LATER PARTICULARS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 5, 4 February 1885, Page 2

LATER PARTICULARS.

NAMES OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.

We tuko the following graphic description of the late serious railway accident near Sydney, N.S.W., from the Sydney Morning Herald of the 21st ult. : — The scene of tho accident is on a tributary of the Cootamundra Greek, known as the Salt Clay Creek. It is situated about 3£ milps south of the station. The embankment has given way for 120 or 130 feet. Notwithstanding the precautions taken the sijjnals could nob be given at the advanced break over the Salt Clay Greek ; moreover, the night was dark, mid vain was falling m torrents. The train left Junee at 6.20 o'clock and Jfethungra at 7.4, and arrived at the culvert about 7.45. dp to that time there* was no thought or fear of danger till when approaching the bank, when the brakes were put down. This was followed a moment after by a crash und the plunge of the carriages into the creek, and by the screams and cries for. help and the groans of the wmimU'd, Then followed a scene of wild, confusion and inten.se excitement. 'Hie engine* «eeni» to have crossed the rails reaching to the Cootamumlrft Ado, when the bridge gave way, precipitating the train into the creek. The engine fell m front, stunding m its own proper course, and nearly upright; then a second-class carriage and the mail-van dashed up alongside, and higher up the stream came v sleejiiug-car, which was teles? coped by a fii-st-clasa carriage, aptifc* ting the sides and roof, with the ex, ception of one side, which wan left standing, while the break-van fell at the end, lying up and down the stream and farming the letter T in shape. It was at this time that the fatalities oc* cured, and there were many narrow escapes. The escape of people m the sleeping car was miraculous. The car wa* plunged into midstream.. The water surged into it, and the occu~ pants must have l*oen drowned had not a large first-class ch triage telescoped it, breaking off the roof and freeing the people. Several of them were badly injured. Cohen was jammed under the water. Not being able to swim, be tried to heaV, the watev away with bis hands, and. in doing so he raised his hands above the water which were seen and seized, and he was pulled ont. In doing so his right - thigh was broken. The statemeiita of the passengers are very brief. All agree m speaking' of the suddenness of the accident. Four bodies were recovered from the debris. The hodieH of a woman and child were found about a mile down the creek near Hurley's the carriages were piled up m ipextricable confusion. Timlien ' were rent and iron twisted and bent as if they had been toys. The rails were broken off like matchwood. There are signs of the flood down the creek m the shape of immense logs of driftwood. Large willow trees, with

the bark torn off, line the channel, together with the wreckage of the train. For a lon£ distance down the stream the timber is broken into matclnvond Mr Priddle, though much hurt, walked a mile and gave the alarm ; some others doing likewise, independently of euch other. Bergin, who was badly hurt, told them to leave him alone, and save his nephew Hade, but the lad was drowned. The following is tho list of those killed :— Joseph Campy, railway employe, residing at Harden, married; Robert Crawford, carpenter's labourer, residence unknown; Alfred Wilson, railway conductor, toother resides m Sydney; Mrs Hodson wife of Mr Hodson, of Wagga ; John Hade, about nine years of age, paients reside at Carcoar; John O'Dwyer, married, leaves a widow and six children ;iie was mail guard. Warlier Smith, of Waggft, is missing. the following is a list of the persons injured :r-George. Smith, Airs Smith, Joe Thompson, Joseph Levy, John Cohen, Austin Saqni, William Burgiii, A. Schnieder, Israel Barnard, Lawrence Zucker, George Jacabfon, Alexander FaVcett, Mrs FawceU, William Willis Priddle, William Stone, George Adams, Richard Wall, Andrew Moody, Dean, a lad;