98 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



skull was fractured, and he died instantly. One 

 outside passenger's leg had to he amputated, and 

 he died the next day. The recovery of another 

 passenger was regarded as douhtful. 



One of the more serious among coach accidents 

 was that which hefell the London and Dorking 

 stage, in April 1826. It was one of those coaches 

 that did not carry a guard. It left the " Elephant 

 and Castle" at nine o'clock in the morning, full 

 inside and out, and arrived safely at EavcII, where 

 Joseph Walker, who was both coachman and 

 proprietor, alighted for the purpose of getting a 

 parcel from the hind hoot. He gave the reins 

 to a hoy who sat on the box, and all Avould have 

 been well had it not been for the thoughtless act 

 of the boy himself, who cracked the whip, and set 

 the horses off at full speed. They dashed down 

 the awkwardly curving road by the church and 

 into a line of wooden pailings, which were torn 

 down for a length of twelve yards. Coming then 

 to some immovable obstacle, the coach was vio- 

 lently upset, and the whole of the passengers 

 hurled from the roof. All were seriously injured, 

 and one was killed. This unfortunate person Avas 

 a woman, who fell upon some spiked iron rail- 

 ings, " Avhich," says the contemporary account, 

 " entered her breast and neck. She Avas dreadfully 

 mutilated, none of her features being distinguish- 

 able. She lingered until the following day, Avhen 

 she expired in the greatest agony." The grave- 

 stone of this unfortunate person is still to be 

 seen in the leafy churchyard of EavcII, inscribed 



