RAILWAY DISASTER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 502, 21 September 1912, Page 5

RAILWAY DISASTER.

COLLISION WITH A BRIDGE. AN APPALLING SCENE. liy Telcixrapli. I'm*'- A n:«>ci ;it)' hi . I py ri L I't London. Thursday. The disaster to Urn Chester-l.;ver--pool express occurred at, I'M(,(.011, near tile head of the Mersey Kslunry, a foW miles from Liverpool. The engine of the express failed !o take the points at. the steep incline approaching the Dill,on Kill ion, and dashed against, the masonry of the bridge spanning the line. The carriages dashed on to the station and collided with the platform. The first two carriages were reduced to matchwood. The third and fourth were wrecked and immediately caught fire. The occupants of the first two carriages perished, while those in the fourth were burned to cinders. The disaster was followed by (lie appalling scene of a huge heap <>f burning debris, and passengers

screaming in agony and slowly rousting to death. Most of the bodies were recovered in a mutilated condition. One man's head was cut off, and the face of a woman was burned away. Many other passengers had their limbs torn oil". The driver of the engine was killed and the fireman, although alivo was pinned against the engine for four hours. Most of the victims were Wel. h people. Many of the bodies cannot bo recognised. Two of the injured passengers have died in the, hospital as the result of their burns. The darkness and the fierceness of the firo rendered the work of rescue difficult. Forty people were injured, many seriously, BABY'S MARVELLOUS ESCAPE. The injured fireman has since died, while three others are in a critical condition. A baby girl had a marvellous escape. Her dying mother held her tightly, and she was found among tho debris uninjured. Railway officials suggest that the train was running bite, and Was endeavouring to mala' up time.