The Times 1841 - 1850 July 8 1846 Fatal Railway Accidents Penrith

July 8 1846 Fatal Railway Accidents Penrith

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1846 / FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENTS / PENRITH. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. ...... PENRITH. On Saturday week, three men were killed on the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, and again to-day (Saturday), we have to record the melancholy particulars of the death of another fine young man, and the serious injuries sustained by two others, all natives of Penrith, named SAMUEL GUARDHOUSE, who was killed, and DAVID STOUT and JOSEPH WESTMORLAND, who were injured. GUARDHOUSE and STOUT were engaged as workmen in taking down the extensive stage or wooden bridge, upwards of 100 feet in height, which was erected for convenience during the building of the monster viaduct bridge which spans the River Lowther, at Yew's-crag, near the village of Clifton, in Westmorland, and over which the laden waggons were taken from the great cutting between Yanwath and Yew's-crag to the large embankment on the Clifton-hall estate, on the south-east side of the river. Some of the other workmen were in the act of winding up a large log of timber, which GUARDHOUSE and STOUT had fastened to the rope of the crane above, when the pully unfortunately broke, or slipped out of its proper place, and the log fell with great force upon another log on which the two men were sitting waiting the rope descending again, and shook it so much, that they were both thrown off it, and precipitated headlong a great height into the bed of the river below, and, most surprising, the log which fell did not alight upon or injure either of them. After being taken out of the stream, they were quite insensible, and were conveyed home in a cart to Penrith. DR. WICKHAM having been called in, found that they were crushed and shattered in a most shocking manner, so much, so indeed, that poor GUARDHOUSE died about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, being about three hours after the accident occurred. STOUT still survives.  WESTMORLAND was driving a waggon from the tip end of the cutting on Clifton-moor, when the horse took fright and ran away;  he leaped off the waggon, fell on his face, and the waggon ran over both his thighs, and he still continues very ill. The frequent occurrence of so many fatal accidents on this line of railway, has given rise to much concern and regret at and in the vicinity of Penrith.

 

Next >