Leeds news on today's date (August 1) in 1852 and 1865.

[Leodian]

The following are from John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire'.From a long report for August 1st 1852:- “On Sunday morning the 1st of August, an accident attended with very serious consequences to many persons, occurred on the road midway between Burley and Ilkley, by the overturning of an omnibus, heavily laden with passengers from the Arthington station…The shrieks and cries of which arose at the moment were dreadful. Some were trampled upon by the frighted and unmanageable horses, some were lying bleeding, crushed beneath the fallen vehicle, and some were being lacerated beneath the wheels of the other omnibus...Seven or eight of the passengers were very seriously injured...Mrs. Sarah Firth died from the injuries she received. The coroners jury which sat upon the deceased, returned a verdict of manslaughter against the driver, together with a censure of the officials of the Leeds Northern Railway company, “for the reckless and dangerous way in which omnibuses have been allowed to load, especially on a Sunday”.”From a long report for August 1st 1865:-“This day, Tuesday, the new line extending the system of the Midland Railway from Apperley-bridge to Ilkley, and that in connection with the North-Eastern system from Otley to the same place, were opened to the public...The portion of the North-Eastern line from Arthington to Otley was opened to the public a few months previous...The length of the North-Eastern line from Arthington to Ilkley is about nine miles, but that of the new portion from Otley is only six...the trains everywhere received a hearty welcome, and at Ilkley, in particular, large numbers of persons assembled to meet them”.Not Leeds related but I thought this curious news item for August 1st 1873 may be of interest. “A fight took place between a hen and a rat at the Crown Hotel, Helmsley. The rat was attacking the chickens when the hen interfered and killed the rat”. Hen 1 Rat 0.