ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

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

ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED

SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCES

(rKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGIIAM.) AtCKLAXD, May 27. Describing the disaster, tho "Star's" Mercer correspondent telegraphs as folio wso:—

Whangamarino station, the scene of the collision, is hetwoon nine and ten mile? from Mercer- The accident was duo to the Main Trunk express coming into collision with a mixed goods and cattlo train which was being sidetracked to allow tho express to pass. Apparently, owing to some misunderstanding with regard to tho signals the express, travelling at thirty-nvo miles an hour, ran into tho goods train, which was across oji to the loop line. Tho express cut right through, tho goods train. Tho engiuo thon overturmxi into one of tno marshy swamps whicii tjingo tiio bank of tho Wui&ato river.

Tim rnaii van telescoped with tho sleeping car, w-jen tno rosuJt tuat cignx out ot mc eleven occupants were euuor niiitxi or injured. A* 6TATE OF WRECKAu.fc. A reporter, on <unval at the scone ot tuc avxiwuiiL, iouuu cvorytiiiiig m <i iioptiijtoi dicue oi wiucKago. ine Dig /a-njii oi mo UAjnudo mm euiujuuieiy ovwtiuiiwi, an<i was J>uig ill ■a, SWemji oix i«oo oOjuW luo X.rui'k. \JU iiut, cu o iuo lUsCil Juacuu i'UO itJuiiUOS Oi tkxii. uiiu vt*i- liiva Uuwix uouij,"O cw: J.UU iOOI OI bUu i"* ,, "" v »>" >»•*» Huilo uiuivti juver tno tux'iuUili/, lut! Vrt4' IMUiua lia.V----1"B ovoi tao VMX. iiv> tVill , (Jtokv.,) tiitti tijo c-itr roor uuuxi nuuu> o.i to tuo vau root. m iuo «vi uiu cviuyiULiuviii& tve/«j tvii-t-CULJilii-VVIaC lULO Oii.« OI WlOClinoui wmcu tuo ujjmuu piiaatiujiciii nay to 1)0 u&U'lCaiiCU.

A itjCuUAitjvAiiJuß KbCAPE. Aniuug some I'oiuiu'n.uuuj oescapes rocoiucu, undo, ox mo uiUiot poj tei - , Wiliium ijotutiuson, was p;ooawy tuti uiusi cAU'uoiUuiary. Jjlo was m oi i.jao buiLiou laau niM. wiiiiii ii;uu by a '"oiar" lupru&cuwutvo tms intiruJuy, nau an exwuorum-iii-y siory u> xeu. xxo aecnuwx w> mxy iiow too mgaixm stooa at, tne tiuio oj tno acciuciiL, out saw tnat wtieu tuo smusii occuiveii Ho was sitting on tiie poiuts, siufc-u-ackuig iae goous tram witn wnicn tno coiiiaed. It was wiiuo ho was tons occupied that tuo express came tnunuenng tnrougu, catchiug tJio gooas train taixly anuasnips. itm big express engine*crasued stiaighfc through tno trucKs of the t'reigiiter and passed right over him. He was carried tomo distance amid the debris, and was found atterwarde in an unconscious condition, lying amongst the wreckage of tho destroyed goods and cattlo trucks. Ho received a broken arm and was badly cut about the faco and body, but his escape from instant death and mangling was truly remarkable.

PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPES. Equally sonsational and equally providential ' were tho escapes of Messrs P. Parkingfcoa and J. Stone, tho fireman and driver on tho express, and of Messrs cJcott and Bristol, officers in tlio mail van. When the collision occurred the tram was travelling at a speed of well over thirty miles an hour. After passing through the goods trt,in the gino leapt into space, and turned turtle m tho swanrp below. Under £ho circumstances the escape o: the driver and .fireman was miraculous. They wore both, thrown clear of the cab of the engine into tho swamp and" escaped almost without a scratch. The officers in. the mail van, which was immediately behind the engine, and which telescoped with the sleeper, also escaped without serious injury. The drivor and fireman of the goods train. Messrs Hill and Collett, also escaped injury.