Telegraphic News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 571, 3 January 1882, Page 2

Telegraphic News.

INTERPROVINGIAL

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT,

Balclutha, Dec. 31.

Further particulars of the railway accident are to hand. As the 4.40 train from Balclutha to Clinton readied Kaihikn bridge, a horse was seen on the line, but too late to stop the train. The horse was caught by the cowcatcher, and carried some ten yards, when the engine ran off the line and down an embankment ten feet deep. The driver at once shut off steam and ran off the water. The train consisted of 15 trucks and a van. The engine and tender and seven trucks ran off; the tender lying on its side and across the end of the engine, some trucks being on each tide of the line. Stoker James Woodcock was found lying under the tender. Death must have been instantaneous. James Blackwood, water pumper at Waiwera, was caught by the foot 'between the engine and tender. Every exertion was made to release him, but the task was not accomplished until late in the evening. After the reporter left, no one else was hurt. The rails of the line are considerably twisted and damaged, -and the engine is also much damaged, but the trucks are, apparently? not much injured. The accident happened at 5.30 p.m. There were only three passengers by the train, and they escaped without injury. Mr Chisholin, Inspector of Permanent Railways, arrived at 8.45 p.m., proceeded to clear the line.

Evening.

The line was 'cleared and raedy for trrffic at four o'clock this morning. The damage to the line and rolling stock is comparatively trifling. James Blackwood has a leg broken. The inquest on the body of Woodcock opened to-day, and, after viewing the body, the proceedings were adjourned till Tuesday.

Woodcock waa the only son of a widow, and was only twenty-one years

of age,