THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 February 1901, Page 3

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Details of the Shocking Affair.

The Screams and Cries of the Wounded.

[by electric telegraph-copyright.]

(per press association.)

Deceived this day, at 9 10 a.m. Sydney, This Day. The accident occurred on the straight rack.

Tho train was crowded chiefly with .•orkmen and clerks, who were returning .omc from work.

Tho cause of derailment is still a mystery.

The theory of leading railway officials is that the brake was suddenly applied as it passed the spot. Tho examination showed the tracks in good order.

The engine was only just left the rc pairing shops.

The rate of speed was not excessive. Sho was running between twenty and twenty-five miles an hour. Eye witnesses state that the engine tore along on the ballasting 50 yards, when she suddenly swerved down the embankment and rolled completely over. The couplings connecting the engine train snapped, and the first car coming on with terrific momentum mounted and crashed clean over the staggering engine sweeping off its dowe and funnel, and landing on its side fifty feet further on. The first car fortunately broke its couplings, and left the second carriage on the line, but it was thrown across alright angles, while the third remained safe on the metals.

The engine after toppling over swung right round, and crashed through a fence and stood up on its wheels just where the street crosses the line.

The first car was completely wrecked-

For some moments after the disaster the people in the train were stupified. It happened so suddenly that they could hardly realise that a portion of the train was smashed.

Those in the other cars escaped practically scot free beyond a shaking. Soon they recovered and hurried to the scene of tho wreck, where the dead and injured lay among the debris. Help was immediately forthcoming from a hundred sources. The lino runs close alongside dwellings, and residents hearing the crashing, grinding shock gave the warning of the disaster.

From all parts came people hurrying to the sccue.

The work of rescue was a difficult one. Ambulance wagons were sent from tho nearest railway stations.

The mail carts were pressed into service, and as the wounded were extricated they were carried away to the hospitals : but the carriage was so smashed and its timbers so iritcrjoincd, that it was a laborious task to get some of the bodies free; j .......

Heavy weights were lifted and timbers pressed asunder. Even spades wore utilised. Tho work was continued amid the cries of the wounded and screams of others, whose relatives were among the victims. Some bodies were mutilated.

Many passengers with hopeless broken limbs who seemed at first dead appeared more numerous than they actually were, for a large proportion of the wounded were rendered unconscious. Fortunately there were few or no women aboard the train.

One of the first people picked up was Fireman King, a mere youth, who was lying clear of tho wreckage and had apparently been thrown out of the engine when it first fell over, quite dead. Driver Dowlo was found close to the engine, badly hurt. A gentleman residing close to the scene of the accident gives a graphic, description.

He was looking out of the window and saw the train approaching at a rapid rate. Suddenly the engine jumped off the rails, ploughing alongside the lino, and gradually worked to the edge of the embankment, and rolled over two or three times, falling with a tremendous thud on tire side of the street below. She jumped first with tho cars with her, hut the tremendous jolt caused the couplings to part, otherwise the whole passenger laden carriages would have been telescoped. The engine dashed down into the street close 'to two little children who had a miraculous escape and wore covered with dirt and mixture from the engine. When the engine car went off, the remaining carriages by a miracle kept the rails.

The grade here is slightly up bill and all came to a standstill about 50 yards further along. When the train stopped, out poured the affreighted passengers in hundreds and. instantly set to work to render assistance to the injured whose groans and cries were heartrending. One man riding on the footboard of the wrecked car, which was sent Hying down the embankment, jumped on his feet little the worse for his experience. The fourth victim identified is G H Gouldcr, a schoolboy aged 15, tho son of a well-known city detective.

Beverley and Tcece were also schoolbo vs.

Three men still remain unidentified. Latest returns give the number of injured as 20, though a number of others received bruises and suffered severely from the shock. About a score still remain in the hospitals. The worst cases arc—Fred .Tackcl injuries to spine and bruises to head, which are serious.

Charles Spencer, broken jaw and injuries to head. Fred I’olfe, lacerated lung, and is in a critical condition,

W ATQuivcr, fractured skull, serious, Engine driver Hoyle, fractured ribs both legs broken, and injuries to head critical.

The others are chiefly suffering from broken bones, severe bruises and the shock.

Driver Doyle, interviewed in the Hospital, said it was all too sudden for anyone (o see anything. He could give no reason for the engine leaving the line. She seemed to jump the rails and turn over. When lie came, to his senses ho found himself in tho Hospital. A fireman living near the scene rendered valuable assistance, drawing the fire and letting oil the steam of the engine and probably saving an explosion.