Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 15 April 1887

The Fatal Railway Accident at Wombwell

Inquest.

Recommendation by the Jury.

On Wednesday afternoon the inquiry into the death of Florence Ann Wildmith, aged 2 years, who was knocked down and killed by a goods train at Darfield Main crossings, Wombwell, was held before Mr. Dossey Wightman, coroner, and a jury of whom Mr Richard Hepworth was foreman.

Mr. Rideal, solicitor, of Barnsley, appeared for the parents of deceased, and Mr. E. Halmshaw, district superintendent, watched the case on behalf of the M. S. and L. Railway Company.

The first witness was Harriet Wildsmith, mother of deceased, who said her husband’s name was John William Wildsmith, who was a boiler maker employed at the Low Valley colliery, Wombwell. The deceased was 2 years old. They lived close to the railway in Littlefield Terrace. They had lived there about four or five mouths.

The accident happened on Monday night. Witness had been with her husband and they were returning home betwixt nine are half past. They had been to Barnsley and come back by the past 8 o’clock train. They had three children with them. They went by the canal bank to Darfield Main to get home. They had to cross the line when they got close to their home; it was a level crossing. They saw a luggage train going to Wombwell, and they waited at the gate to pass. Witnesses husband had deceased in his arms, and also took the little boy by the hand and went across the line. Witness was behind. A man called out “Look out” from the signal box; she thought he was a railway servant. Witness stopped with a baby in her hands, but her husband went on. Another train was coming up to Wombwell; it was on a different line to the other; there were four lines. Her husband went on, and she thought you got across all right. She earned a little boy cry and she went across and found the two little children and her husband all on the ground.

Florence was not dead then, but died at 1:40. The other child was injured in the head. Her husband had his collarbone broken, his leg broken and other injuries. They were in the habit of crossing the line every time there had been to one month. It was pitch dark at the time, and there was no light. The second train was not long after the other; witness did not see it, but she heard it, and the man called out “Look out.” It would be about three minutes behind the other, although she could hardly say. Witness would have gone across but for the man calling out. Her husband neither saw the train not heard the man; he had told his mother so.

By the jury: They did not go direct to the station, but witnesses husband called at the Station Inn and had glass of beer. She did not think the train went over him, but thought that he was knocked down.

By Mr Rideal: That was the only glass of beer that he had that day. He was perfectly sober. They were standing outside the little gate, which was not locked; it was a swing gate, one at each side of the line.

By the Coroner: If witnesses husband had a cold name he would be a little hard of hearing, but she did not think he had a cold at the time. He did not seem to be deaf at all. He was hard of hearing sometimes; when he had a cold.

Henry Albert Ashley said he lived at Littlefield Terrace, Wombwell and was a labourer. He was not in the employ of the Company. At the time of the accident he was waiting for the train at the same time as the Wildsmiths. He had not spoken to them, but stood with them in the gateway. Witness saw both trains. When the first and past, the signalman shouted out “Look out there,” but Wildsmith went on. Mrs Wildsmith said “Don’t go across.” She would be perhaps a yard from him then. He did not reply, but kept walking on across the line. Witness then saw the train ran into him. The child in his arms was knocked by the engine about 5 yards. The train did not go over him. The train would be going at the rate of “full speed.” There was a clear road. It was going as fast as a passenger – about 20 miles an hour.

When the train had gone over it stunned witness for about five minutes and he then shouted to the signalman to bring a lamp. The deceased was lying about 5 yards from where she was struck, and Wildsmith about 3 yards from the crossing. The little boy would be about 2 yards. None of them were run over. Witness took the little boy to Mr Piper’s close at hand. Some men took the man home. Witness had lived in the place about a year. It was dark at the time. Witness saw there was not time to cross. He saw the train coming and it would be about 20 yards away. He could also hear it. Witness could not account for Wildsmith not hearing or seeing the train. Witness heard Mrs Wildsmith said that her husband was rather deaf; that his work as a boiler fitter, soon made anyone death. Her exact words were “My husband is deaf,” and then went on to say that his was a business that would soon make anyone deaf. There were four lines of rails at the place, and they had three sets of rails to cross before they got to the one that the train was on.

By Mr Rideal: When witness turned back he was on the second line. When the train came it looked to witness as if Wildsmith got his foot on the first rail of the line on which the train the was coming. It would not be a second between the time he spoke and the train coming. Wildsmith did not reply to witness when he warned him.

