Fatal Railway Accident

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 95, 27 January 1885, Page 2

Fatal Railway Accident

(BEUTEB's TE_EG_'A_tS.) * Stdnet, January 26. A terrible accident occurred to the mail tram last night, near Cootamundra, on the Southern line. Owing to heavy ' rain the embankment had given way arid' ..the train -rushed into the gap in the dark-' . > ness and was completely wrecked. Many of the carriages were telescoped ( and several passengers were killed or wounded.' • ' The scene ' wa. one of intense ' horror. Assistance has been sent. 'Further particulars wiil be forwarded later, i ■-■■'.. , The train which ran off the line near : Cootamundra, pri , the southern railway contained amon. the passengers a num ber of bookmakers, all of whom escape^ with slightirijuries. No particulars 'have, yet. beep received, of the casualties. The culvert which collapsed was fifty yards wide and. nine deep. , The carriages were precipitated into- the gap ; and - fairly :dammed the creek,' and several persons were washed down the ' stream. Others were killed by the force of the concussion. Several miraculous escapes- are reported to have occurred. The Minister x»f Railways and leading officials are now at the .scene of the' disaster'. ! ' Later. Seven bodies have* been recovered from' the Cootamundra railway accident, viz., Crawford, a railway employee ; Wilson, ditto ; O'Dwyer, mail guard ; Oampesley, railway /official, and., a woman- and two children, whose names are unknown. , A number hare suffered more or less serious injuries from the rain here to-day. A Several sufferers by the railway acci dent have been removed to Goul bourn, while the others remain at Cootamundra. One bf the! injured, named Bermin, is not expected to. .recover. The wreck of, the truin presents. _a_ terrible scene. An' in* 'guest has. been opened on the bodies of t-io.e killed; but has been adjourned.. j The rain has' earned away a portion of j^ft^Vesteru Eailway. The is rpar.iallys-Bp.nde_ in consequence. '