bush-ranging for a profession instead of gunnery . For some time past the patrols have gone out without artillery ; and I fancy now
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 . "
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 ( 5 men were killed and 16 wounded ; the Iosh , however , on the side of the Kafirs is estimated at 1 / 50 killed , amongst whom some influential men breathed their last . By some accident , a small parly , consisting of about ft officers and 12 men , who had gone rashly to work pursuing cattle , 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 gave
themselves up for lost , and , after ehakin ^ hands , determined to Htnn < l by cucli other to the last , and sell their lives as dearly as possible * . They were all young men — three levy officers , tlie fourth belonging to the Capri Mounted Rifles . Although only fifteen in number , they all had double-barrelled guns , and ihcse they made , the most of , retiring slowly , keeping up a cool and steady flro . The Kafirs rushed in with their nmtngfiiH , and the foremost always fell . One of the four officers , a very gallant young fellow belonging to the levies , after shooting two men with his own gun , received two wounds . lie then begged tho others to leave him , and try to Have themselves ; this , of course , they would not do ; but helping him on as well an they could , they retreated nlowly . After receiving his wounds , this young hero
The Exposition. On Monday 63,769 Persons...
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 motion , and 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 for 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 noticed 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 .
The Interest Of Thursday, However, In Co...
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 caps on , assembled from all parts ; and " a vocal performance was executed in a very effective style , an artisan conducting , and marking the time with a buton of formidable dimensions . " When the singing was over , the foreman of the works , Mr . Atkin , read an address prepared by the men , which Lord Granville acknowledged in the naino of the Commission . After inspecting tho factories , a " ff * te champfitre " took place in the Botanic Gardens , at which the customary toasts were proponed and responded to . Lord Granville 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 ho lately by the locomotive , find having piiHHcd Mime time wit . li great benefit to himself anil U > the foreign friends who accompanied him also in visiting four establishments of their great worknliip , it was cxcutmbk * if the idea of machinery clung to him . He might imagine the Exhibition to bo a gigantic machino intended to register and measure tbo advance of civilization . ( Cheers . ) If he might , without want of would liken his Hi
renpect , observe so , his Koyal ghness Prince Albert to an inventor who , finding a thing \ t \ - partial use , sees how it can be applied on a more extended scale , and introduces it . for the good of mankind in the form of ii new invention . Hit * Royal Highness had been UHHi « ted by the Commission , whom he might liken to the engineer , and he had an executive committee of foremen , fitters , and draughtsmen . { Cheers and lauqhter . ) The machine hnd been completed wheel within , wheel ; nomo pi ' . rts mude in Kngluud , othcrtt of
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 21, 1851, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21061851/page/7/
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