By the jury: The bodies lay in the six-foot, on the Wombwell side of the crossing. The three had not got over. Mrs Wildsmith had crossed one set of rails, and was with witness.

A juryman said it looks strange that Wildsmith did not hear him.

By the Coroner: There was only about 20 yards between the two trains. They went round the van of the first train. The first train was going towards Wombwell station and was only just moving.

By the jury: They all walked round the tail end of the van of the first train. They could see the lights from the engine.

By a juryman: There is a deal of traffic across this place. There was a lot of shunting. He considered it was a dangerous crossing.

Mr Rideal: They cross to Darfield Main colliery and the pottery. 2,000 people cross every day

Frederick Bellamy, a signalman employed in the M.S. and L. railway, said he was in his box at the time of the accident. His box was about 6 yards from the crossing. Witness saw the Wildsmiths stood at the crossing. They were just outside the gate, on the line and were waiting for trains to pass. Just as one train passed, witness cried out “Be careful, there, and mind what you are doing,” and then went back to attend to the signals. Witness could see the other train coming; it would be about 150 yards away. He did not see them crossing. He thought he was sufficient to call their attention, and did not think it was necessary to tell them that another team was coming. They looked up. Witness had not the slightest idea they would attempt to cross see that the other train was so near.

By Mr Rideal: Witness did not notice them go round. He should not like to have attempted to go across himself. The train which ran into them would be going about 25 miles an hour. They did not fasten the gate, and there were no means for doing so.

By Mr Halmshaw: When he called out the people look towards him as if they understood.

By the jury: There were no lamps near at hand. He should say there were about 160 trains past the point in the 24 hours; that did not include the shunting.

Mr Halmshaw thought it would be almost impossible to get at the shunting.

William Alvey said he was an engine driver living at Mexborough, and was driving the engine that was supposed to kill the child. He did not know of the action until seven hours after. He did not see or hear anything of that another time. He stopped at Mexborough next. He examined his engine, but did not find a mark of anything. His engine was going about 25 miles an hour. They did not stop at Wombwell. The train was composed of 23 empty wagons and a break van

By Mr Rideal: Witness passed another train at the crossing on the goods road. The break van was just passing the signal box at a slow pace. The van was clear of the crossing when his train passed, but was not clear of the signal box.

The Coroner said he saw the jury thoroughly understood how the accident happened; at least he thought he did. They could only make it out that the child was accidentally killed by a knockdown by this engine, and if they had any other remark about it, he would see what he was.

The Foreman of the jury thought there should be some provision made for those who use the crossing, there was so much traffic.

Mr Rideal: It is dangerous.

The Coroner: Level crossings are always danger; some may be more so than others, but dangerous they all are. So far as I am concerned this is an authorised and legally constituted level crossing, and I’m bound to consider it as such. If I could have my own way I should shut them all up, but I can’t. They are passed by the Government Inspector. There is a place for them, and the Railway Company are entitled to keep them until such time as they are compelled to give them up by the application of high powers. I am perfectly certain that the Company will entertain any reasonable suggestion from you, a sappy done perhaps that is the only good that can come of the enquiry.

Mr Halmshaw said he would be happy to forward any suggestion.

The coroner adverting to the fact that something had been said about the absence of lights, said he very much doubted whether lamps would have tended to prevent the accident. If it was dark at the crossings one will be inclined to think that one will be able to see lights coming much better than if there had been lamps. He did not think the want of lamps had conduced to this accident.

Mr Boocock, as one of the jury, then moved that the railway company be recommended to put a bridge over the crossing. It was certainly a very dangerous crossing; there was an extraordinary amount of shunting, and a large amount of traffic and he thought it would be better for the Company and the inhabitants generally if a bridge was erected.

Mr Halmshaw: I presume you mean a footbridge?

Mr Boocock: Yes.

Mr Howarth (foreman of the jury) seconded Mr Boocock’s recommendation.

A juryman remarked that the traffic had increased there very much since the crossing was made.

Another juryman remarked that horses and traps were protected by the gates, but not foot passengers.

In answer to the coroner, Mr Halmshaw said no one else had been killed at this crossing, and only one injured – the case of a child who ran into an engine which was standing. That was within the last 12 years.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was then returned, accompanied with the recommendation from the jury.

Mr Halmshaw informed the jury that he had just previously received a telegram from Barnsley to the effect that the man Wildsmith and the little boy were progressing as favourably as could be expected.