Blore, Herbert 1886 September 25th Tisbury
An inquest was held at the house of Elizabeth Burt, Chicksgrove, Tisbury, on Monday, before Mr R A Wilson, touching the death of Herbert George Blore, aged one year and nine months, who was on the line when a train was coming along and was consequently killed as the train could not be pulled up before getting to it.
George Blore, of Chicksgrove, letter carrier, said that the deceased was his child. He was not at home when the accident happened on Saturday morning. He left home about six o’clock in the morning. He lived close to the crossing (the level crossing).
Ann Adams, of Chicksgrove, spinster, said that she was residing with her sister the mother of the child. The child was with her on Saturday morning about 20 minutes after eight. She let him go out of the cottage to play with the other children. She never saw him alive again. He was not in the habit of playing about himself. She left him with his brother, who was six years old.
Stephen Clasby, of Salisbury, brakesman in the employ of the London and South Western Railway Company, said that on Saturday he was working down the 7.30 goods train from Salisbury. When he was approaching the crossing of the quarry gates he heard the engine driver whistle, and the engine brake was put on, which threw him down, and the train was brought to a stand just past the gates. He got out and heard that a child had been run over. He went to the spot and found the child lying just on the down edge of the crossing.
Edward Breaker, Southampton, engine driver, said that he was the driver of the 7.30 goods train from Salisbury to Yeovil. On Saturday morning, about half-past eight, on approaching the quarry gates, he saw a child in the six feet way. He was about 100 yards from the child. He opened the whistle, shut the steam off, and applied the steam brake. He could not stop the train in time to stop the accident. He stopped the train about 130 yards from the other side of the crossing. He did not see any other child but his mate said that he saw another pass out just before. There was a gateman living at the crossing. There was a footpath across as well. He did not see the gateman that morning. He generally signalled the train with a white flag. They never stopped at a level crossing if the gates were open. He could not see whether the child was just on the crossing or in the six-feet way.
William Carwood, an inspector in the employ of the L & SWR Company, stationed at Basingstoke, said that the gateman stationed at the quarry gates at Chicksgrove was named Robert Harris. His duties were to attend to the carriageway gate to prevent the line being obstructed. The footpath was a public right of way which the Company could not control. At night the gates were locked up and no one was in attendance, but the gates of the footpath were left open. There had never been any complaint by anyone of neglect on the part of the gateman. He (the gateman) had been there two years.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 