NINETEEN KILLED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20016, 15 August 1939, Page 7

NINETEEN KILLED

NEARLY SIXTY INJURED SABOTAGE ALLEGED LENGTH OF RAIL MOVED WRECKAGE OF EXPRESS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—Bn!toil Press Assn.) (Reed. August 14. 3 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, August 13. It is now stated that the total death roll in the Nevada train derailment is 19, while nearly 60 persons, including two residents of Melbourne, Australia, were injured. Southern Pacific Railway officials of the coroner’s jury found the tracks had been tampered with, causing the derailment.

Th e Melbourne victims were listed as Mr. and Mrs. L. V. Tomlin. Mrs. Tomlin is suffering from injuries to back and a leg, Mr. Tomlin is suffering from bruises. The railways division superintendent said the the wreck was “clearly a case of sabotage with murderous intent.” He said that one entire 30ft. length of rail had been moved 4in inward and the rail tie plates were again spiked to the ties in the new position. The power units of the . £200,000, 17-car train had sufficient momentum to cross the broken track and a small bridge just ahead. The baggage car was derailed when it struck the same spot. It pulled the succeeding coaches with it when it plunged from the track.

Some of the cars struck the steel framework of the bridge, demolishing it and toppling 25ft into the river.

The last previous train passed four hours before the wreck at 3-10 p.m.