TWO MEN INJURED IN THORNDON YARDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2323, 3 December 1914, Page 7

TWO MEN INJURED IN THORNDON YARDS

SERIOUS SHUNTING ACCIDENT A' shunting accident in whioh two platelayers'"were very seriously, injured occurred at the Thorndon railway yards early, yesterday morning. The victims of the accident were Herbert Cashmore, who sustained a compound comminuted fracture of both legs, and Patrick Bain, who had his right leg cut off below the knee, while the wheel of a truck passed over his left leg. At the time of the accident Cashmore, who has been engaged at the work for five years, was instructing Bain, who had only been taken on that morning, in the work of replacing rail points. Both men were kneeling on the permanent way) almost immediately outside the Thorndon goods shed, when a line ofwagons pushed by a shunting engine ran them down. Both were knocked over and carried a- distance of about 20 yards. The driver of the engine was James Barr, who states that when he observed a man roll out from under one of the trucks he immediately applied the. brakes, and ae he did so he saw a second man roll out. The engine was travelling from north to south at the time, and Barr states that he Eoirndod the whistle twice prior to the occurrence. Tho engine was not travelling at a high speed. John Sneddon, the shunter, states that he heard a. ehout and immediately gave the danger signal. Tho accident is attributed to the fact that there are said to have been no danger discs on the line near where the two men were working, and consequently the driver of the engine was under the impression all was clear. Driver Barr rendered first-aid to the injured men, and other hands assisted, as practically all the men in the yard are the possessors of first-aid certificates. Drs. Collins and Henry were sent for, and attended the injured men, who were removed to the Hospital as soon as possible. Cashmore is a married rran . with four children, and resides at 9 liam Street, Petone. He is about 81 years of age. Bain is a single man of 36 years of ago, living at 96 Moleeworth Street. A departmental inquiry will bo held into the accident. oqiroiTioiFciiTiOAL. The condition of the two injured men was reported from' the Hospital last night to be critical. Cashmore has had to havo one of Ms legs amputated. ELDERLY MAN INJURED. An old man named David Fabb, 64 years of ago, was admitted to the Hospital last night suffering from a broken jleg. It is understood that he was cycling on the way .to the Hutt when his machine upset, causing his right leg ti) be broken below the knee. Fabb lives in Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt, and works at Belleviie Gardens.