THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 



stood in an open shed at a second-class station, and putting 

 it in motion upon a very level line, sent it flying with accele- 

 rated speed to the terminal station. No telegraph at that time 

 existed to warn either the intermediate or terminal stations of 

 the event and the approaching danger. The vehicle was 

 actually blown over twenty-one lines of railway, but the trip 

 it thus took occurring fortunately at an hour of the night when 

 little business was going on, it came to rest without any cala- 

 mitous result. 



Mr. "Walker mentions the following : 



" On New Tear's Day, 1850, a catastrophe, which it is fearful to 

 contemplate, was averted by the aid of the telegraph. A collision 

 had occurred to an empty train at Gravesend ; and the driver 

 having leaped from his engine, the latter started alone at full speed 

 to London. Notice was immediately given by telegraph to London 

 and other stations ; and while the line was kept clear, an engine 

 and other arrangements were prepared as a buttress to receive the 

 runaway. The superintendent of the railway also started down 

 the line on an engine ; and on passing the runaway, he reversed 

 his engine and had it transferred at the next crossing to the up- 

 line, so as to be in the rear of the fugitive ; he then started in 

 chase, and on overtaking the other, he ran into it at speed, and 

 the driver of his engine took possession of the fugitive, and all 

 danger was at an end. Twelve stations were passed in safety : it 

 passed "Woolwich at fifteen miles an hour : it was within a couple 

 of miles of London before it was arrested. Had its approach been 

 unknown, the mere money value of the damage it would have 

 caused might have equalled the cost of the whole line of 

 telegraphs. They have thus paid, or in a large part paid, for 

 their erection. 



" As a contrast to this, an engine, some months previously, 

 started from New Cross toward London. The Brighton Com- 

 pany have no telegraphs ; and its approach could not be 

 made known. Providentially, the arrival platform was clear; 

 it ran in, carrying the fixed buffer before it, and knocked 

 down, with frightful violence, the wall of the parcels 

 office." 



250. Among the general uses of the telegraph to the public, 

 many examples of the detection of crime are mentioned. It is 

 generally known that the notorious Tawell, after the commission 

 of the murder, started for London from Slough, by the Great 

 "Western Railway. Notice of the crime, and a description of his 

 person, however, flew with the speed of light along the wires 

 and arrived at Paddington so much earlier than the mur- 

 derer himself, that upon his arrival he was recognised, tracked 

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