ON A RUNAWAY CAR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 5

ON A RUNAWAY CAR.

A TENSE MOMENT OF AWFUL UNCERTAINTY..

Further particulars regardirig' the recent tramway accident ?.t Auckland show that among the thirty odd passengers on tho runaway car was Mr. F. Crespin, and as he occupied a seat in tho froitt compartment near tho door he had an uninterrupted view of the wholo course of events.

'Wo were going quietly along the road towards tho Baptist Church, certainly not at an excessive speed, when I felt a sovero bamp," he stated, iu relating his experiences to a reporter. "I instantly looked out of the window and saw tho lorry and horses being dragged along by tho car, or racing madly along on a level with tho tram. The' lights went out, then' the lorry appeared to bo . thrown clear of tho car and rails, and wo gathered momentum. Wo were« careering along at a terrific pace, and it was a tense moment, not because of impending danger, but more on account of tho awful uncertainty, the indofiniteness of what was to foliow. Tho motormau burst through the door with an expression on his face that I never want to sco on another human being. Ho shot past without a word and rushed to tho back of tho car. As wo raced over the railway bridge I could see tho car in. front'fully lit up, and realising that a smash was imminent I went down on to tho floor to minimise the risk. Just then tho crash intervened, and it seomed as if our car was tearing right through tho other. When 1 got to niy feet, shaken but unhurt, the passengers were all crowding at the rear end to get out, and women were screaming, and one crying 'Oh, my poor mother,' I carried out. Sho was frightened, but not injured." Mr. Crespin remarked that the passengers were thrown about, but generally behaved in an orderly manner under tho trying circumstances. "1 havo never had such a sensation," ho added, "crowded as it was into a few seconds—a car in darkness rushing down hill at a terrific speed, and a lighted car in front showing that a disaster was imminent. It was indefinite and awful, and in my sleep last night I lived tho whole scene over again!"