THE EXCITEMENT IN TOWN AND THE SCENE AT THE STATION.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 71, 15 September 1880, Page 3

THE EXCITEMENT IN TOWN AND THE SCENE AT THE STATION.

By this time the first rumours of the event had spead through the central parts of the town and within a few minutes after the train had left, people began to arrive at the railway station in a state of intense anxiety to ascertain further particulars of the accident. As the rumor spread, it acquired variations, both as to the nature of the occurrence and its results, and as different versons of the intelligence were given by different people, the feeling of suspense and anxiety, while waiting for authentic and spceific information grew, most acute. The first telegram had not stated the accident to have been fatal, only that, there were many injured, and this was the only information received until nearly halfpast one, when a second message was received which stated that three persons were killed, two being named Nicholan and Quinn and undescribed, and the third a Miss harazyn. The message also said it was not known if more were killed, but that several were badly injured, who were taken to Greytown and Featherston. Upon the receipt and dissemination of this news the excitement greatly increased in intensity partly through the indefiniteness as to who the two named Nicholas and Quinn were, and partly through there being an uncertainty as to whether the former was Nicholls or Nicholas, both names being [illegible] the spread of the news. By this time numbers of people, including many prominent citizens who expected relatives or friends by the train, had arrived at the station to make larger enquiries, and the crowd on the platform was greatly increased by those who intended to go by the 1.30 train to the Hutt. Orders had been given however to keep the line clear, and this train was not despatched till an hour aftertime. A little before 2 a third message stated that only three were killed, who where all children, and named Pharazyn, Nicholas, and Quin, and that two other children named Nicholas and Quinn, were badly injured, but expected to recover. This message further said said six adults, names unknown, were injured and taken to the Greytown Hospital. The receipt of the specific intelligence served to allay somewhat the excitement and anxiety, as to who were killed, but a little later rumors began to circulate as to who were among the injured, and it was quickly asserted that the Hon John Martin and his son, Mr C. Pharazyn, Mr Beetham, and even Mr Bunny, were passengers by the train. Upon it being known that a Mr Jackson was injured it was stated to be Mr W. G. Jackson, of this city. All these statements hower, were gradually disproved, as later messages gave more exact details and the real facts became known. The excitement, however, still continued very great, for before one o'clock the knowledge had gone all over the city that an accident had happened. The railway station was crowded the whole afternoon, though there was a slight lessening of numbers when the 1.30 Hutt train (detained till 2.30) went. Arrangements had been made that this train should cross a down train at Ngahauit was expected the down train (which had been sent from the Upper Hutt a little after to bring on passengers who were waiting along the line to have come by the wrecked train) would bring on some of the passengers from the accident, or some fuller news which would have reached the [illegible] Hutt before it left, when the train [illegible] in at (at 3 p.m) Therefore, there was a general rush to ascertain if this was the case, but it was at once found not to be so. The anxious crowd had then nothing for it but to wait again as patiently as possible, the 3.30 train to the Wairarapa could not be despatched until the train which should have left the Upper Hutt at 2, but which was slightly detained there, was in. About 3.35 this train was seen coming out of Petrene, and 20 minutes later it came into the station. It was then found to be not only the ordinary Upper Hutt, but an addition, consisting of some carriages from the Summit, with many of the passengers from the wrecked train. These immeditely dismarked, and a way being made for those seriously injured to leave, the others were surrounded by the crowd, and each related to a separate group his account of this accident. In a few minutes all had become aware in this way of the actual facts of the occurrence and the crowd then quickly dispersed, the station being presently in its its normal state. Twelve of the passengers from the train to which the accident had happened came to town, were Mrs and Miss Hodge, Mr and Mrs Phillips Mr P. H. Hickson, Mr M. Madden Mr Blakesley, Mr W. M'Kenzie, Rev. Mr Gossett, Mr James Crouch. Mrs Pyke and Mr R. Riddick. Besidles these two Mr and Miss Saville had stopped at the Lower Hutt.