ACCIDENTS 97 



that not a tenth part of them was ever recorded 

 in the newspapers. He darkly added that the 

 coach - proprietors conkl probably explain the 

 reason. However that may be, the following 

 pages contain a selection of the most tragical 

 happenings in this sort, cnlled from the news- 

 papers of the past. It does by no means pretend 

 to completeness ; for to essay a task of that kind 

 wonld be to embark upon a very extensive work, 

 as well as a very severe indictment of the coaching 

 age. Moreover, it may shrewdly be suspected 

 that many droAvsy folk fell off the box-seats in 

 the darkness, and quietly and unostentatiously 

 broke their necks, without the least notice being 

 publicly taken. Mere upsets and injuries to 

 passengers and coachmen are not instanced here. 

 Only a selection from the fatal accidents has been 

 made. 



1807. — Erighton and Portsmouth coach upset; 

 coachman killed. 



1810. — Eival Brighton and Worthing coaches 

 racing ; one upset ; coachman killed. 



1819. — " Coburg " (Brighton coach) upset at 

 Cuck field, on the up journey. The horses were 

 fresh, and, dashing away, came into collision with 

 a waggon. All the eleven outsides Avere injured. 

 A Mr. Blake died next day at the " King's Head," 

 Cuckfield, where the injured had been taken. 



1820. April. — The Leeds and Wakefield 

 "True Blue," going down Belle Hill with horses 

 galloj^ing, on the wrong side of the road, came 

 into collision Avith a coal-cart. The coachman's 



VOL. II. 7 



