This article appeared on page 7, column f of the London Times on August 25, 1873.

FATAL RAILWAY COLLISION

SHEFFIELD, SATURDAY NIGHT

Another fatal railway collision happened this morning by which three persons have lost their lives, and many have been injured – some it is feared fatally. The accident – if it can be so called, for a due attention to the regulations would in all probability have averted the catastrophe – occurred at Retford, some twelve miles from Sheffield, at a point where the Great Northern Railway crosses the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire line at right angles on a level, and where an excursion train from Sheffield came into collision with a Great Northern fish train which was travelling from Doncaster south. The accident has caused great excitement here, most of the sufferers being from this locality. The facts are these: -This morning a special train of 13 carriages left Deepcar, on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire line for Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby. It was a pleasure trip, an annual “outing” of the workmen of Messrs. Greyson and Lowood, of Deepcar and Sheffield, and their wives and sweethearts, to the seaside. The train stopped at Sheffield and took in some 200 persons, all anticipating a pleasant day by the seaside. The train went all right as far as Retford, where the line crosses the Great Northern line, and some of the excursionists looking out of the carriages saw a train travelling on that line towards them. The passenger train, however, was first up to the crossing, but to the horror of the excursionists, the Great Northern train did not stop, but dashed through the middle of the passenger train, completely cutting it in two, and shattering such of the carriages in splinters as it came in contact with. Moreover, the collision turned the engine of the Great Northern train on one side, and it dashed into a signal box, which was completely demolished, the bricks and other material being thrown about upon the unfortunate people.

The crash was fearful, and the screams of the injured and affrighted passengers unnerved the strongest of those who escaped without bodily injury. The usual confusion followed; but after a short interval, some railway servants, directed by officials from Retford, restored something like order, though the excitement was irrepressible. It was found that three persons had been killed on the spot, and a great many others fearfully injured. These were removed from the ruins of the broken carriages and demolished signal box. The dead were cared for, and the wounded were conveyed to the hotels in Retford where surgical assistance was promptly rendered. Others less injured, and those who had been fortunate enough to escape injury, were sent back by train to Deepcar and Sheffield. The scene at the Victoria Station here since the accident became known has been very distressing, and the officials have had a trying time of it.

Among those who have returned safely to Sheffield is a passenger named Joseph Nettleton, of Woodland. He has not been much hurt, but he has left behind him a brother more seriously injured. His description of the occurrence is to the following effect: “We started from Sheffield Station at about 35 minutes to 7 o’clock, and all went well right until we got to Retford. We had passed the station at a fair rate when we saw a train coming towards us at a high speed. We thought from the distance between the two trains that we should be out of danger – that we should be past the crossing before the train came up; but the other train came faster than we had expected, and struck us before we could think. There were two women in the carriage with my brother and myself. There was much screaming when the engine struck our train, but I do not remember much after that. We were all so confused that I hardly know what happened. My brother was very badly hurt. I fear he is killed. I want to get home to send my father to him by the next train.” Nettleton, who appeared to have been much shaken, though showing no indication of outward injury, was accompanied by a middle-aged man who had charge of him, and who was travelling in the front part of the train when the collision occurred. He gave a similar account of the catastrophe to his companion. He saw the fish train approaching from Doncaster, but expected that the excursion train would pass before it came up. Before he felt the shock of the collision, he heard a crash of broken glass and wood.

It appears that the passengers in the foremost part of the train escaped for the most part unhurt. The killed and those most dangerously injured were in the particular carriage struck by the engine of the Great Northern train. This was a third-class carriage, pretty closely packed with human freight. A family of three persons, who were sitting in the carriage struck by the engine – Mr. and Mrs. Allott, of Woodland View, Sheffield, and their nephew, a boy of 12 or 13 years – were killed on the spot. Mrs. Denton, wife of a stonemason at Deepcar, who was in the same carriage, received severe injuries about the head and was much shaken. Her case is considered a very serious one. As far as can be ascertained the following is a list of the killed and injured:

Killed – Mr. Allott, Woodland View, Sheffield; Mrs. Allott, wife of the above; Arthur Allott, nephew of the same.

