towards Hastings, it being necessary to throw sand on the metals to assist the speed. But ere it had cleared the point where the two lines converge, the South-Eastern train of fifteen carriages bore down an incline to the same point and crashed into its rival. The collision was seen to be inevitable, and the terror of the passengers added to the shrieks of persons who witnessed it were quite horrifying. The engine of the South-Eastern train struck the South-Coast train near the centre and forced several carriages off the metals without turning them over. The coupling hook and side chains gave way and the first ten carriages were drawn a short distance into the tunnel whilst the remainder were propelled by the South-Eastern engine a distance of about 30 yards, when they also stopped. Five of the South-Coast carriages were greatly damaged, but only one of the passengers was seriously injured, though many were greatly shaken. The signals had been properly placed, and the drivers of both engines were experienced men. The driver of the South-Eastern train admitted that he sighted the signal, and that everything was done to stop the train at the proper place, but owing to the incline and slippery state of the metals the efforts were not successful. Also from the same state of the metals the long train of the South-Coast Company proceeded too slow to be able to clear the point as it might otherwise have done. The accident was therefore one of those which will sometimes occur despite the usual means to prevent them.
A Numerous Progeny.
On the evening of May the 20th, the late Mr. Charles Chapman on returning home from the anniversary dinner of his club, was agreeably surprised to find that a favourite sow had presented him with 11 male porkers and 6 female ditto. Such a litter of pigs – 17 in number – was regarded as an extraordinary occurrence, and one for the St. Leonards people to talk about.
A Prolific Family
The above-stated occurrence was a reminder that population rarities were not confined to four-footed animals. It had been recorded in the earlier part of the year (January or February) that a widow named Neve, 78 years of age, relict of Mr. Charles Neve, who, sometime back, occupied Clive Vale farm, died at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Jenner, of Tile-Kiln farm, Fairlight. The said widow, it was said, left six sons and six daughters, sixty-one grand-children, and twenty great-grand-children.
The Last Bank Dividend
At the end of about four years a dividend (a final one) of 2½d. in the pound was paid on the suspension of the Hastings Old Bank, thus making the whole amount paid to the creditors of 19/6 to the pound.
