Mount Edgcumbe Devonport
August 23rd 1868
My dear Henry
I was very glad to receive your letter last night, on my return from Saltram, where we had been spending 3 very pleasant days. I am so glad to think that you are come home safe, & that you get good accounts of Constance. <1>
I never heard of anything so shocking as that railway accident – & the only comfort one can have, is to think, & feel in fact certain, that the poor people who perished must have died instantaneously.
Lady Abercorn’s escape was perfectly miraculous. She had been travelling, with her children, in a carriage next the engine, till they reached Chester – when three other carriages were added, & inserted between hers’ [sic] & the engine. All 3 were burnt with the people in them.<2>
Ld Hamilton <3> telegraphed to Val <4> from the spot, to say that none of them were hurt – & this message reached them the evening before the news appeared in the papers. This morning they had letters – & Ly Georgiana Hamilton <5> said that the first thing that happened was a shock which threw her onto the opposite seat, & knocked her youngest brother against Ly. Ab. & then down to the floor of the carriage – but from all accounts the shock from the collision appears to have been, comparatively speaking, very slight. They immediately looked out, & saw the train on fire – the flames mounting high up in the air. The jumped out as quickly as possible, & Scrambled up a steep bank, where they sat for an hour. They saw some of the people cut & bruised, & some who were burnt also – for the whole catastrophe occurred in a few minutes; & I believe the carriage in which they had been was consumed afterwards. The party consisted of eleven persons – Ly. Ab. 2 daughters, 2 little boys, Ld Hamilton, & servants – & not one of them had a scratch – only Ly. Ab. was of course a good deal shaken, physically & morally. Having waited by the train an hour, they then went to a gentleman’s house near, & waited 5 hours till the road was cleared; after which they went on, & reached Dublin at one in the morning. Ld Hamilton was taken ill, in the midst of it all – for he had exerted himself very much, & ran back a considerable distance to stop another train, the Express, I believe, which was due in 5 minutes. His mother was very much frightened, for he was gasping for breath, & seemed as if going to faint – but fortunately he soon recovered from this passing indisposition.
We had such a nice visit from Matilda <6> at Cotehele <7> – She stayed with us a week, & seemed very happy with us, as well as Mr Clark, <8> who is so pleasant & facile à vivre. <9> We enjoyed their visit so much, & were so glad to shew off the old place in such lovely hot weather. They afterwds came here for 2 days – & I have heard of her safe arrival & Mrs Maxwell’s <10> place nr Dumfries. Write again soon.
Yr affte sister
Caroline
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
2. Louisa Hamilton, née Russell, Lady Abercorn (1812–1905). On 20 August 1868, there was a 'Dreadful Accident on the Holyhead Line'. Several cars detached from a goods train, rolling down an incline and picking up speed to 40 mph before slamming into the mail train. The rear car of the goods train was filled with petroleum, which exploded on impact, engulfing the mail train's engine, tender and the three first-class carriages in the front in a ball of fire. Twenty-three passengers bound for Ireland were burnt beyond recognition.
3. James Hamilton (1811–1885), 1st Duke of Abercorn.
4. William Henry Edgcumbe, ‘Val’, 4th Earl Mt Edgcumbe (1832–1917), JP & Ld Steward of the Royal Household; WHFT’s nephew ‘Bimbo’.
5. Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton (1841–1913).
6. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
7. Cotehele, Cornwall: ancient house, seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe, now a National Trust Property.
8. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.
9. Easy to live with, get on with.
10. Probably the family of Mary Maxwell, née Clark.