TROOP TRAIN ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2592, 14 October 1915, Page 3

TROOP TRAIN ACCIDENT

DEATH OF M'GEE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Hamilton, October 13., Samuel M'Gee, aged thirty-a waterslder, and an Auckland member of tlie Reinforcements draft which left Auckland for Trentham yesterday, was lookins out of a window while the train was going through the Taupiri station, and struck''liis head against the tablet arm. Alexander Hviand, another trooper, who was waving his liand from one of the platforms, camo. in oontact with the same obstacle, and sustained badlylacerated muscles of his loft forearm. Both -were admitted to the Waikato Hospital.; M'Gee died' at midnight.

' INQUEST OPENED. . Thejnquest on Private Samuel M'Gee, . who died as the result of injuries received through coming in contact with a tablet arm at Taupiri station while . leaning-out of. tho window of a troop train bound from Auckland to Trenth»m on Tuesday evening, <vas opened 'before Mr! Rawson, Coroo.-, to-day. .! Hyland, the other injured man, said ;he "was standing on the platform of I the carriage next the engine waving to the people on- the station -when he "struck- tho tablet arm.' On entering ' the carriage lie found M'Gee lying in a pool of blood on the.floor.' '. The inquest w : as .

1 The tablet, in use at' Taupiri was _re,'ccr.tly installed, and of' a new design ian.d undergoing trial. Two arms project, which, when released, move one upwards and the other downwards. The explanation given by the officials is.that on tho tablet arm being struck by Hy- : land the steelwork bent ; and' jambed j against, the wooden pillar and remained [fixed. M'Gee was struck by tho bent \ steelwork, which remained a danger to the whole train. Had others' been .iMning out there is. little doubt but I that more would have been injured.