io8 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL I.Y BAYS OF YORE 



experience had not been snfficient to prevent 

 him thus breaking one of the first rules of the 

 profession. He had no sooner entered the inn 

 than tlie rival Old Company's coach came doAvn 

 the road. Whether the other coachman i!:ave the 

 horses a touch with his Avhip as he passed, or if 

 they started on their own accord, is not known, 

 hut they did start, and Burnett, rushing out to 

 stop them, was thrown down and trampled on 

 so that he died. 



Of another kind was the fatal accident that 

 closed the year on the Glasgow Road. On the 

 night of December 18th, the up Glasgow Mail ran 

 over a man, supposed to have been a drunken 

 carter, who was lying in the middle of the 

 highway. 



1837. August. — The up Glasgow Mail, the up 

 Edinburgh Mail, the Edinburgh and Dumfries, 

 and the Edinburgh and Portpatrick Mails all upset 

 the same night, at different j^laces. 



1838. August. — The London to Lincoln Express 

 met a waggon at night, at Mere Hall, six miles from 

 Lincoln. The coachman called to the waggoner 

 to make room, and a young man who, it is supposed, 

 was asleep on the top, started up, and rolled off. 

 The waggon-wheels went over and killed him. 



September.— The Edinburgh and Perth 

 "Coburg " was the sul)ject of a singular accident. 

 Passengers and luggage Avere being received at 

 Newhall's Pier, South Queensferry, when the 

 leader suddenly turned round, and before the 

 coachman and guard, Avho Avere stowing luggage, 



