THE TRAIN FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1923, Page 2

THE TRAIN FATALITY

[nv if. legk.ypii —run rnr.ss association.] DRIVER. STEWART'S CONDITION. TACMARANUI, July 7. The driver of the wrecked train, Alexander Stewart, of Auckland, at first reported uninjured, but now it appears that ho went hack to To Knit. b\ train shortly after the accident, and mi arrival there had a relapse. He was examined there by a doctor who tound that- ho was suffering from an injury to tho head, while his left arm was scalded and his thigh injured. Stewart's condition, though serious. i. : not critical. The was taken to a private house in To Kuiti. Tho doctor was with him for two hours, but said that Stewart was too ill to give him a version of the accident. SAD SCEXF. AT MORGUE. TAFMARI Nri. July 7. The railway disaster scene at. the temporary morgue hero this morning was a sad one. The bodies were laid out. as they came from the train on trestles, in Carter’s Sample Rooms, each one being labelled with the name and address, except two that are not identified, and who are young men. one being dark, and the other fair. Mr A. S. Laird, District Coroner, in charge, made arrangements to have the bodies washed and shrouded before the relatives arrive. The work of undressing the bodies was entrusted to Constable; McCall uni, Fxbott. Wolfed;! le, and the Rev. Father Dufly. who are deserving of great credit for undertaking a task which few care to face.

Detective Walsh was also present, attending to the identihc.itions. A committee of ladies completed the task <f washing the bodies. These were Mcsdames Laird, McNab, W< rrull and Reece.

A local resident who thought the tie-j script ion of one of the unidentified | h,Mlie- fitted that of his son. paid a visit to the temporary morgue tins morning. He was relieved to find that he was mistaken. I 11,, licv. Eiitieott, Methodist Min- j inter of Taumnrunoi, was a pa-senger ■ „o the derailed express, and was one of the foremost workers in attending to the injured. Must of the male victims were healthy young men. who were in a smoking carriage, going south to the Wellington races. AH were more or loss .severely injured ill the neck, face and head, some having deep wounds. From this it would appear that they were seated in the smoker, and the debris from the car brushed right across their heads ns it was telescoped. Louis Hill, a titter from Newmarket, Workshops, whose address was <’lad.to no Road. Parnell. Auckland, dropped dead at- the siene of the Ollgarua sop tins morning. Hi.s body "as brought io Tannin run ni. ANOTHER IDENTIFIED. T'AFM A R.UNI'I, July 8. One of the. unknown dead has now been identified as William C. Petsehuket 22 years of age. an orphan, and an inmate of Ddvorlh Institute, 1 apatoetoe, Auckland. J. J. Brady’s address is Tekawa, near To Awamiuu. Be was employed on a farm and was a well-known “thelete. Ho was on his way t<> visit his relatives at Woodville. Billings, one of the dead, comes from Rahotu. M. ,). Caiman, Pahinuia. who win killed is the correct name, not Cameron. ENTERTAIN OF IDENTITY. PaIIIATI.'A .11 ly S. In connection with the Ongarue train disaster the name of the victim given as “Caution'' or “Cameron, .1 aliiatua. Is not known here. A cheque hook on 11 io body, however, has been identified as the one used by Mr Maurice ('minor, sturckeopr, ol Kakanui. 32 miles from I'aimHua. He bad been visiting relatives at- Rntoma. ami advised his wife he was returning on, Friday. He lias not been heard Iroin since. His wife left yesterday for Taumnrunui to view tho Icily. Mr Connor was well-known in the district. He had boon engaged in carrying on a storekeeping business for same time. He also was well known formerly as a footballer. EXPRESS DRIVER INTERVIEWED. BO ELDER CAI'SED DISASTER. TE KITTJ. July 7. Interviewed on arrival here last night, Vlr A. Stewart, driver of the train, who is regarded a.-> me of the best-known and most, experienced drivers on tile mad. said that on renehing a rise near the scene of the accident, lie immediately shut oil steam. Ihe train proceeded down the hill under its own weight. His first glimpse of tho slip was cn rounding a sharp betid. The train ploughed through an obstruction even liefore the brakes had noon applied. Ho thinks the train would have got through safely had it not boon lor the huge boulder, which was carried along a distance of two or three chains by tlie cowcatcher, ltd ore the engine was derailed.

