FATAL MISTAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1930, Page 6

FATAL MISTAKE

NEW SOUTH WALES TRAIN SMASH A PORTER'S AGONY. SYDNEY, Jan. 30. Tim most remarkable tiling about the derailment of the Blue .Mountains’ express.last Monday night was the fact that only two li res were lost—-those of the enginefrew. Behind the two engines that toppled over the embankment were crowded carriages containing huii4,reds of people who had spent the holiday among the mountain sights. Had the train been travelling at a fast pace the loss of life would have been terrible, for nothing could have.prevented the carriages lollowing the example set by the two engines. The primary cause of the crash was a truck derailment earlier in the day which had put one of the two lines out of commission. It was therefore neces-sary-to- worlyfairiy heavy traffic on the single line, and in the single line working, apparently, a fatal mistake vas made. It seems clear that owing to an error on the part x>f somebody the catch points were left open, for had they been closed it is difficult to see how a derailment could have occurred. The section where the accident took place has an easy curve and would normally be safe at 60 miles an hour. The evidence that the train was travelling at a low speed is supported by the fact that no damage was done to'any of the carriages. The points, which are for the purpose of derailing runaway trains, were open, and that was why two men lost their lives. The hero of the sensational happening was a young porter, Joseph McGarrjty, aged 16 .who told a dramatic story of his adventure: —“We left Valiev Heights after 7 p.m.,” he said “Passing Warrimoo we came to the catch points. It was not dark, and we could see that the catch points were open. The fireman called out: “Hold her driver. The -points are wide open.’ Evevthing occurred with a smack. The driver pullled on the brakes. There was a loud screech the engine toppled over, and everything was a blank. I was riding in the engine, and T was pinned down by the right leg and the. right arm. Nobody will ever konw what f went through. The driver and the fireman—both good fellows —were suspended above me, and their feet were dangling near my face. Blond and steam dropped all over me, It was a terrible experience. I thought I would never again see daylight. My mother and father are both dead, but I could not help thinking of my aunt, with whom 1 live, and mv brothers and sisters. Doctors and ambulance men came to help me. All the time they kept cheering me up. Somebody gave me brandy, and I needed it badly. I was nearly through. “Then I heard someone say that there was no chance of getting me out unless my hand was sawn off. It was dreadful to hear them talking like that. But I knew that I was trapped. T could not move either my arm or my lug.l think somebody gave me an anaotlietic. I am too da v od to remember much. But I remember waking up, still under the tender, but my band was free. (Tt bad been amputated.! An even worse- thing was-to follow. M,v leg was firmly held to the ground hv a tremendous weight. By this time I

had been there for about two hours, ami the breakdown gang had arrived. The only way they could get me out was by using the oxv-welding apparatus. The welder had to burn through the steel work, and the flames 'trom the machine burned holes- in my leg_ But I knew that I had to stick it out, and I did.” ... ■ The rescuers speak highly of Mc("larrity’s pluck, and declare that he njever whimpered, and did everything he was told to do. He repeatedly asked how his mates were —those who had been in the engine with him and who were lying dead in the tangled moss around him—and whether any of the passengers were hurt.