RAILWAY COLLISION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 375, 21 April 1908, Page 3

RAILWAY COLLISION.

Twenty Passengers Injured. Sydney, April 19. This morning the Brisbane mail train crashed into the second division of the Glen Innes mail train at Murrundindi. For some unexplained reason two trains met on the one set of rails. The Glen Innes train was just moving out as the Brisbane mail came in. The former train was drawn hy two engines which came together. There was a terrilic impact. One locomotive was shot on top of the other. The Glen Innes train, which had a few passengers, suffered the most. Tne first car was considerably wrecked and all the occupants were more or less injured. Two compartments of the first car of the Brisbane mail was stove in and passengers hurt. Four of the infantry bound for an encampment rendered great service extricating the injured. The night was pitch dark and it took time to get the injured people out of the wreckage. None of the passengers were killed, but the drivers and firemen had a marvellous escape. Twenty passengers were injured, two seriously. One man had his right arm and both legs broken ; another both legs broken and two others their legs broken. The rest were cut and bruised.

Later Particulars.

Sydney, April 19

The engines were badly smashed, and two carriages of each train were demolished. It is believed the accident was caused through a mistake in signals. Where the blunder actually occurred is unknown. The Glen Innes train was running late, owing to heavy holiday traffic, and was in the act of pulling on to the loop line to allow the Brisbane train to pass. When they saw a collision was imminent, both drives applied their brakes, but too late to avert an accident. The impact was heard a mile away, and debris was hurled a long distance. A buffer was found ten yards away. The volunteers used their bayo nets in freeing the injured caught amongst splintered timbers. That none were killed was attributed to the fact that the soldiers and other passengers mostly laid down and were sleeping. Their recumbent bodies offered less resistance. After the first shock of excitement the troops displayed fine discipline.