Injured – William Nettleton, miner, Woodland View, Sheffield – toes smashed and otherwise badly hurt; George Underhill, contractor, Walkley, Sheffield – cut face and injured arm; George Underhill, junior, sub-contractor, Walkley – injuries to head and shoulder; Sarah Underhill, wfe of the above – injuries to head, back, and shoulders; J. N. Jalland, Atterclide – forehead cut and other minor burns; William Jalland – much bruised; Mrs. Chapman, Deepcar – head cut and much shaken; Mrs. Armitage, Deepcar, wife of a platelayer – head and face cut; Annie Allott, wife of a miner at Willsbro – shaken and bruised; George Allott, miner – face, hands, and shoulder cut and bruised; Annie Allott, daughter of the same – cut shoulder; __ Allott, son of the same – injured internally and much bruised; Mrs. Smith – injury to spine and also hurt internally; William Stothard, builder, Williara-street, Sheffield – cut face and shaken; Mrs. Stothard – much shaken; Mr. Crossland, traveller, Bromhill – head and neck injured and much shaken; Jane Simpson, wife of a quarryman, Stocksbridge, Sheffield – internal hurts; John Helliwell, farmer, Hasle Head, Deepcar – cuts on the head; Mrs. Helliwell, wife of the above – internal injuries; Mrs. Helliwell, wife of a stonecutter, Deepcar, arms and back injured; Joseph Nettleton, miner, of Stannington – injuries to face and shoulders; Sarah Ann Palmer, Sheffield – much shaken; R. Tattersall, blacksmith, Deepcar – injuries to the body; Mrs. Smith, labourer’s wife – bruises; Mrs. Edwards, Woodland-street, Walkley – broken leg and head cut; Thomas Martin, Sheffield – leg injured; Mr. Smith, contractor, Walkley – leg broken; Mrs. Smith, wife of the same – hurt badly.  Altogether about 40 persons are said to have received serious hurts.

As to the cause of the accident, on the face of it there must have been neglect of signals  or mistake of signalmen, somewhere. At such a place as a level crossing every  precaution should be, and no doubt was, taken to make the travelling safe.  The secondary precautions were provided, but whether they were obeyed is a question which of course will be fully investigated. In the mean time, the driver and the stoker of the Great Northern fish train have been detained in custody.
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The next short item appeared on page 9, column e, in The Times on August 26, 1873.

THE RETFORD ACCIDENT – RETFORD, Monday night

Colonel Rich has been appointed to make the official inquiry into the late terrible accident, and it will probably be held next week. The injured people progress favorably, except Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith, William Nettleton, and Bryant, the driver, who are all still in a dangerous state. Mr. Smith has had his leg reset, and hopes are felt that amputation may be avoided. The traffic goes on, and the temporary signals work adequately. The dead are to be buried tomorrow. 
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The next short item appeared on page 4, column e, in The Times on August 27, 1873.

THE RETFORD RAILWAY ACCIDENT, RETFORD, Tuesday Evening.

All the sufferers from the railway accident described here, except Nettleton and Mrs. Smith, are improving. The state of these persons is still critical. Mrs. Smith passed a very bad night; and respecting Nettleton, also, the gravest fears are entertained. The temporary signals work well. The station signal tower is likely to be entirely removed and the signal placed further west. The new tower, with 67 levers, will bring the entire signals for the station, on both lines, and the distance signals on all sides, under one roof. This evening Bryant, at his own urgent desire, was permitted by Dr. Saville to be taken home. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Sheffield, where they were met by a hearse provided for the occasion, and buried at Stannington Church. Contrary to all expectation, the Government inquiry will be held tomorrow by Colonel Rich, who has telegraphed to that effect.

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