A frightful accident occurred on Thursday evening at Hartlake-bridge, on the river Medway, near Tunbridge, which it is supposed that nearly 40 persons have perished. The accounts of the accident are at present somewhat imperfect, but it appears that, in consequence of the river Medway having overflowed its banks, the hop-pickers in the employ of Mr. Cox, a large hop grower living at Golden-green, in the parish of Hadlow, near Tunbridge, after having finished their day's work, were being conveyed through the flood in a waggon, drawn by three horses, when, on arriving at Hartlake Bridge, they became alarmed at the rush of water, and uttered loud cries. The party consisted of men, women, and children. The noise made by them alarmed the horses, and it seems that the animals consequently ran away, and came in contact with the side of the bridge, which, being in a dilapidated state, broke down. The consequence was that the waggon was precipitated into the river, and all the persons in it were drowned.
Up to yesterday the bodies of two women only had been recovered, but according to the best information that could be obtained upon the spot, no less than 37 persons are missing. In consequence of the vast body of water which is now flowing down the river, and the locks being open, the probability is that the bodies may be washed considerable distance from the bridge. Numbers of persons are engaged in endeavouring to find them. The names of the two women whose bodies have been recovered are not known. The coroner opened an inquest upon them to-day, at the Bell Inn, Golden Green, in the parish of Hadlow.
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