Man killed on Railway Line 1904

Faringdon Advertiser

Sat 3rd Dec, 1904

 

Shrivenham

 

Cut to pieces by an Express Train

 

A terrible accident occurred on the Great Western Railway, near Shrivenham Station on Saturday afternoon, when a man named Newman, a native of Wootton Bassett, was cut to pieces by an express train from Paddington. It appears that having left work he, in company with two fellow workmen, were proceeding on the down line towards Shrivenham Station. The weather was foggy, and the approach of the down express was not noticed, as an up train was passing at the same time. Deceased was caught by the express, and literally knocked to pieces. He leaves a widow and four children.

 

The inquest was held at the Victoria Inn, Shrivenham, on Monday last, before Mr W.C. Jotcham, (deputy coroner for Berks) and a jury, of whom Mr Thomas Phipps was chosen foreman.

 

William Newman, labourer, of Wootton Bassett, stated that deceased was his brother and had of late been working as a navvy on the line for Mr J. Strachan, who was the contractor engaged by the G.W.R. for widening the line near Shrivenham. Witness knew nothing of the accident, not having seen his brother for a week.

 

Frederick Hurst, engine driver, of Swindon said he was in charge of the 11.40am express from Paddington on Saturday. The train arrived at Shrivenham about 1.20. The day was a very foggy one, and witness could only see about nine yards in front of him. The train was travelling at a rate of about 58 miles an hour. Just before reaching Ashbury crossing witness was looking through the glass when he saw someone walking between the metals with his back towards the witness. He was only about three yards in front of the engine, and although witness applied all the brakes it was impossible to stop in time. The buffer plate of the engine caught deceased and practically dashed him to pieces. After stopping the train witness got down and looked round, and discovered some blood-marks and brains on the front of the engine, as well as on the milk truck that was next to the engine. On reaching Shrivenham he gave information at the Station. There was no public crossing at the spot. Deceased was by himself. There was a goods train running in the opposite direction at the time, and deceased must have been somewhat deafened by the noise.

 

John Stallard, foreman in the employ of Mr Strachan, deposed that deceased on Saturday finished work at 1 o’clock, and walked down the line towards Shrivenham in company with witness and another man. A goods train was approaching them, and just before making a move deceased said they would have to be careful of the down express. Witness and the other man crossed on to the contractor’s line but the deceased stepped on to the down track. Witness did not see deceased struck, because his vision was interfered with by the goods train. The next thing witness saw was the remains of the poor fellow.

 

The Deputy-Coroner said the case was a very sad one. For the jury the circumstances seemed plain enough, and the theory put forward by the engine driver seemed to be very reasonable – that the roar of the goods train being in deceased’s ears he had no warning that the express was coming along. The evidence of the engine driver was given in a very frank and open manner, and he naturally appeared to be somewhat distressed at the occurrence. It seemed to him (the Deputy-Coroner) that no blame whatever attached to the driver. Express trains were a necessity and that being so they had to run on foggy as well as clear days and a death of that character was occasionally the result. If the jury were satisfied that the affair was an accident they could say that the deceased was accidentally killed by the engine of an express train, and that no-one was to blame. He felt extremely sorry at the untimely end of the poor fellow and he thought the jury might send to the widow and family through the deceased’s brother, an expression of their sympathy.

 

The jury returned a verdict accordingly and concurred in the suggestion of the Deputy-Coroner that a message of sympathy be sent to the widow and family.

 

Mr T. Phipps said a subscription list had already been started, and in a very few moments the previous evening he collected 28s. He should be glad to receive further subscriptions, for the case was an exceedingly sad one as, in addition to there being a widow and four little children, there was diphtheria in the home.

 

The jury gave their fees on behalf of the widow. Up to Wednesday evening the sum of 10 guineas had been collected. The subscription list will remain open at the Barrington Arms till Monday night. Mr Phipps has further interested himself in the case by applying (as foreman of the jury) to the Great Western Railway Company, who kindly allowed the body to be conveyed to Wootton Bassett free of charge, and arrangements having been made with Mr Kent, of Shrivenham for a suitable coffin, the body left by the 2.20 train on Tuesday for Wootton Bassett. A letter has since been received by Mr Phipps from the widow thanking him and all those who had so kindly helped her in her trouble.