Читать книгу The Times Great Events - Группа авторов - Страница 15
Оглавление17 September 1830
From all that I can learn from eye-witnesses, the unfortunate event of which I am now going to give you the details, happened in the following manner: Mr. Huskisson was discoursing with Mr. Joseph Sandars, one of the principal originators and promoters of this railroad, and was congratulating that gentleman as one of the happiest men in the world, in having seen a work of such importance and magnitude happily brought to a conclusion under his auspices, when he was called away to speak with some other gentlemen, who were anxious to hear his opinion on some of the details of the road. Before he left Mr. Sandars, he said to that gentleman, “Well, I must go and shake hands with the Duke [of Wellington] on this day at any rate.” The gentlemen who had called him away detained him some time, and whilst he was standing with them, the Rocket engine, which, like the Phoenix, had to pass the Duke’s car, to take up its station at the watering place, came slowly up, and as the engineer had been for some time checking its velocity, so silently that it was almost upon the group before they observed it. In the hurry of the moment all attempted to get out of the way. Mr. Holmes, M.P., who was standing by the side of Mr. Huskisson, desired the gentlemen not to stir, but to cling close by the side of their own car – most excellent advice, had it been followed – for as no engine can move off the rail, any person who stands clear of it, is perfectly safe from danger. Unfortunately, in the hurry and agitation of the moment, Mr. Huskisson did not pursue this advice. He hesitated, staggered a little as if not knowing what to do, then attempted to run forward, found it impossible to get off the road, on account of an excavation of some 14 or 15 feet depth being on that side of it, on which he was, attempted again to get into the car, was hit by a motion of the door as he was mounting a step, and was thrown down directly in the path of the Rocket, as that engine came opposite to the Duke’s car. He contrived to move himself a little out of its path before it came in contact with him, otherwise it must have gone directly over his head and breast. As it was, the wheel went over his left thigh, squeezing it almost to a jelly, broke the leg, it is said, in two places, laid the muscles bare from the ankle, nearly to the hip, and tore out a large piece of flesh, as it left him. Mrs. Huskisson, who, along with several other ladies, witnessed the accident, uttered a shriek of agony, which none who heard will ever forget.
The Liverpool and Manchester railway – the first line to join two cities – opened on 15 September 1830. It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, and by the running of no less than eight locomotives, among them George Stephenson’s Rocket.
William Huskisson was an MP for Liverpool who had been Secretary of State for War and Leader of the House of Commons. He had resigned, however, in 1828 from Wellington’s Cabinet over a matter of parliamentary reform. It was in the hope of repairing his relationship with the Duke that he went to shake his hand.
Huskisson died later that same evening. He had been a staunch supporter of the expansion of the railways and the reports of the accident indirectly helped to publicize the new form of transport.
