ANOTHER RAILWAY SMASH.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1926, Page 2

ANOTHER RAILWAY SMASH.

FIVE PERSONS KILLED. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 11. Owing to the collapse of a wooden viaduct between Tognr and Aberdeen about 180 miles north of Sydney, the Brisbane express which left Sydney yesterday afternoon was derailed shortly before mid-night. Five were killed and over thirty injured. Some are in a critical condition. Medical aid was sent from Scone and Muswellbrook. The injured who were able to be moved were sent to the hospital at those places. Details at present arc meagre. THE LIST OF DEAD. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 11. The dead through the railway accident are:— Miss B. Dalzell, of Toowoomba, Queensland. Alls ljcmiett, of Mosninn, Sydney. Fyliran Miousour, an Assyrian. A man named White, of Queensland, and an unidentified man.

The critically injured are:—Ward Morgan, the actor, who had both legs broken. Mrs Alice Nicholls, of Manly, Queensland. The train consisted of two engines, a van and seven carriages. There were 143 passengers aboard. The official statement showed the leading engine and four carriages wont off the line and the assisting engine toppled on the side. The accident was caused by three spans of the wooden viaduct collapsing when the train was passing over it. The viaduct crosses n ravine twenty-five feet deep. The first engine crossed safely but the viaduct collapsed under the second engine and first carriage. The engine crashed into the ravine.- billowed by the next two carriages. U was fortunate the first engine and third carriage kept the track, thus preventing other wreckage and additional casualties. The viaduct is within a short distance of Hunter River.

Owing to the darkness, the work ol rescuing the injured proved very difficult.. The .searching of the debris had to be suspended for some time after one o’clock this morning. The rescue parties built camp fires and awaited dawn. Passengers who travelled in the second class carriage which was next to the engine appeared to have sulfered most. The carriage was split in two, one part still standing and the otner overturned. Alost of the dead wore found in this carriage, A fourth carriage was tilted down through the viaduct.

Appalling scenes were witnessed after the disaster. Flares, motor-car headlights and other methods of illumination were used to throw light on the wreckage. Some people were so seriously injured that they could not he moved from the spot. Those less seriously hurt, alter treatment at the hospital were accommodated in private houses. The permanent way was torn and twisted. The driver and fireman of the second engine had remarkable escapes. Both were buried beneath coal when the engine overturned. The fireman suffered a broken jaw and the driver minor injuries and shock. FURTHER- PARTICULARS. SYDNEY. June 11. Among the passengers in the wrecked train were J. C. AVilliamson’s Ivatja, Company, between thirty and forty members. AYard Morgan is the only one seriously injured. Several others Tut hiding Al.iss Marie Burke, the leading lady, were slightly injured or suffering from shock. Many passengers were asleep at the time of the collision. In consequence of the darkness and the complete nature of the wreck it was hours after the smash before the victims wore recovered from the wreck-

Tlie latest official message at four o’clock this morning gives the number of killed at seven, but it is expected the casualties roll will l>e inreeased when all are extricated.

Unofficial messsages state eight are killed.