ACCIDENT TO MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14979, 28 May 1914, Page 7

ACCIDENT TO MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

CRASHES INTO A GOODS TRAIN

THREE PASSENGERS KILLED

SEVERAL INJURED

SENSATIONAL INCIDENTS

SOME REMARKABLE ESCAPES,

(SrECUL TO ''THE PRESS.")

-AUCKLAND, May 27,

In pitchy darkness, accentuated by a thick fog, the Main Trunk express from Wellington to Auckland crashed into a goods train this moruing at Whangamarino, seven miles south of Mercer.

Three passengers who woro in the sleeping car of the express were killed and several injured.

The following is a complete list of tho killed and injured: —

KILLED. Orton Stevens, of Wellington, manager in New Zealand for tho National Mutual Lifo Association of Australasia, Ltd.; died before released. Cuthbert F. Potorsenj of Melbourne, represehtinc the James F. MeKenzio Proprietary, Ltd.; di«d soon after being released from tbo wreckage. George X. Grirustone, lately of Wellington, recently transferred to Auckland to tho position of Registrar of the Tokefau Nati.ve Land Court; severely injured internally; succumbed in tbo hospital at HamUat 3.30 p.m. INJURED. John Swinson, of Lotror Hutt, Wellington, manager in Wellington for Chandler and Co.; right thigh fractured, extensive bruising; making favourable progress; now in hospital' at Hamilton. H. G. Mackay, of Holbourno, Inspector for the Commercial Bank of Australia; suffering from sevoro rshock; now resident at the Grand Hotel. Auckland, under medical attention.

H. A. Fox, of Wellington, managing director of the Officos Appliances Co.; crashed foot, sovero abrasions; now in hospital at Hamilton. William Donaldson, railway porter at Whangamarino; fractured arm.

F. S. Goklingliam, of Palraerston North, merchant (a member of the firm of Goldingham and Beckett); chest and shoulders severely bruised, cuts on head and forehead, and general shock. G. E. Howard, of Calliope road. Dovonport, accountant in the Anckland office of the National Mutual Life Association ; minor injuries to faco and bead; suffering iroin exposure.

W. J. R. Hill, of Auckland, member of the "Herald" sporting staff; injury to left foot and bruises.

Harry Scott, of Auckland, sleeping car attendant; general bruising. • ■■■

The two other passengers in the sleeping car escaped without any injury at all., They wero James Borrie, of Waimate, South Canterbury, farmer, and D. M. Sutherland, of Wainiate, South Canterbury, farmer. ;

The accident happoned at a. quarter to five, whon most of the passengers were asleep or dozing. The marvel is that there was not inoro loss of life.

The smash was confined to the first two care, and the people at the rear of the train wore scarcely aware, that anything had happened until tbo train came to a standstill.

It is said the signals at the little flag station of Whangamarino, which is in charge of a tablet porter, wore clear for tho Wellington train. As the ospress was flying by the lights of a locomotive- were seen on thb siding, and three short shrill blasts on the -whistle sounded—tho signal for imminent danger. The urgent signal came from the engine drawing tho 400 tons joods train, which leaves Auckland at midnight bound for tho Waikato.

Brakes were applied, but tho goods train had not quit© cleared the main lino; in fact, Donaldson.- tho tablet porter, was sitting on the lever keeping tho points open, and nothing could avert a collision.

The express dashed into about half of tho goods train, which was still on tho line. Tho engine, after travelling sozno distance, was thrown over into the creek, with . several of tho freight trucks on top of it. Tho mail van took> tho impact off the rest of the express train, and tho sleeping car, which was next the mail van, was telescoped for more than twothirds of its length. The mail van evidently had. a cant upward, and struck the sleeper in a slanting direction.

The result was that the last compartment in the sleeper was practically uninjurod. How tho three mailmen— Messrs Bristol, Scott, and Clark, of Auckland—escaped is a miracle. When they heard the urgent danger signal they ran to tho forward end of the van. This saved their lives.

Oddlj enough, in tho smoker carriage nest to the telescoped sleeper the shock was scarcely felt, and when the coupling was unhqokod tho carriage was hauled away with the rest of tho train, uninjured. The confining of the smash to tho Blooper car can only be attributed to tho immediate application of the brakes and the fact that the mail van had struck a glancing blow. Tho driver and fireman were thrown clear. Tho porter, Donaldson, who stuck to his lever, had his arm badly broken. # Xo naked lights wero taken near tho sleeper until time had been given for the illuminating gas to escape. # There were about a dozen men in the sleeper, but no women. Mr W. J. Hill was the first passenger to emerge, kicking his way through a wijdow. The rescue work was hampered by the darkness and tho fact that there was only ono axe, but everyone lent willing nands. .Mr Stevens had a splinter through his brain, and death must have been instantaneous.

Mr Petersen, who was the last to be extricaUxl, was wonderfully cheerful, although pinned by the upper part of his body. Ho was alive .when got out about three-quarters of an hour after the smash, but he then suddenly expired.

Several of the other passengers wero severely injured. There was some comment niado at the scene upon the fact that it was throe hours before help came from Mercer, oeven miles away.

All tho passengers came on to Auckland by special train, which arrived at Iβ platform shortly after eleven.