Fatal accident to a man crossing the line near Milnthorpe. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY NEAR MILNTHORPE 3rd June 1863 On Wednesday evening last, a dreadful accident occurred on the railway, where the footpath from Milnthorpe to Farleton crosses the line, a few hundred yards on the south side of Milnthorpe Station. An elderly man named Robert Green, farm labourer, with Mrs. Bell, of Overthwaite, had been to Milnthorpe, and was returning home betwixt nine and ten o'clock, when, it is supposed, while crossing the line, he was caught by the mail train going south, and instantly killed. His remains was found shockingly mutilated. An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon, at the Overthwaite Farm, before C. G. Thomson, Esq, when the following evidence was adduced : - Hugh Hayes, of Milnthorpe, coal agent, deposed. - I identify the body of the deceased as being that of Robert Green. He was a farm labourer, residing at Overthwaite. I have heard that he was sixty-four years of age. I met the deceased last night on the road between the station and Milnthorpe. He was then going in the direction of Overthwaite. I should think it would be about ten o' clock when I met him I just spoke to him and he passed on. He was apparently quite sober. I could not see any difference in him. When I met deceased he had a milk kettle or pan with him. He had it upon his head.His head was inside the kettle, and partly hung down on his face. He was a man who was not considered very bright in his intellect. In going from the place where I met the deceased to Overthwaite, he would have to cross the railway. The proper road is over a level crossing about 200 yards to the south of the station. Thomas Hall, of Preston, engine-driver, in the employ of the London and North Western Railway, deposed. - I am the driver of engine 565. I was driving the up limited mail yesterday evening which leaves Carlisle at 8.41, and is due to pass Milnthorpe station at 10.16 p.m. We were about our time last night. The limited mail does not stop at Milnthorpe. We do not slacken speed before approaching the stations where we do not stop, unless there is a sharp curve or some special reason for it. After passing Milnthorpe station and reaching the level crossing about 200 yards to the south, I felt something under the ash pan of the engine. I sounded the whistle for the guards to apply the breaks, and we pulled up about 400 yards from the spot. I examined the engine, but could see nothing except a mark on the buffer beam as if it had been struck by some hard substance. The guard went back to look, and came again and said he could find nothing, and we then went forward. It was moonlight at the time that we passed Milnthorpe station. I could see a considerable distance, but not clearly. I could have seen a light, but I don't think I could have distinguished a man until we were close upon him. I did not see anything before approaching the crossing. My instructions are to whistle on approaching stations and level crossings. I sounded the whistle a little on the north side of the bridge before approaching the station. I did not sound the whistle again before passing the crossing. It is not usual to do so ; the distance between the station and the station is so short that the whistle sounded before approaching the crossing, could be distinctly heard at the crossing. It was a beautiful calm night. No wind of any consequence. I reported at Preston, our first stopping place, that an attempt had been made to upset the train near Milnthorpe ; that was my impression at the time. I did not hear of the accident until this morning about nine o'clock. Henry Bagot, station master at Milnthorpe, said - In consequence of hearing a whistle after the up limited mail had passed Milnthorpe station last night I went on to the platform I then saw the man on duty running towards the mail which had just passed. I followed. When I over took the man I sent him back, and myself proceeded forward until I met the guard of the mail and one of the post office officials. The guard informed me that they were under the impression that an attempt had been made to throw the train off the line and were then searching for the obstruction. After searching a short time I desired him to return to the train and proceed and I would search. I did so, and after first finding a hat I afterwards found the body of the deceased lying between the rails (in the middle of the four foot) over which the mail had passed. The body would be from forty to fifty yards from the level crossing. When I found the deceased he was quite dead. His bowels protruded. His body was fearfully mangled. One foot was broken. I should say that the train could be seen by a person going over the level crossing for about 600 yards before it approached the crossing. The line was clear to the south of the crossing, there being only three waggons in the sidings, and they formed no obstruction to the view of the line from the crossing. We found the pan now produced some distance further south than the body. Verdict. - " Accidentally killed by being run over by the limited mail train on the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway." THE WESTMORLAND GAZETTE SATURDAY 6th JUNE 1863 http://keswick.ww1.googlepages.com/keswickatwar
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