A Strange Occurrence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 69, 15 September 1894, Page 4

A Strange Occurrence.

A peculiar fatality happened on the « s t. Kilda Railway Station on Saturday week. The 820 p.m. train for town started punctually from St. Eilda and arrived in Melbourne minus its fireman. The driver, W. T. Bradford, made no report at any of the »Ut*ionß ot anything* unusual having happened, and took the train back to **t. Kilda single-handed and still reticent. Meanwhile the 820 p.m. train from Melbourne to St. Kilda ran over and cut to pieces a man who turned out to be Arthur Patridge, the mitsinfr fireman of Bradford's train. The driver of the down train duly reported the shocking occurrence on his arrival at St. Kilda, and the mutilated remains were searched far and found between thnt place and Middle Park station. Driver Bradford explained that Patridge had been suffering* from dysentry, and had to absent himself from hi* engine at the **t Kilda end- Expecting- that he would return to his post at the last moment, Bradford started at time, bnt was never rejoined by his mate. Thinking that Patridjre was unavoidably detained, he steamed on, and meant to shield him from the possible consequences of the irregularity by concealing it. Henc<» his failure to report the disappearance until after the discovery of the body. Fie now surmises that, unseen by him. the fireman must have pot on to some nart of the train and fallen off.