TERRIBLE RAILWAY DISASTER NEAR DONCASTER.
A terrible railway accident has occurred at Hexthorpe, which many lost their lives and a large number were more or less seriously injured. The facts are that a Midland Railway train from Sheffield, laden with visitors to the Doncaster races. was landing on the siding for the purpose of collecting tickets, when Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire train from Barnsley, Penistone – Manchester, and Liverpool came up, and ran into the train, with most awful consequences.
Immediately messengers were sent to Doncaster for un-duly assistance, and nearly every doctor in the town at once went to the scene of the calamity. The scene at the infirmary was of the most heartrending description. The injured were brought in wagonettes and carried into the accident ward in a terrible condition, many of them being altogether beyond recovery, and some of them even beyond recognition. Whatever may have been the immediate cause accident, its results were at once apparent in the terrible crash which followed, and in the cries and shrieks of the passengers.
The Manchester and Sheffield engine telescoped the guard’s compartment of the last coach, which was a bogie with six or seven compartments, and entered half-way, forcing the whole of coach itself upward, and slantwise into a second bogie in front, which telescoped into the coach immediately before it, the weight of the collision spending itself in the partial destruction of yet another carriage, and the shaking of the whole train. It was all the work of a moment a dull heavy crash, prolonged note of torn, shattered, and splintering wood, a rush of steam, then the roar of the engine, and the cries agonised, piteous cries of the wounded. Many of these were embedded inextricably in wreck, wedged and crushed and broken in the debrie, some were already dead, and others quickly dying. The scene was heartrending, and its very ghastliness seemed to paralyse human effort in the agony and surprise of the moment. But there were brave men and plenty hand, and a very few minutes measures were being taken to rescue the injured. powerful breakdown staff arrived from Sheffield to supplement local efforts, and soon the poor victims were being brought out, but this it was saw and back and prize in every direction for human beings, and the shattered carriages were crushed into one hideous mass, a hand being out there, foot here, halt a body in another place, and so on.
Fortunately, there was no lack of vehicles, and these were quickly on the spot, and also medical and ambulance assistance, and every effort was made to move the injured with the utmost expedition consistent with care and tenderness. As these were got out, they were sent to the infirmary, and here the medical staff had been hastily summoned, and every provision possibly made by the nurses. The dead were carried out and laid in the adjacent fields, ten in one, nine in another. All the time the rain was coming down pitilessly, and the poor broken bodies were reverently covered with tarpaulins. On inquiry at eleven o’clock the same night the number of deaths had reached 23. The 25 people being treated at the infirmary wore then progressing as well as could expected, though the medical staff had been engaged all thorough the evening amputating limbs and attending to the worst cases.
On Tuesday the County Coroner (Mr. Nicholson) resumed the inquiry respecting the railway accident at Hexthorpe.
The jury and officers first visited the scene of the disaster, the signals and train being shown as on occasion of the accident. Major Marindin, Inspector of the Board of Trade, was again present.
The Coroner announced that the head guard of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire train, W. H. Smith, for whom the inquiry was adjourned, was still unable to attend, but after an inspection of the line they would have no difficulty in arriving at a verdict.
The jury, after deliberating 55 minutes, found that the collision was the result of culpable carelessness on the part of driver and fireman of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire train, and that both were guilty of manslaughter.
On Thursday Samuel Taylor, driver, and Robert Davis, fireman of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire train which ran into the Midland train Hexthorpe on the 16th September, causing death of 24 persons, were charged with manslaughter at the West Riding Court, Doncaster.
After formal evidence had been taken, they were remanded for a week pending inquiries whether the Treasury will undertake the prosecution.
Major Marindin has completed his inquiry respecting the Hexthorpe collision by taking the evidence at Liverpool of Smith, the heard guard of the Liverpool train, who was too severely injured to appear Doncaster. Smith said had instructions as to the suspension of the block system and expected to stop Hexthorpe.
At the time of the accident his train was travelling at the ratio of 15 miles an hour. At Conisbrough he told the fireman he might oil his at Hexthorpe.
Credit to BNA – Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Saturday 01 October 1887
Typed up by Linda Taylor MHMG
