Herbert William FISK (c. 1887-1910)

NORFOLK NEWS - 19 February 1910

 

THE BECCLES RAILWAY6 CROSSING TRAGEDY.

 

GATEMAN'S TERRIBLE INJURIES.

 

An inquest was held at Beccles Police-court on Tuesday, before Mr. L. H. Vulliamy, County Coroner, concerning the death of Herbert William Fisk, aged 22, railway porter at Beccles, who was fatally injured on Saturday night while acting as gateman at the Ingate railway crossing. Mr. E. H. Gillingwater, District Inspector, Norwich; Mr. F. W. Pickance, Loco Department, Norwich; and Mr. F. Clark, stationmaster at Beccles, represented the Great Eastern Railway Company.

 

Thomas William Fisk, railway signalman at Forncett, said deceased was his son, who had been at Beccles as porter for about nine months. He last saw deceased alive on Saturday, the 12th, about 5.40 p.m., when he was in good health. Both his hearing and his seeing were of the best.

 

Walter Warnes, stock-man, living at Worlingham, said he was returning home from Beccles about 9 p.m. on Saturday, and when near the Ingate crossing he heard a train coming. Two of the gates were closed to railway traffic. He saw the train approaching the gates very slowly, and when about three yards from the gates deceased came out of the hut and unfastened the latch. Witness believed the engine struck him immediately the gate was opened. He did not see the deceased after he took the latch off the gate, but heard a dumping noise as the engine went over the crossing. He afterwards saw deceased taken from under a truck. He did not hear a whistle as the train came along.

 

Arthur Spalding, fisherman, of Barsham, said he was walking near the crossing about 9 p.m., and saw the gates closed to railway traffic. He heard a train approaching, and saw deceased unfasten the gates. He swung the gate to on the down line, and was in the act of pushing the other gate on the up line when witness saw the engine strike him and the gate. The gate rebounded on to the train, and witness caught hold of it until the train was stopped. The train was going slowly, but did not see it till it was near the gates. The night was dark and a little foggy, but he could see 50 or 60 yards away. He did not look down the line to see the train.

 

William Taylor of Stratford, engine driver, in the employ of G.E.R. for 14 years, said he was driver of the train in question, and left Beccles Station at 8.57 p.m. The crossing in Ingate Street was about a quarter mile from the station. He had two white lights in front of the engine, and was busy at work as he approached the gates. After passing the first crossing he gave a warning whistle when about a hundred yards distant, and on approaching nearer the fireman called his attention to the closed gates when about twelve yards away. They both tried to stop the engine as quickly as they could. They were then travelling 15 to 20 miles an hour. Before he could pull up the engine and two trucks had crossed the street. He did not see anything of the deceased before the accident, but on going back found him lying beneath the second truck from the engine. There was a curve in the line between the two crossings, but a person standing at the Ingate Street crossing could see the other crossing. He believed the gateman was warned by bell from the station against all trains. The lights on the gate seemed to be on the slant when he saw it. It was a damp night, and the steam from the engine beat down and obstructed the view.

 

Replying to Dr. Helsham, witness said he whistled before he got to the first crossing. He had not been cautioned particularly in respect of these crossings.

 

Dr. Helsham - I am surprised to hear that, as we have had accidents there before.

 

Vicesimus Eigie, fireman, of Stratford, said he was with the last witness. He was cautioned by the Coroner that he need not give evidence unless he wished: but he decided he would do so, and said he was about 40 yeards off the gates, when he saw they were a little on the slant. He then warned his mate that the gates were a little bit open, but it was not until the engine struck the gates that they pulled up. The he shouted "Whoa! whoa!" and they stopped as soon as possible. He had been at work firing the engine, adjusting the injector, and looking round the engine as they approached the gates, and when he first looked up the line he did not see anything. When he saw the gates were against them he thought they were only partly closed. He could not see the light from his side of the engine. He had been on this part of the line four years as fireman, but had not received instructions to be particularly careful at the crossings. The steam blew over the eyeglass in front of the engine. The whistle was sounded as they passed the first crossing, and the train was going fifteen to twenty miles an hour.

 

Mr. Gillingwater gave evidence to the effect that the huts at the railway crossings were fitted with electric bells, and the gatemen received the same signals as the signalmen with respect to the trains. When deceased received the first signal he should have been in readiness to open the gates. There was no reason to think that the bell was out of order; it was at work all right.

 

Dr. Helsham said he saw the deceased at the Hospital about 9.30. Both arms and legs had been severed from the body except by a few fragments of skin. There were several cuts about the head, and a bruise over the lower ribs near the middle of the back. Deceased was conscious, suffering from shock. As soon as the other doctors arrived they amputated the four limbs, and deceased took it well, but he died at 12.50 a.m. from the shock due to the injuries.

 

The Coroner, in summing up, remarked in some slight differences in the evidence, and referring to the curve between the two crossings, and previous accidents, he suggested that the Company should devise some way of avoiding the danger which he could not help feeling was a real one. The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death," and acquitted the engine driver and fireman from blame in the matter.