STRANGE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4346, 23 February 1875, Page 3

STRANGE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

The Toowoomba correspondent of the Ipswich Observer supplies the following particulars of .an' extraordinary accident ; The Warwick'train starting from Toowoomba at 4.25 p.m., and due at Warwick at 7-45 p.m., was the victim of a most strange accident on MondayJ My informant left the Toowoomba station in a second-class carriage along with two other men, and arrived at CaraboOya at about 5.20. After leaving there a moat dreadful storm broke over the unfortunate train. Kaiu poured down in torrents, and though they put up the windows and guards, the rain beat under the doors and other places until there was at least two inches of water in the carriage.. The occupants lay down on the seats. On arriving at about three miles on the Warwick side of Cambooya, they were hurled from seats against the opposite side of the carriage, which had turned completely over on to the ground. As quickly as they could they extricated themselves and got out through the window, when a sight met their gaze that they will not forget. Out of two composite and one first-class'carriages, two sheep trucks (empty), three waggons, engine, tender, and break van, the engine alone remained on the ballast, the rest being smashed, broken, and scattered in various positions along the line. The tender and a truck were blawn into the culvert. My informant and his companions ran to render what assistance they could, assisted by driver, stoker, and guard, to get the other passengers out. They were nearly all females, two being Sisters of Mercy (in the small first-class carriage). There were about sixteen females in the train. The rain poured down in torrents. Whilst the men were getting, the passengers out, there came a flash and a crash, splitting and hurling the trees in every direction, making the passengers take again to the overturned carriages for shelter. _ Tim roar of the thunder, the flashing of the lightning, the hissing and whistling of the engine, the screams of the ladies, and the shouts of the men, were sights and sounds never to ho forgotten by anyone who,was present. Ami yet, with all this, it was found on examination that there was but one man hurt. The near proximity of tho lightning drove several into the gully, where they lay in the water. As soon as information could bo given, tho lengthsmen with trollies (two) trollied through all the rfcorm hack to Cambooya, whore all that could bo done was , done by the stationmaster. News was sent by horseback to Toowoomba, where the officials ■ at once got a special tram out, and went to the scene of the wreck. The

special returned at about half-past one o’clock next morning. Accommodation was previously provided, and everything done that was thought necessary. It was the unanimous opinion that the train was blown completely off the line, snapping the engine-coupling, and leaving the engine alone standing. Lawson, the engine-driver, and his mate state that they had to hold on for their lives.