From The Illustrated London News, May 4, 1861, Volume XXXVIII, January to June, 1861
At Calcutta, on the 19th of March, aged 23, William Glennie, District Engineer of the Eastern Bengal Railway, second son of the late Lieutenant William Glennie, R.N., of 2, Nelson Villas, Stoke, Devonport.
Note: The William Glennie noted here is the son of William Glennie, engineer associated with Brunel and railroads in the UK.
From The New York Herald, May 7, 1853 (Morning Edition)
Another Frightful Calamity.
Awful Sacrifice of Human Life
Shocking Accident
on the
New Haven Railroad.
The Precipitation of a Train of Passenger
Cars into the Norwalk River.
Forty-Five Lives Lost.
Several Persons Seriously Injured.
Names of the Killed, Wounded, and Saved.
The Cause of the Disaster.
Interesting Statements by Eye-Witnesses.
Thrilling Incidents.
Miraculous Escapes.
&c., &c., &c.
It becomes our melancholy duty to record another fatal and disastrous accident, in addition to the long list of those which have occurred in different parts of the country during the last few months. About 12 o’clock yesterday we received a telegraphic despatch from Norwalk containing the announcement and some of the particulars of a terrible railroad disaster which happened at that place about 10 o’clock in the morning. The intelligence created a profound sensation throughout the city when it was known that about fifty persons had lost their lives. The New Haven train, consisting of four passenger and two baggage cars, left this city for Boston at 8 o’clock yesterday morning, but reaching the drawbridge at Norwalk the locomotive, tender, one baggage and one passenger car and a half, ran off into the river, which at this point is over six feet deep. Some idea may be formed of the momentum from the fact that the locomotive cleared a distance of about sixty feet, nearly reaching the opposite abutment in its descent to the water. There is no doubt whatever that the accident – if accident it can be called – was caused by the carelessness of the engineer. It appears that the drawbridge was raised to admit the passage of the steamboat Pacific, the usual signal was displayed by the person in charge, and all the other necessary precautions were taken to warn the engineer of his danger. Instead, however, of checking the speed of the train, which should be reduced to at least eight miles an hour when approaching the bridge, he kept it at a rate of twenty miles, so that when he became aware of the presence of danger he found it impossible to prevent the train from falling into the river. The scene which followed was terrible in the extreme. The engine, the tender, and two cars were engulphed (sic) in the water, and the passengers either crushed to death or drowned.
From The London Gazette, Saturday, July 2, 1825
Take notice, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, John Hammond, John Wallis Hammond, and Cornelius Cook Hammond, as Cork Manufacturers, at Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey under the firm of John Hammond and Sons, was this day dissolved by mutual consent, so far as concerns the said John Wallis Hammond—The business will in future be carried on by the said John Hammond and Cornelius Hammond alone, by whom all debts due and owing to and from their said late concern will be received and paid : As witness our hands this 29th day of June 1825.
John Hammond
J. W. Hammond
C. C. Hammond
Take notice, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, John Wallis Hammond, and Cornelius Cook Hammond, as Rope, Line, and Twine manufacturers, at Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey under the firm of J.W. and C.C. Hammond, was this day dissolved by mutual consent—The business will in future be carried on by the said Cornelius Cook Hammond alone, by whom all debts due and owing to and from their said late concern will be received and paid : As witness our hands this 29th day of June 1825.
J. W. Hammond
C. C. Hammond
From The Gentleman’s Magazine, Volume XXVIII, July to December inclusive, 1847
June 30. At Kingsdown, aged 50, John Wallis Hammond, esq. civil engineer.
From the Pioneer and Democrat, January 6, 1860
The leviathan steamship “Great Eastern” is certainly in a bad way. Her history from the outset has been only a series of misfortunes, financial and mechanical, till now several of those who originally embarked in the enterprise have been reduced to bankruptcy, and Brunel and Stevenson, her chief designers, passed have away. The ship herself appears to have demonstrated nothing, or in any degree served to promote nautical science. “Vaulting ambition has o’erleaped itself,” but the result is an occasion only for regret. A Liverpool contemporary suggests that American capitalists should finish the job—a proposition which is not likely to meet with prompt acceptance. The Great Eastern and Atlantic cable are the two huge failures of the century.
Source: The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory), 06 Jan. 1860. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016751/1860-01-06/ed-1/seq-1/>
From the Gazette of the United-States, October 14, 1789
EDINBURGH, JULY 5 (1789)
It is with pleasure we learn, that Mr. Midlar [sic – Patrick Miller] of Dalswinton has lately completed his experiment for ascertaining the steam engine in moving ships. The success fully answered his expectations, and afforded very great pleasure to the spectators present. The result of this experiment must be of the greatest utility to society in general, but more particularly to trading countries which abound in coal or wood.
Source: Gazette of the United-States. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]), 14 Oct. 1789. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030483/1789-10-14/ed-1/seq-2/>
Extract from Letters From Mr. [Thurlow] Weed . . . No. X., Correspondence of the Albany Evening Journal
From the New York Daily Tribune, August 19, 1843
Monday, July 17
I have been through the Thames Tunnel. This is to London what the Croton Water Works are to New.York, the great achievement of the 19th century. There is nothing at either entrance of the Tunnel, which indicates that you are in the vicinity of this extraordinary improvement. We passed over it in a steamer in the morning, without being aware that other masses of fellow beings were quietly walking through a subterranean passage below us! The visitor is directed “This way to the Tunnel ” by a board on the corner of a street. You descend a winding stone stairway 100 steps, and enter into the Tunnel, which is well lighted with gas, and afforded us a cool pleasant walk, after four hour’s exposure to the sun. The Tunnel has two avenues, each wide enough to allow 12 or 16 persons to walk abreast. Half way through, a printing press is stationed “By Royal Authority,” which is throwing off sheets containing an account of the Tunnel. I told the man I would purchase two of his sheets provided lie would allow me to “pull” them myself. This, upon learning that “I knows the ropes,” as they say at sea, he consented to. I have, therefore, an account of the Thames Tunnel, printed by myself, standing midway between the London and Surry sides of the river, seventy feet below its bed, with Steamers and ships passing directly over my head!
From The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet, and General Advertiser (Truro, England), Friday, August 27, 1852)
ENGINEER’S REPORT.
18 Duke-street, Westminster, 29th July, 1852
Gentlemen,
Since my last report, the works between Redruth and Truro, have been proceeding with such vigor, that l have no doubt that portion of the Line will be ready for opening to the public, by the time of your next half-yearly meeting.
The relaying of a portion of the old line, between the top of Angarrack and bottom of Penpons, with Barlow’s rails, has been completed and taken into the company’s hands.
The contractor is at present re-laying the portion of the old line, between Camborne and a point near Redruth, and it will, no doubt, be completed in a few weeks.
Upon the new lines already opened, the works are in good condition, and the traffic will no doubt require some additional small sidings at various stations.
Additions to the carriage end waggon stock, necessary for the anticipated increase in traffic, are being made, and two locomotive engines have been purchased on favorable terms.
Considerable progress is made with the station at Redruth, and a temporary station will be provided near Truro.
I am, gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
l. K. BRUNEL
To the Directors of the
West Cornwall Railway Company
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