AISGILL DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 7

AISGILL DISASTER.

CAUSE OF THE SMASH, ENGINE-DRIVERS TELL THEIR STORY. SIR ARTHUR DOUGLAS DEAD. By Telegraph—Frees Association—Oopyrisit (Rec. Soptembor 7, 5.5 p.m.) Londoiii September 6. Tlio Board of Trado inquiry into the railway disaster at Aisgil], Yorkshire, in which over fifty persons lost their lives, is still proceeding. Tlio evidence of the engine-drivers was takon yesterday. Nicholson, engine-driver of the first train, gave evidence as to losing timo from Carlislo. The engine was making 6team badly, owing to the smallness of the coal being used. Ho added that drivers frequently stopped for the samo cause. .Witness admitted that' it was dangorous to stop as he did. When ho noticed the other train, he tried to start his engine, but it refused to budge. There had been no difficulty in. seeing tlio signal lights. Ho had asked for a pilot engine at Carlisle, but there was not one available. Nicholson, continuing, explained that ho had not thought at tho time that it was dangerous to stop, as he had presumed that the Mallerstang signals would'arrest tho following train. Ho had tsked for an extra engine at Carlisle becauso his load was 243 tons, instead of tlio usual 230 tons. The engine had carried) 253 tons. Candell', the driver of tho second train, stated in his evidonoo that ho !bad' (useu small coal for several yea.rs, but had novor officially complained. The steam of his engine started to go down at Appleby. He started oiling the engine two niilos before reaching Mallerstang. Ho did l not ta-ko his habitual second look at tho distance signal l owing to his attention being diverted bv 'the low water in tho boiler. He passed all tlio signals without noticing them at a reduced speed of twenty-fivo miles owing to the gradient. The fireman, Fellows, just beforo the aceidont sounded, the whistle mid exclaimed, "There's .a red light!" Witness used the brako, but it was too late. Superintendent Carey gave evidence that he had complained of the smallness of the coal, and larger was supplied, but only for a period. Tlio firemaji Follows stated that ho forgot to toll Candell that tho latter had not noticed the signals. Fellows assumed responsibility for ihis forgetfulness in liot informing Candell. Mot-calf, tho fireman of tho first train, give; evidence that lie had, complained to tho superintendent of the railway regarding tho quality of tho coal a'fortnight a£o. Other evidence suggested- that the gag cylinders had exploded, igniting tho wreckago. Saws ; axes, arid other tools and firo oxtiiiguishers had been distributed to tho passengers, but there had been great confusion. There was nobody to direct the rcscuo efforts intelligently. Tho hearing was adjourned. ' London, September 6. Tho railway men implicated in tho Aisgill disaster mado a signed agreement placing themselves in their employers' hands, and declining tlio assistance of tho trades union officials. Tlio express was held on Friday, for twenty minutes,- owing to a goods train being stopped becauso of shortage of steam, near the sceno of the disaster. Several newspapers protpst against the Board of Trado insisting on holding a private inquiry regarding the Aisgill railway disaster. ANOTHER VICTIM. SIR ARTHUR, DOUGLAS DEAD. (Rec. Septombor 7, 5.5 p.m.) , j London, September 0. Sir Arthur Douglas, formerly UnderSecretary for Dofenco in New Zealand, has succumbed to tho injuries he re- : ccived in the Aisgill railway disaster. ' Tho kto Sir Arthur Douglas, Bart., : was a native of Devonshire, and the third son of tho late Sir Robert Douglas, Bart, Sir Arthur was educated at Harrow, and entered the Royal Navy in 1858, and in 1873 was appointed instructor to tho Naval Artillery Volunteers at Liverpool, a position which ho relinquish- , ed three or four y«irs lator in order to ' come to New Zealfuul. Ho arrived In Wellington from London. in the ship ' Ocean Mail. Duriiig Russian war 1 scare in 1885 he was employed ae naval ' staff officer in Wellington, and 'two years 1 after that ho was appointed secretary to i the Council of Military Education and | staff officer to tho Artillery, with the i rank of major. In 1891 he was transferred to Lyttolton as_ officer commanding , the Permanent Militia there, arid in 1895 ho became Under-Secretary for Defence. He returned to England some years ago, -j TRADES UNION PROTEST. ' (Rec. September 7, 5.6 p.m.) London, September 6. ] Tho Trades Union Congress, now sitting at Manchester, has protested against its representative not being allowed to cross-examine the witnesses at tho Aisgill inquiry. It is alleged 1 that the men's refusal to entrust their i case to tho union officials is tho out- f oomo of unduo influence. f