RAILWAY SMASH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1648, 15 January 1906, Page 3

RAILWAY SMASH.

SEVERAL oars derailed, passengers injured. Melbourne, Jan. 6. A serious railway ncoidont ooourrod at Kirkslall about midnight, two passongors boiog injured. They had a eonsatioual experience. The train was a mixed one, and immediately following the ongioo was what is known as a " medium truok,” used for oarrying agricultural and other goods. Then came a refrigerating truok, and next a first-class carriage. Without any warning whatever something appears to have givon way in the under ironwork of the medium truok, for it suddenly ooliapeod and left the rails, followed by the refrigoratiDg truok, and first-olass oarriago. 'l’he engine,_ fortunately, kepi to the lino, and was immediately pulled up. A scene of confusion was witnessed. Portions of the derailed trucks and carriages were soattsred in all directions on the permanent way for a j radius of over 100 yards. There were ODly two passengers in the wrecked oarriage, but both of them wore injured, their names being Mr F. J. Haz- 1 zard, 83 Highett street, Prahrao, suffering , from shook to the spino ; and Mr 0. A. ; Panther, Main street, Ooburg, shook. They j hod a remarkable experience, being imprisoned in the wreoked oarriage for some time, and the guard had to out open tbo bottom of the oarriage with an axe. He found tho hapless prisoners in a dazed and pi ostrate condition, and water was passed in to them through an aperture made with the axe. The oflioials then procured

strapp, and mounting to the top of the ovorturned oorriages, managed to.haul the I injured travellers through the window. A eeoood-class oarriage was attaohed to the train, but it did not leave the line, and the oooupantj csoaped with a shaking. The oogine prooeedod to Port Fairy for asaiatanoe, and brought baok another oarriage and a doctor, and the two injured paasongers reoeived immediate attention. All were subsequently taken on to their destination. A casualty van was sent from VVarmambool, and the gang found that the refrigerating truok had been hurled right up to the Sirkatall platform, and that all the derai'od oa rriages had been praotioally reducod to splinters. Some of the moat experienced of the officials stated that they had never seen a worse smash,