FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2415, 31 December 1881, Page 3

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

[PBBBB ASSOCIATION TELBOBAM.] WELLINGTON, December 30.

A telegram reoeived this evening from Mr Hannay, Manager of Railways, in Ohristohurcb, states that an engine and seven wagons of the South goods train to Clinton, left the rails one milenorth of the Kaikeiku. The fireman, J. Roodman, was killed, and tbe driver, Mr Carter, was bruised. Considerable damage was done to the road, which is being cleared as soon as possible. The cause of the accident is as yet unknown. DUNEDIN, Deoember 30. The train leaving Balclutha for Clinton at 11 p.m. to-night ran off the rails nearWarepa station. It is reported that the stoker has been killed. Dr. Smith, from Balolutha, has left for the soene of the arcident. BALOLUTHA, December 31. There are further particulars of the railway accident. As the 440 train from Balolutha to Clinton reached Kaikaikei bridge a horse was seen on the line, but too late to stop the train. The horse was caught by the cowoatoher, and carried some ten yards, when the engine ran off the line and down an embankment ten feet deep. The driver at onoe shut off steam and ran off the water. The train consisted of fifteen trucks and a van. The engine and tender and seven trucks ran off ; the tender lying on its side and aoross the end of the engine, some trucks being on eaoh side of the line. Stoker James Woodoock was found lying under the tender. Death must have been intantaneous. James Blackwood, water pumper at Waiwera, was caught by the foot between the engine and tender. Every exertion was made to release him, but the task was not accomplished until late in the evening. After the reporter left no one else was hurt. The rails of the line are considerably twisted and damaged, and the engine is also muoh damaged, but the truoks are, apparently, not much injured. The acoident happened at 530 p.m. There were only three passengers by the train, and they escaped without injury. Mr Chiiholm, Inspector of Permanent Railways, arrived at 845 p.m., and proceeded to dear the line.