When the engine came to a stop against the hank, he called to his mate Campbell, the fireman, hut received no answer. Steam was escaping furiously, and after groping about, he got his arm under Campbell, whose coat was jammed between the engine and the bank. Tbe latter was dragged out with the help of passengers. Stewart's injuries consist of a bully scalded arm, and bruises to the head and thigh. He was cared for last night by friends, and had a good night. He was reported much better this morning. II is injuries are not regarded as serious, though ho has been ordered absolute quiet. FURTHER LIST OF INJURED. TAUMARUN'UI, duly 7. The list of the injured includes: Harry Floy, Te Aroha, injuries to the head and face. Lawrence Billing, Rahotu, New Plymouth, injuries to the head and face Harold Shepherd. Wellington. a wound above the eye. A brother of Mr Saxby, who died in the hospital, arrived in Taumarunui this morning. He was unaware till lie gut here that his brother had been killed or injured. A local clergyman suggests the time has arrived for an appeal to the public on behalf of the hospital funds, as considerable expense has been incurred. Numerous messages ot sympathy have been received locally by the Mayor, and these were communicated to the relatives of the dead and to tbe injured. THE INJURED. TAUMARUNUI, July 7. A reporter visited the local hospital to-day. and elicited tho information that tho condition of tbe railway accident patients generally is .satisfactory. No further deaths have occurred. Of the women patients Mrs Henderson is the most painfully injured, but is reported to be progressing satisfactorily. Most of tho men patients passed a comfortable night, recovering as well os van be expected.

The most seriously injured men nre: C. MoFarlane, Milford, Taknpuna; Tommy Collins, tho well-known boxer; and W. Campbell, fireman of the engine. All three are in a serious condition. but their relatives and friends aro assured that, the utmost <-are and attention is being bestowed. REM O'VIN GVR EC K AGE. TaUMaRUNFI. July 7. In connection with the railway disaster. Messrs F. W. Mac-Lean (Chief Engineer to the Railway Department!. TV.” Widdop (Assistant Engineer). James Mason (Commercial Agent for the Department), F. V\ ilson (of the Mechanical Engineer’s Office L and other experienced officers left 'Wellington in a special train at 11 a.m. yosterdav. Tho train, which was a light one, travelled at express speed, and the party arrived at Taumnrunui at 2.30 i I-’- 11 '.

Mr McLean ami hi- stall' were engage 1 in directing operations at the scene of the accident until midnight, when they returned to Taumariniui.

Mr W. R. Davidson (District Engineer. Ohnkiine) arrived at tho scene at midday yesterday. Fp to that time, the relief gangs had concentrated their efforts on extricating the dead and wounded. On Mr Davidsons directions tne rear portion of the train which was intact, was pulled back to Ongarue. bv means of an engine. The third carriage from the front which was partly telescoped on to the second carriage, was pulled hack, on its own bogeys to Ongarue. Tilt* first and second carriages "'ere j so completely telescoped :l '> l " appc-i as one. The second car "as pulL-tl j awav with an engine, but the first eai- j riage was deeply buried in the mud. j and gave the breakdown gang a great . deal of trouble. About four chains of | rails were torn up. The men worked ; hard on the lust carriage until midnight, when, with the aid of an on- j gine, it was pulled clear ol the "reekage. Further work on this carriage was postponed until daylight, as the task was considered dangerous. Tho work of propping up the engine was continued nil night, and it i> considered that by noon to-day the engine, postal van, and other debris will ho cleared. A party from Auckland arrived at Ongarue by train yesterday afternoon, after some delay on the "ay. on a<eount of the care that had to be taken in bringing a huge crane, winch is t ic largest, in the Dominion. Its immense ana made it difficult to negotiate the curves. Along with the crane and other appliances, came 50 men. who were put on in tile relict gangs to assist those from the south. Tlie train services are some" liat disi organised. The train leaving WclUng- ] ton at 12.-15 p.m. to-day will ccme on to j Tnuniarunui, as the deviation at Knk<— jhi is now complete. If the Ongarue j obstruction is dear, it will run straight on. If not clear, the train will he held till 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. There is a train from Auckland to-day. Trains from Taumarunui south are running nt tho ordinary time?*. It. is considered probable the slip at Ongarue will he cleared by midnight to-day. The rails are now being laid again'. If no hitch occurs the lino will soon be dear.

THE LAST IDENTIFICATION. WELLINGTON. July The last body of the disaster has been identified as V . Ecni\ “• ’T White. Waimana Avenue, Northcote. Auckland. ANOTHER BODY IDENTIFIED. TAUVIARANEE July 0. Tim body previously reported to be that of M.J. Caiman, has been identified by relatives as Maurice John Connor. , , i r An inquest was held on toe body ot Tonis Hill, who dropped dead at the slip. A verdict was returned m accordance with the medical evidence, that death was due to natural cause.-, the actual muse being cerebral Immhorrage. Tim deceased was aged • >-. and was in charge ot the gang.