CHAPTEE IV 



ACCIDENTS 



One of the greatest ohjections urged 1)y the coach- 

 ing interest against railways was their danger, 

 and the certain loss of life on them in case of 

 accident. It was unfortunate that the opening of 

 tlie Liverjwol and Manchester Eailwav Avas the 

 occasion of a fatal mischance that lent emphasis 

 to the dolorous prophecies of coach-proprietors and 

 the road interests in general ; for on that day 

 (September 15th, 1830) Mr. Huskisson, a promi- 

 nent man in the politics of that time, met his 

 death by being run over by the first train. It 

 seems to ourselves incredible, but it was the fact, 

 that there Avere those Avho ascribed this fatality 

 to the wrath of God against mechanical methods 

 of travelling. Then first arose that favourite 

 saying among coachmen, "In a coach accident, 

 there you are; in a raihvay accident, Avliere are 

 your" The impression thus intended to be con- 

 veyed was that a coaching disaster Avas a very 

 trifling affair compared Avith a railway accident. 

 But Avas it? Let us see. 



The llev. William Milton, anIio in ISIO pub- 

 lished a Avork on coach-building, lamented the 

 great number of accidents in his time, and said 



