From the Kentish Chronicle, 16 February, 1861.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT on the LONDON and CHATHAM RAILWAY.

On Wednesday morning Mr. William Carter, coroner for the eastern division of Surrey, opened an inquiry at the "Paxton Arms," near the Crystal Palace, to investigate the circumstances under which Ellen Lynch, aged 68, and William Eager, aged 21. came to their death.

The jury having viewed the bodies, the following evidence was given.

Charles Piggott:- I am a general dealer, living at Faversham. I identify the body of the deceased woman, who was my wife’s sister. She was named Ellen Lynch, and lived with her son in Wales. I last saw her alive and in good health on Monday morning at ten minutes past seven, then leaving her in a railway carriage at Faversham station.

Richard Eager:- I am an engineer, and live in Cavendish-grove, Wandsworth-road. I knew the man lying dead here. He was 21 years of age, and my brother, his name was William Eager, and I last saw him alive five or six weeks ago.

Frederick Austin, a ticket inspector, said:- I am stationed at the Crystal Palace station. On Monday morning last I was on duty at the Crystal Palace on the main line or Croydon side, where the Brighton trains arrive from the Victoria station. The London, Chatham, and Dover Railway meets at this place, and the passengers change for London Bridge. About 9.5 that morning I saw a train stop which had come from Faversham. I saw the deceased female on the platform at the corner by the ticket office for London. She spoke to me, tendering a Faversham to Strood ticket, and I told her she would have to pay 2s. on that ticket, which she paid. She was on the up platform on the Brighton, and had to cross four sets of rails to get to the London Bridge platform. I did not notice that she had any luggage. Eager at this time was standing at the left-hand side of the London Bridge to Victoria down-line. That was just opposite to where she was. The crossing is a level one; that is, you have to step over the rails. Eager was in the employ of the London and Brighton Company as an extra hand. The deceased woman was crossing the rails, and had got over three sets of them. She had passed Eager, whom I did not hear say anything or do anything for her assistance. When she had passed him I saw a train coming from Victoria Station to go to London Bridge. It was then coming out from the tunnel, which was on my left. At that time the deceased woman was between the up and down lines of the Victoria line. There is a space there of 30 feet from the inside of the up-line of the Victoria. The engine of the train at that time was about 20 yards from the woman. I called to Eager, and said, "Bill, look after that woman." He was about 12 or 15 feet from her. I crossed the line myself with a young gentleman after the train had passed, but did not know any thing had occurred. I waited for the train to pass; and as soon as it had passed I saw the two deceased persons lying between the lines on the London Bridge up-line. They are very much mutilated. One arm of the woman was smashed, and Eager was very much cut about the legs and thighs. The bodies were carried into the room at the end of the platform. The woman was quite dead, and Eager died in a few minutes afterwards. There is no doubt the engine must have come in contact with them. I lost sight of Eager as the train passed. The woman did not appear particularly infirm. I called Eager’s attention to the woman because I saw the danger as she was half-way across to the up-line. I consider that Eager lost his life in trying to save the female. He was there to direct the passengers which way to go. The passengers must of necessity cross the line to get from one side to the other, except they should go up the staircase on the arrival platform, through the booking office, and down another staircase on to the London Bridge platform, which they could do without crossing the line.

After some further evidence had been taken the coroner summed up, and the jury returned the following verdict:- "We find that the deceased persons met with their deaths by accidental causes; but we recommend that passengers should not be allowed to cross the rails, but that they should go up the stairs referred to in the evidence, or that such other accommodation should be provided as will prevent the repetition of such an occurrence."

Mr. Anscombe, the superintendent, stated that he believed the subject had already been under the consideration of the company with a view to adopt the suggestions made by the jury, which would now doubtless be carried into effect.

The inquiry then terminated.

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 30 September 1881.

The Fatal Railway Accident in the Crystal Palace Tunnel.

On Saturday Mr. William Carter held a lengthy enquiry at the "Paxton Hotel," Anerley Road, Penge, into the circumstances attending the death of Jonathan Bissex, age 32 years, a platelayer in the employ of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway company, living at 8, Romany Road, Lower Norwood, who was killed, as well as Joseph Fuller, of 1, Sidney Cottages, in the tunnel near the Crystal Palace, on Thursday morning last. Inspector Timmins appeared to watch the case on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, and Inspector Howland for the Railway Company.

