10.--A terrible railway collision occurred at Thorpe. The mail train
leaving Yarmouth at 8.46 p.m. was joined at Reedham by another train from
Lowestoft. The combined train proceeded to Brundall, where, owing to the
existence of only a single line, it had to wait until the arrival of the
express train from Norwich to Yarmouth, or until permission should be
given to the engine-driver to proceed. The accident was caused by the
down express being allowed to leave Norwich while the mail train was
permitted to come on from Brundall. The telegraphic message to Brundall,
which had been written by Night-Inspector Alfred Cooper, but not signed,
was sent through some mistake by the telegraph clerk, John Robson. A few
minutes later the inspector, not knowing that the message had gone,
allowed the down express to proceed. Hardly had he done so when the
fatal error was discovered. A second message was immediately dispatched
to Brundall to stop the mail, if possible, but the answer came back,
"Mail gone," and nothing remained but to make arrangements for dealing
with the inevitable catastrophe. Both drivers had reason for putting on
increased speed, believing, as they did, that each train was waiting for
the other. The speed of the up mail, which consisted of thirteen
carriages, was from thirty to thirty-five miles an hour, while the rate
of the down express of fourteen carriages was from twenty to twenty-five
miles. The trains met near Thorpe village, the impact producing a
terrific crash which resembled a peal of thunder. The drivers and
firemen of the locomotives were killed, eighteen passengers were killed
on the spot, and about fifty were severely wounded, of whom five died in
the course of a few days, making a total of twenty-five killed. The dead
and dying were removed to Field's boathouse and to the Tuns Inn, and the
injured were taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. On the following
morning the scene of the catastrophe was visited by many hundreds of
persons, among whom was the Duke of Connaught, then stationed in Norwich
with his regiment, the 7th Hussars. The City Coroner (Mr. E. S. Bignold)
opened an inquest on the bodies of two persons who had died at Thorpe
station, and, after formal evidence, adjourned the inquiry to the 25th,
when the jury found that the accident was due to the negligence of Robson
and Cooper, against whom they returned a verdict of manslaughter. The
County Coroner (Mr. E. Press), on the 12th, held an inquest on the bodies
lying at Thorpe, and adjourned the inquiry to the Shirehall. On October
5th the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Robson only. The
Board of Trade inquiry commenced at the Guildhall, before Capt. Tyler,
R.E., and Mr. Ravenhill, on September 21st, and on the 22nd was adjourned
_sine die_. It was resumed on October 5th, and again adjourned. (_See_
February 23rd, 1875.)
15.--Madame C. Nilsson, assisted by Madame Patey, Mr. E. Lloyd, Signor
Foli, &c., gave a concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in aid of the
endowment fund of the Jenny Lind Infirmary. A second concert was given
on the 16th. Sir Julius Benedict conducted on both occasions. Madame
Nilsson was presented with an address by the Mayor and Corporation, in
acknowledgment of her valuable services to the institution.
17.--The memorial stone of the Norwich Presbyterian church was laid by
Mr. C. E. Lewis, M.P., and at a public meeting subsequently held at St.
Andrew's Hall an address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Chalmers, of
London. The estimated cost of the church was 3,600. It was designed by
Mr. Edward Boardman, architect, of Norwich, and built by Mr. Samuel Hall.
Efforts to establish a Presbyterian church in the city were made in 1866,
when a "station" was opened and meetings for worship were held at the
Lecture Hall in St. Andrew's. A communion was formed, and in 1867 St.
Peter's Hall, Theatre Street, was purchased by the congregation. The
church, which is built upon a site adjoining the hall, was opened for
public worship on June 23rd, 1875, by the Rev. John Matheson, the
Moderator, and the Rev. Dr. Fraser.
20.--Three war vessels, the Northumberland, the Sultan, and the Monarch,
forming part of the Channel Fleet, entered Yarmouth Roads, under the
command of Rear-Admiral Hancock. On the 22nd the Mayor and Corporation
gave a ball at the Town Hall, at which the officers were present. The
vessels sailed for Spithead early on the morning of the 23rd.
20.--Died, from injuries received in the Thorpe collision, Mr. Bransby
Francis, surgeon, of Norwich, aged 59. Mr. Francis, who was a native of
Bungay, was an excellent botanist and naturalist.
26.--At a general meeting of the members of the Norfolk Cattle Plague
Association, held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, it was agreed, "That
this meeting recommend the presentation of a testimonial to the chairman,
Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., out of the funds of the association, in
acknowledgment of the great services rendered by him to the association."
It was also decided to present Mr. C. R. Gilman, secretary to the
association, with a testimonial of the value of 50.