TIMBER TRAIN DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1040, 1 February 1911, Page 4

TIMBER TRAIN DISASTER.

NYDIA BAY FATALITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) : Blenheim, January 31. At the inquest on the victims of th& fatality at Nydia Bay on Saturday, the evidence showed that tho engine - was bringing several logs-laden trucks from the bush, and when about three-quarters of a mile from the mill in Opouri Valley, ou a perfectly level road, tho locomotive' ran oil the line- and crashed into a big stump a few feet away. Coupled to the locomotivo was a tender with a 400-gaHon, tank; Next were two trucks carrying logs. The engine was in charge of Birss, O'lSrkn acting as brakesman, wliilo Cor-. liss, Anderson, and Climo were in thei tender. When the engine struck the stump, the impetus caused a log on the first truck to lunge forward, and it struck the tank with such terrific force as to crumple it up. Anderson and O'Brien were hurled against the boiler, the valves of which; were snapped off, allowing such a volume of steam to escape thaf the two men were almost parboiled. Corliss seems to have been thrown clear of the wreck. Neither Climo nor Birss know how they got out. When the rush of steam subsided, Anderson and O'Brien were lifted out dead, and Corliss was so badly hurt that it was seen he could.not recover.. Climo had verv severe injuries to.his face, and Birss suffered ehieily from shock. The medical evidence was to tho effect, that Corliss had two compound fractures of the right leg, and .the whole left side - of tho chest was crushed in. Anderson's injuries wore acoinpoimd fracture of the left arm and a fractured skull, the whole of tho back of tho head lwins crushed in. O'Brien sustained a dreadful wound in the th'-nat, a fractured jaw, and 0 broken neck. ' The cuiv,»>r ami jury visited tho scene of the accident, but were unable to find any reason for the disaster. At tho time the engine was running about five or six miles and hour. After available evidence had been taken the inquest was adjourned, till Birss and Climo were sufficiently r©»i covered to give testimony, ;'