A TRAIN DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1927, Page 3

A TRAIN DISASTER

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received tins day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 24. By an accident on the Southern Railway train from Cannon St. to Deal coaches were derailed and overturned near Seven Oaks. Ten dead have been recovered from the wreckage and many injured, several being in a critical condition.

FURTHER DETAILS. LONDON, Aug. 24.

Details of the Seven Oaks railway accident show the train was travelling at over 00 miels an hour, and jumped the line at Riverhead Bridge, a mile from Seven Oaks, tearing up the permanent way for a distance ol 200 yards. The rails were twisted like copper wire. Eleven persons were killed outfight white twenty-six were seriously injured and several slightly. The engine tore along some distance before toppling over, and turning completely round, half buried itself in the bank. One bogie wiieel was hurled fifty yards. The driver and firemen had a inircaulous escape. One Pullman coach was hurled broadside across the rails and another crashed into the side of a bridge, ripping out the whole side. There were only three coaches undam, aged. The disaster was accompanied by a noise like thunder. Cfouds of steam rose out of the cutting. The scene was one of much confusion, resembling a battle field. Doctors and nurses appeared like magic. There were several- aboard the train and villagers came and several women tearing sheets from beds used them as bandages. Ambulances arrived expeditiously but Seven Oaks hospital was unable to accommodate all the cases. The greatest difficulty was to extricate the dead and injured. , There were pany

heart-rending scenes. The rescuers after working feverishly to liberate a girl, who was perfectly conscious, were horrified to find one teg completely severed by a door of a wrecked carriage. She was covered with coats and other clothing on which she was borne to the hospital. All the time she kept asking somebody to find her mother.