CHAP. XIY. ACCIDENT TO MR. HUSKISSON. 279 



incline ; over the great Sankey viaduct, beneath which a 

 multitude of persons had assembled, carriages filling 

 the narrow lanes, and barges crowding the river ; the 

 people below gazing with wonder and admiration at 

 the trains which sped along the line, far above their 

 heads, at the rate of some twenty-four miles an hour. 



At Parkside, about seventeen miles from Liverpool, 

 the engines stopped to take in water. Here a deplorable 

 accident occurred to one of the illustrious visitors, which 

 threw a deep shadow over the subsequent proceedings 

 of the day. The " Northumbrian " engine, with the 

 carriage containing the Duke of Wellington, was drawn 

 up on one line, in order that the whole of the trains on 

 the other line might pass in review before him and his 

 party. Mr. Huskisson had alighted from the carriage, 

 and was standing on the opposite road, along which the 

 "Kocket" was observed rapidly coming up. At this 

 moment the Duke of Wellington, between whom and 

 Mr. Huskisson some coolness had existed, made a sign 

 of recognition, and held out his hand. A hurried but 

 friendly grasp was given ; and before it was loosened 

 there was a general cry from the bystanders of " Get in, 

 get in ! " Flurried and confused, Mr. Huskisson endea- 

 voured to get round the open door of the carriage, which 

 projected over the opposite rail ; but in so doing he was 

 struck down by the " Rocket," and falling with his leg 

 doubled across the rail, the limb was instantly crushed. 

 His first words, on being raised, were, " I have met my 

 death," which unhappily proved true, for he expired 

 that same evening in the parsonage of Eccles. It 

 was cited at the time as a remarkable fact, that the 

 " Northumbrian " engine, driven by George Stephenson 

 himself, conveyed the wounded body of the unfortunate 

 gentleman a distance of about fifteen miles in twenty- 

 five minutes, or at the rate of thirty-six miles an hour. 

 This incredible speed burst upon the world with the 

 effect of a new and unlooked-for phenomenon. 



