Initial reaction Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway

1831 colour engraving of parkside station

joseph parkes, lord wilton , william rathbone first reach huskisson. found wheel had passed on right calf , thigh, leaving knee untouched. flap of skin on upper leg had been cut back, exposing muscles, , exposed arteries had not been severed flattened, pulsing huskisson s heartbeat. damaged leg shook uncontrollably. observers noted huskisson did not appear in pain, , instead lay watching leg shake. huskisson shouted death of me . parkes attempted reassure him, huskisson replied yes, dying, call mrs huskisson . man threw coat on william huskisson s leg spare emily huskisson seeing extent of injuries, , helped carriage in had been sitting. in hysterics, attempted throw herself onto huskisson, restrained fellow passengers lord wilton applied makeshift tourniquet had made using handkerchiefs , elderly passenger s walking stick. other passengers ripped door of nearby railway storeroom hinges, serve makeshift stretcher. huskisson lifted onto door, shaking head , saying mrs huskisson? have met death, god forgive me. (garfield, writing in 2002, gives words death, god forgive me .)

the site of former parkside station. white monument marks location of accident.(53°27′17″n 2°35′46″w / 53.454848°n 2.596051°w / 53.454848; -2.596051 (huskisson monument))

men ran along track in both directions tell other trains not proceed. in initial panic, first thought of many of present prime minister had been assassinated.

on looking out, observed duke s train drawn parallel train, considerable number of persons on foot assembled in intervening space; and, @ same time, perceived appearance of hustling, , stooping, , crowding not account. in moment, gentleman rushed forth, , came running line towards us; neared, saw evidently agitated, , pale, , breathless—in short, dreadful had happened obvious. @ length stopped, , fifty voices exclaimed, has thing happened? matter? in state of distracted nervousness, , in broken unconnected words, @ last broke silence— oh god! dead! killed! killed! — who, , when, , how? burst every mouth; first passing thought on own, , every other mind, being, desperate , successful attempt had been made on duke s life. truth, however, spread wildfire right , left, acting, fell upon every car, spell. smiles , cheerful countenances changed 1 general gloom. amongst near fatal spot, first feeling 1 of thankfulness, own immediate relative not victim; next, , permanent, sympathy unhappy lady saw husband stretched, lacerated , bleeding, on ground. further sympathy was, sure, , sincerely felt—a sympathy gentlemen, who, directors, had long devoted accommodation of public, , looked forward day gratifying , auspicious termination of labours; conscious, too, were, had printed directions, issued tickets, been adhered to, no such accident possibility have occurred.

henry herbert southey, physician deceased george iv, had travelled in duke s train, had dr hunter, professor of anatomy @ university of edinburgh. 2 of them rushed huskisson s side, joined shortly afterwards joseph brandreth, liverpool surgeon had been travelling behind phoenix. doctors suggested returning huskisson liverpool treatment, george stephenson insisted better take him on manchester.

open carriages on liverpool , manchester railway in 1830.

huskisson loaded onto flat-bottomed wagon of duke s train had carried band. remaining 3 carriages of duke s train detached , band s carriage, hauled northumbrian, set off manchester stephenson driving. lord wilton held huskisson s hands , arms steady, while lord colville supported head on knees , tried cushion him vibration of train. train unladen , stephenson running engine flat-out, train reached speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), briefly giving on board world speed record. crowds lining route, unaware of had happened, cheered , waved northumbrian rushed past.

believing huskisson near death, brandreth suggested party stop @ first house came to. after discussion doctors decided stop @ vicarage of rev. thomas blackburne, vicar of eccles, 4 miles (6.4 km) short of manchester. when told of decision, huskisson concurred, saying pray so, sure friend blackburne kind me , unaware blackburne had been invited inauguration of railway , waiting rest of passengers @ parkside.

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