THE GUARD'S STORY.

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

THE GUARD'S STORY.

THE WORK OF RESCUE

Tho guard, James Wilson, when in-torviewed-at the scon© of the accident, said that the first intimation of anything wrong was when tho Westinghouse brake was suddenly appliejd. It was a remarkable thing, nowever, that oven when tho collision took place, practically no impact to speak of was felt by those at his end of the train. Ho ascribed this to the effect of tho Westinghouse brake. When tho ex-pi-ess had come to a standstill, he immediately went to the front of the train, where ho was surprised to find the engine lying on its t>aok and the two. front cars telescoped. Piteous cries came from the occupants of the wrecked sleeping carriages. . Tie guard rushed back to tho guard's vail for a light, crowbar, and axes. The interior of the sleeping car was but a heap of wreckage. All the compartments had been jammed together, and several of tho passengers wero caught between tho shattered rragmonts of the woodwork and ceiling. Tho passengers from tho other cars worked like Trojans to assist in rescuing tboso injured. Those caught in the ilobris and who were still conscious, were calling for help and urging the roscuors to uso every possible hasto in their work.

Mr Petersen was ono of the first to whom assistance was rendered. Ho was caught between the shattered walls of tho car, with his head projecting through one of tho compartment windows. Crowbars and axes had to be used to. release him. Death, occurred shortly after Mr Petersen was got out.

Mr Stevens had evidently died before anyone could get to him. Tho bodies were conveyed to tho little wayside station, where it could bo seen that both had been terribly injured, vlr Stevens had received a .terrible crushing, his skull being almost crushed in.' Mr Petersen had also been fearfully crushed, and there would have been no hope for either, it was clear, even had no time whatever been lost in recovering them from the wrecked car.