DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT TALBOT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1955, 31 May 1880, Page 4

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT TALBOT.

From the “ Miryborongh Advertiser ” we Obtain further particulars concerning the Chocking accident at the Talbot railway (Station, reported by telegraph:—At the Taltot station on Saturday night, when the Ballarat train was leafing, Mr Richardson, draper, of that place, was standing near the edga of the platform, when by some means fee slipped and f ill on to the footboard of one of the carriages. Constable Dann, who was Bear the spot, saw the fall and at once seized feold of Mr Richardson’s coat, and in his efforts to extricate him from his peril, tore part of that garment from his back, but without avail. Mr Richardson then grasped Bt the constable's legs to save himself and nearly dragged that officer from the platform, feat the latter fell back wardsand thus escaped. Tuis was unseen by the railway employes, but One or two other persons on the platform witnessed the fail of the constable. The train proceeded onwards. Several members of the Maryborough Football Club being in one of the carriages heard calls for assistance, Os of some one in distress, but the noise of the train and the darkness of the night precluded them fiom ascertaining from whence they proceeded. About four members of the club and Messrs. Murphy and Frilay, who Occupied another compartment, saw the fall, fcut in consequence of the doors being locked, were unable to render any assistance. They •called out to the guard to put out the red tight in order to cause the driver to stop the Crain, but could not make the former hear, the wind being very boisterous, and the Other footballers thinking the shrieks Were the cat calls of on the -(station, drowned the cries for assistance by singing. The shrieks continued for about (three or four minutes after leaving the station Bnd then ceased. All efforts to attract attention by those in the carriage _ being unavailing, the train proceeded to its destination. Arrived in Ma y borough the passengers reported to the guard what they had witnessed, and the fact of the screams being heard for such a length of time. Mr Heney {the guard) also s ated that the van had passed over some object on the line shortly after leaving Talb >t, and proceeded to arouse TVTr Franks, the station master, and informed ■him of the occurrence. An inspection of the wheels of the carriages was then made, and ■B groat quantity of blood and pieces of flesh were discovered adhering to them. Mr Franks ordered steam to be kept up, and, together with Constable Burns, who was on the station, and other persons, at once went to the place indicated. Arrived at about one mile and a half from Talbot the engine was Stopped, when the dead body was found, several persons from Ttlbot, including the station master and Dr. Massey, being on the spot. The face of the dead man was found to bo quite perfect, but his body was greatly mutilated, being frightfully lacerated ; the back of his head was smashed in and the brains were dashed out. Many evidences of the fearful occurrence wore also visible for a considerable distance. To all appearance the unfortunate gentleman had clung most tenaciously to the footboard until within about 100 yards of the place where his body was found, and when he re laied his hold must have been drawn under the wheels of the van. Mr Richardson had boon speaking to Mr Murphy, oi Maryborough, just previous to the accident, and was seeing that gentleman away by the train from the Talbot R unan Catholic Church bazaar, where he had been singing. The deceased gentleman had also been shaking hands with the members of our football club, who were returning from dunes, before ho met his untimely death. Talbot has lost an old identity and a citizen who was always to the fore in all matters of public interest connected with the locality, and the loss of Mr Richardson is deeply regretted, not only in that town, but throughout an extensive district, where he was well and favorably known, ffihe deceased gentleman leaves a wife and several children to deplore his loss.