THE TRAIN DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1925, Page 1

THE TRAIN DISASTER

I Australia ,V X.Z. Cable As-,, vial ion. | PASSENGERS’ STORIES. BRISBANE. dime 10. Two victims of the railway disaster have now been identified as Mi Shadweil, ol lir.uiinh, Kueenshmd, and Air Benjamin Hill, of Brisbane. Mr John Dean the husband of Mrs Sadie Dean, who was killed, said that they were married last .January. '1 hey came from Gniinedali to Queensland to -search tor work. His wife had .in.-,!, stepped into the lavatory, when the .smash occurred. He managed after the first shoe!;, to open the door, and lie heard his wife moan his name, 110 tried to move her, hut she was pinned in the wreckage, which had to ho cut away. Previous to the accident an unusual knocking noise was heard behind their carriage, hut no one investigated. Jack Stephens . one of those injured, said he was in the second tv, last section of the carriage, which fell over the bridge. The train was llion going fairly fast, and shortly before ihc smash lies thought he felt the carriage humping badly, lie looked out of the window, and his friend. Philip Reid, who was killed, a!- . looked. They noticed the van behind was projecting very much outside the line of the carriages, and sparks were living from the wheels. Stephens went and pulled the communication cord, and as he did. the carriage gave a violent lurch, and toppled over the side of the bridge. He was stunned, and when he recovered, he found himself lying on his lace in the dirt beside the creek. People were crying out and moaning all around him. He struggled out, of the debris, and was attended to by the ambulance men. BRISBANE. June It). Two bodies are still unidentified. Additional injured include Henry Clark, of Numhdi, and Mrs Robinson, of Longreach. both being in a critical condition. An examination of the permanent wav disclosed that a luggage waggon was derailed It miles from the scene of the disaster and humped over three bridges while off the rails, lie fore tinally falling over the Traverton bridge. The guard did not notice that anything was wrong.