COLLISION IN A TUNNEL. 



127 



observe discrepancies in the evidence as published in the 

 papers, I think it right to state to you what I know of the 

 affair. [Some of the particulars which are omitted relate to 

 notes as to the time.'] . . . We were thankful to get into 

 a stand-up carriage, about the middle of the first train in 

 question. The train was very long, and very full of people, 

 most of whom appeared the worse for liquor, and were shout- 

 . ing, swearing, etc. ... I saw at once that we had a greater 

 load than the engine could draw, and feared an accident would 

 follow. I made my party stand so as to receive a shock with 

 the least injury. . . . After we entered the tunnel we got 

 slower and slower, till at last we came to a dead stop. I am 

 quite sure we had stopped still for some time before the 

 collision took place. Every one was so alarmed at the 

 unearthly darkness, that even the drunken people became 

 quiet. Every now and then some one struck a light, but the 

 rest were so frightened at what it revealed (the motionless walls 

 of the tunnel and the increasing volumes of steam) that the cry 

 was always raised, ' Put it out ! put it out ! ? Several wanted to 

 get out and walk, but I and others urged them not, fearing the 

 danger of so doing. We could see and hear nothing except 

 in the carriages next to ours. I presume the dense steam 

 deadened the sound. ... At last there was a sudden shock, 

 so violent, even at the distance that we were, that it threw us 

 all down, and threw others on the top of us ; but none of 

 us were hurt beyond a few bruises. As I heard no cries 

 of distress, I thought it was the next train coming up with a 

 bang to shove us on. Indeed, we kept still for some time 

 longer, till at last the engine came and drew us out." (He 

 calculated that they must have been about an hour in the 

 tunnel.) 



At the beginning of July, the chapel was closed for two 

 Sundays, for repairs ; and he resolved to take the opportunity 

 to make a pilgrimage to the ruins of the monastery of Port 

 Royal, taking a young friend and inmate with him. He 

 wrote a very minute and graphic account to Mrs. Schimmel- 

 penninck (see p. 117). Unfortunately, in the hurry of his 



