27 Sep 1836 Coach Accidents - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

27 Sep 1836 Coach Accidents

MELANCHOLY COACH ACCIDENTS.
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(From the Carlisle Patriot.)

On Tuesday morning the Standard coach was approaching this city from Edinburgh,
and when it arrived at Gallashiels, where there is a bridge uniting two
dangerous curves of the road, one of the horses (a young one) commenced kicking,
and in a few moments had its hind legs over the bar. The coachman, Mr. John
WILSON, a gentleman of independent property, who drives merely for amusement,
but is allowed to be one of the best "whips" on the road, tried to arrest their
progress, but owing to the smartness of the curves, his efforts were useless,
and the coach was overturned in a few seconds. At that time there were four
inside; one lady had her arm broken, and a gentleman had his leg broken; the
other passengers sustained serious injuries, but none to prevent them going
forward by coach, except the driver, and we are sorry to say, that Mr. WILSON
has sustained serious injuries which endanger his life. Indeed, up to Thursday
morning he had not spoken, and when he did speak then, it was so incoherently
that it was evident his brain had sustained serious injury. Whether he will
ultimately recover is a matter of great doubt. The passengers who were
sufficiently well to travel came on by post-chaise to Carlisle on Tuesday
morning, and arrived here about 8 o'clock, four hours after the usual coach
time.

Since the above was prepared for press, we have learned that one of the
passengers, a gentleman named PEMBERTON, has expired at Gallashiels, from the
effect of the injuries he sustained.

But, melancholy as the above recital may be, as regards the agonies of the
sufferers, we exceedingly regret that we have to mention the fact, that within a
few hours of the above a coach from Carlisle was upset, and the life of one of
the passengers was lost. It is a singular coincidence of calamities, that three
of the passengers of the Standard were also upset in the North Briton, within a
very short time of their former disaster. It appears that about 9 o'clock on
Tuesday night the North Briton coach, from this city, driven by WILKINSON, was
approaching Chorley, in Lancashire, the night being very misty. The coach was
meeting some waggons, and was followed by a number of carts. The coachman,
anxious to escape the waggons, drew on the opposite side, and, owing to the
mist, went too far, and plunged the vehicle down a precipice. The consequence
was, of course, an overturn, and the passengers outside were all thrown off.
Some time had elapsed ere the passengers had gathered again, but the drivers of
the waggons unfeelingly left them to their fate. When they had mustered,
however, one of them exclaimed, "What has become of the gentleman who sat next
to me?" and a search was immediately but ineffectually made. At length the coach
was turned over, and there the unfortunate man was found, crushed and mangled to
such an extent, that although medical aid was promptly sent for, and as promptly
came, it was too late: the last drops of life-blood oozed on following the
lancet. On searching his pockets a card was found, with the following
inscription: - "Mr. W. H. SAYER, Apothecaries'-hall, London," and as he had
booked himself by the same name, there is little doubt that such is his address.
None of the other passengers were materially hurt.

A third accident, of a similar description, occurred on Thursday night. The mail
from this city to London was passing through Appleby, and the coachman had just
pulled up, when one of the outside passengers was thrown to the ground, and his
head was severely cut, besides receiving other injuries, which render his
ultimate recovery a matter of doubt. The gentleman's name we have learned is
WINDER, and he came from the north. He had fallen asleep on the coach previous
to its stopping to change horses.