GRETNA RAILWAY SMASH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 5

GRETNA RAILWAY SMASH

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, June 24. At the inquest into the circumstances of the collision between a troop train and 'a passenger train at Gretna, near Carlisle, on May 22, by which hundreds of soldiers and civilians were killed, a verdict of- manslaughter was returned against signalmen Jleakin and Tinsley and fireman Hutchinson. The disaster occurred at Gretna, near Carlisle. The local train from Carlisle was shunting at Gretna to enable the midnight express from Euston to pass, when a troop trpin, with companies of the Ist and 7th Royal Scotch proceeding southward dashed into the local train, partly wrecking it. The troop train telescoped in the centre, and a fire started. The London express dashed into the debris of both trains, and everything was piled up in indescribable confusion. A strong wind fanned the flames into a great ticn, involving a long lino of wagons adjoining the siding. After the first collision the carriages and engines were hurled_ across the London line, and almost immediately the express, drawn bv two engines, tore into tlie wreckage. Four of the engines were bunched in a heap. The heat drove the rescuers Back repeatedly, and they had to leave many victims to bo burned alive. An ammunition wagon at tlie rear of the troim train and contents were removed safely. There were minor explosions, from cartridges carried by tlie troops. It was eight hours before the flame* were ipastered by the firemen. There was great loss of life, including 195 men nf tlie Royal Scots, who also had 217 injnred.