Richard Turner said he was Inspector of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company, stationed at the Crystal Palace. On the 22nd inst. he was informed that something had happened between Gipsy Hill and the Palace, and that two men had been killed in the tunnel by a passing train. Witness went to the signal-box and had the lines blocked each way. He saw Walter Mitchell and Charles Sharman, and they accompanied witness into the tunnel between the Crystal Palace and Gipsy Hill station. They all carried lights, and when they got 250 yards they discovered Fuller lying between the metals and the wall on the right side of the tunnel. He was then alive, but unconscious. His injuries were of such a serious character, as to leave very slight hopes of his recovering. His left arm and leg were almost severed. He had also received a scalp wound, and the brain was protruding. He was removed to Guy's Hospital, but died soon after his admission. Bissex, whom they had passed unobserved, was lying about 10 yards from Fuller. He was on his side, his head inclining towards Gipsy Hill. Both men were employed by his company as platelayers. Bissex was found in the four foot way dreadfully mutilated. His skull was fractured, and the top was completely cut off. Witness knew the tunnel to be about half a mile in length. There were two sets of rails. There were no recesses or "man holes" in the tunnel.

Charles Sharman, of 14, Victoria cottages, Woodlands Road, Upper Norwood, said he had been in the service of the company for 29 years. He met Bissex at 6 o'clock on Thursday morning at Gipsy Hill Station with two other platelayers, deceased being the ganger. He gave them instructions go to go to work in the Crystal Palace tunnel. They entered at Gipsy Hill end, and commence work on the down line from Victoria to the Crystal Palace. They had naptha lamps, which they shifted about as they wanted. They were all perfectly sober, and after breakfast they again entered into the tunnel for the purpose of lifting some "joints" on the road. About 2 hours after they have resumed work witness noticed a goods train enter the tunnel from the Crystal Palace end. As witness was standing against the wall looking at the goods train they all became enveloped in steam and smoke, and as it passed witness, he felt a man thrown against his legs. That was the first intimation he had of a second train being in the tunnel. Witness soon after found that it was a passenger train from Willesden Junction to New and South Croydon, due at the Crystal Palace station at 10:32 p.m. It was a London and North Western train. Witness could not say what rate it was going. He could not hear its approach on account of the noise from the goods train. After the train had passed away they were left in total darkness, the lamps having been extinguished by the engine of the passenger train. Witness was of opinion that the driver of the passenger train could not see them. he did not hear any whistle sounded by the passenger train. It was usual for the drivers to sound the whistle at either end of the tunnel. The goods train was a very heavy one on account of its having two engines. If the whistle had been sounded witness was of the opinion that he should not have heard it owing to the noise caused by the puffs of the engine and the rattling of the trucks. As soon as the trains had passed witness he stooped down and felt a man by his feet. As soon as the trains had passed witness he stooped down and felt a man at his feet. He took hold of him and said, "Who are you!" He received no answer, and soon after he came across the other man, and he received no reply from him. Witness then had to grope his way out of the tunnel in the dark, when he saw Walter Mitchell with a light in his hand. They then went to the signal-box and gave information to the signalman. He then went back with Mitchell, when they found deceased. They removed him on one side. A few yards further on they discovered Fuller alive, but unconscious. When two trains passed through the tunnel simultaneously, as upon this occasion, the men engaged in repairing the metals had to lie down at full length in the 6-foot way or between the near rail and the wall, as there was no other means providing for their safety. In witnesses' opinion, the accident was unpreventable as far as the driver was concerned. Had there been any recesses in the tunnel he could not say, under the circumstances, whether he or the deceased man would have got into them.

In answer to a juryman, witness said there were no air shafts in the tunnel. Witness had worked in the tunnel for the past 20 years, and he was not aware that any instructions were given by the company for the men at work in the tunnel to lie down on the approach of a train. This was the first accident that occurred in the tunnel for 20 years. When witness first worked in the tunnel it had two air shafts; they had since been filled in.

Walter Mitchell, another platelayer, who was at work in the tunnel at the time, was called but not sworn, and, in answer to the coroner, said he was some distance away from the other men at the time of the occurrence. He saw the goods train into the tunnel, which was soon enveloped in steam and smoke.

The jurymen thought it unadvisable to examine Mitchell. After three quarters of an hour's deliberation the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, adding the following rider:- "That the tunnel in question was highly dangerous to the men working in it, and to prevent further loss of life (the jury) would suggest that an air shaft should be provided; also that man-holes should be made, so as to enable the men to get out in safety instead of lying down on the ballast, thereby exposing themselves to be scalded to death; and also, while the line was under repair, the drivers should be instructed to slacken speed whilst passing through the tunnel.