BURNED TO DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1930, Page 8

BURNED TO DEATH

RUSSIAN RAILWAY HORROR

FOR TY-FT.VE FATALITIES

The facts of a hideous raihvay accident in Russia in Avhich 45 persons were burned to death and 23 seriousl injured Avliile they Avere trapped in a moving train ivere recently re\maled by the arrest of eleven officials', trainmen, and. members of the Russian Transport Department staff, on a charge of criminal negligence. The tragedy occurred on April 16, near the station of Domodedovo, 20 miles . south oL jMosqow, when passenger '.in' jan dvercr&wed’ -coach ; dropped and broke a bottle- of methylated spirit,, and another passenger . Avho AA rassmoking dropped a lighted match. The coach was almost immediately in flames and the occupants Avere trapped like rats by luggage piled in the-, aisles before the doors.

> Before the- train guards, attracted by the screams of the panic-stricken passengers, had succeeded in stopping the tram, most of the occupants of the coach had been burned, suffocated, or trampled to death. Peasants who were passengers in the other coaches succeeded in preA 7 enting the flames from spi’ending, and rendered' first-aid to the injured.

■The arrested men include the Moscoav stationmaster and his assistant, Avho are accused of habitually permitting dangerous overcroAvding of coaches with passengers and luggage.