FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 834, 16 December 1878, Page 2

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

'■ A painful railway accident, resulting in the death of Mrs. Moloney, a widow lady residing at Pukeuri Point, occurred on Saturday evening at the. Awanroko* junction. The deceased lady, accompanied by her little neice, was coming to Oamaru by the evening train, and was entering a carriage, when some person called her attention *to the fact that it was a smoking carriage, though wo are informed that there was nothing to distinguish it from an ordinary first-class carriage. Standing on the platform of the carriage, Mrs. Maloney hesitated for a moment whether or not to enter the carriage. Tlie sudden jerk occasioned by the starting of tlie train caused her to fall from the platform between the iron uprights and handrail on to the couplings, and then between the railway platform and the line. The guard, on perceiving the accident, jumped down, and endeavored to rescue the unfortunate lady from her perilous position, but was unable to do so. The train was now in motion, and Mrs. Maloney being unable to withdraw lier legs quickly enough from across the rails, the wheels of the several carriages passed over them, completely crushing and almost severing them from her body. With some difficulty the attention of the driver was drawn to what had occurred, owing to the train being in full swing, and it was not until after some distance had been travelled that it was pulled up. The train was then driven back to the scene of the accident, and the unfortunate lady placed in the guard's van and brought into town." Under the direction of Dr. Garland, she was conveyed to the Hospital, but no hope was entertained of lier recovery. Everything possible was xlone to alleviate her sufferings, and about nine o'clock Dr. Garland, assisted by Dr. Fleming, amputated both legs above the .'knees. The patient gradually sanlc, and expired at about half-past!) o'clock. Mrs. Maloney had resided in the district for •many years, and was well known and deservedly respected. An inquest was being held when we went to press.

THE INQUEST, A Coroner's inquiry into the circumjstanccs attending the death of Mrs. Marigaret Maloney was held this afternoon in ;the now casual vrard of the Hospital, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R. M. and District Coroner, and the following jury : A. Gordon, D. Lamont, Robert Ross, W. ■Walker, S. Newey, M. Currie, R. Fox, S. Evans, A. M'Collougli, W. Gillespie, John Scott, A. Watson, and H. Stewart. Mr. Ross was chosen foreman.

Mr. Newton attended to wa.tcli the proceedings on behalf of tho deceased's relatives.

The jury having viewed the body, the following witnesses called :■— W. A. Ford, sworn, said—l am a plumber. 1 was a first-class passenger by last Saturday night's train, which arrived at 8 o'clock. The train pulled up at the Awamoko Junction. I was in the smoking carriage, the door of which opened towards the end of the train. We wore about two carriages from the end. There were about six persons in tho compartment in which I was. I saw Mrs. Maloney on the platform. The train had not started when I first saw her. I next heard a little girl giving a scream. The train had just started. The girl was just inside the carriage door, leaning against it. I noticed nothing unusual in the train at starting. I signalled to the engine driver and got the train stopped as soon as possible. When it returned to the platform, we lifted the deceased into the van.

Samuel Bradley, sworn, deposed : I am !a builder, and reside at Timaru. I was a passenger in the train on Saturday. I was in the smoking carriage, the door of which opened-towards the cudof the train... The train stopped at the ; Awamoko jni!vtion, r and I saw a female and a little girl get in. The girl came right into tlie carriage, and woman as far as the door. The woman remained standing outside on the jilatform, having hold of the iron staunelieon, with her back against the rail. "While she was so standing I heard the guard's whistle, and the engineer returned it, and the train started. When it started it gave a jerk, as it usually does. The woman let go, and, doubling up, fell back on the line to the left. The iron guard was down in its place, but the woman fell underneath it. I cannot say whether I heard the bell ring. I noticed nothing unusual about the officials on the platform. So far as I know, the. train was not late. The regular whistle was given by the guard and returned by the engineer at the start. Ido not believe the officials are in fault.

By a juror: The woman seemed perfectly well, Henry H. Paul, deposed : I am a Commission Agent, residing at Christ-church. I was a first-class passenger from Timaru on the 14th, and was in the smoking compartment. The train stopped at the Awamoko Junction. I saw deceased and a child on the platform of the station. •The child entered the carriage first, and itook a seat by the side of a lady that was sitting there. The deceased immediately followed behind, but she did not come 'further than the doorway. She said, ■ " Oh, this is the smoking carriage." She 'was in the act of turning round to go off Iwhen tlie train started, the shock of which I threw her back under the guard-iron of jthe platform on to the couplings. She Ithen fell to the left, between the station iplat-form and the couplings. I heard the I guard's whistle, as also the engine's, 'before she fell. The station bell might have rung ; I did not hear it. The shock was heavy enough to throw her off her feet if she was not expecting it. There I were, I think about ten or more carriages. I was thrown myself on the same trip by a similar shock. There was no unusual hurry or confusion at the start. She had plenty of time to seat herself. ISTo'one said to her, "This is a smoking carriage." She make the remark herself.

• Dr. A. J. Garland deposed : I saw the ■deceased, Margaret Maloney, lying in the 'guard's van at the railway-station. 1 had ■her removed immediately to the Hospital. I found that she was suffering very much from the shock and loss of blood. I ■found both legs reduced to pulp the right one above the knee-joint, the left one up to the knee. I administered some stimulants, and, assisted by Dr. Fleming, amputated both legs. The woman gradually sank, and died in about half-an-hour afterwards. I consider that death was caused by loss of blood and shock to . the system. Ales. Sutherland, sworn, deposed : I am an engine driver iri' the employment of the New Zealand Government. I was j driver of the 8 o'clock train from Timaru. !lt was about 28 minutes,, past 7 when we at the AwamokosjJunction. We I were late leaving Waimate. We were late about 12 minutes. We were shunting. I saw a few passengers at the junction. We stayed there 5 minutes.. The guard gave me the signal in the usual way. I did not hear the station bell, but

it might have been on account of my being on the other side of the engine. The train consisted of 17 carriages and trucks. '

[Left sitting.]