NAPIER TRAIN ACCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1925, Page 1

NAPIER TRAIN ACCIDENT

FIREMAN'S STORY. CARRIAGES ON EIRE. [nr Tr.uicn.si'ir- fiat imikss association.] narier. Se|d. 23. Fireman Donovan states that his "hole impression of the accident, was that a.s the lirst hend was lieing negotiated, the engine swayed dangerously and reliiM-d to answer an allempt lo right her. ami crashed into 1 he side of the cutting on the left of the rails. The liremaii nils thrown out through the \s indoss . The engine tools tin* first carriage with it, and throw il on its side, where the top of the cutting fell assay to a comparatively losshank. The si hole of ss hatevor good fortune intervened to prevent- a greater loss of life and limit svonld appear to lie in the remarkable oireumstanocs that the eonpling hetsvecn the first and second carriages snapped cleanly, ami allowed the remaining six carriages to go madly forsvnrd on their career dosvnhill, and to evade telescoping oil front of the train. The freed carriages did not go more than a. le" yards past the engine svlien they too left the rails and crashed into the right side ol the cutting. As they (leu along, some part of the engine caught the Iron! carriage and ripped its side out cleanly along its entire length, taking single -eats out of the first-class compartment at the same time. Ii svas a carriage that still remained coupled to the engine that suffered most severely in damage to itself and to its occupants. and it ssa< in it that the most seriously injured were travelling. Within a I'esv minutes tsvo of the truant carriages "ere on tire, and they hurtled fiercely and iptieklv. The heat from them is as terrihle. ami it uas only n matter of a feu more minutes hetore the third carriage had hcen devoured liv the Unities, and then the carriage on the hank hcen me alight. As soon as possible after the accident happened, the undamaged carriages were detached and pushed Ini' k out of the danger zone. Tlm fifth carriage seemed to he in danger ot lire as it. hung hy its couplings strangely attached to the last of its hunting fellows. The arrival of the relief gang decided its fate, anil it was ipiiekly ehopjK'i! (Tear. A large number of helpers arrived hy the relief train from Hastings, and helped materially lo swell the amount of splendid rescue Work that was being done hy people from the settlement, and b\ those who had come in led, haste from miles around the locality.

BOARD OF K.NQrTRY. WELLINGTON. Sept. PI. The Board to inquire into the rail wav accident will Im; Mi \\ 11 I! id dell (senior Macisiralc, Well ing I <m) Mr .). Marchhailk( Engineer of Wellington 11:!I'iKm 1 ' Board. I A bulletin issuer I by tl.e Traffic Depart men! stales that F. Marshall r si ill in a serious i .unlit ion. v. bile tin renin i inier ot I lie sulleivrs aim satis factory or are improving. IN.IFBF.D PASSENGER SI'CCFM BS. HASTINGS. Sept. 23. Mi IT V. Iggulden. of Wairoa. sueciimhed to Ids injuries to-day.