SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 900, 5 March 1879, Page 2

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A Papakaio settler named Uoiss met with an accident last night that, although serious, might have been worse. He was driving a dray laden with chaff over the railway crossing near Boundary Creek, at about 9. 15. At this time the Christchurch goods train, due at Oamaru at 9.30, came along. He seemed quite oblivious of its approach, and had not got clear of the line when the train came upon him, and the cowcatcher catching the hind part of the dray, lifted it and the horse over a Yankee crossing, and over a fence, into » ditch, a distance of fifteen yards. Neiaa was also thrown over the fence, it is thought in company with the horse and cart, but in their descent they separated, as he was found on a bank near the ditch, several yards from the horse and cart. The driver (Thomas Barnes), in the darkness, could only see a few yards ahead of him, and was not aware of the obstruction on the line until he was right upon it. He then whistled, but of course it was too late to be of any use, as nothing then could have I prevented the accident. Seeing what had occurred, he lost no time in pulling up, 1 and he and the stoker ( Starling) lifted Nciss into the guard's van, and brought him on to Oamaru. Mr. W. Syms attended to the injured man at the station, sent him to the Hospital in a cab, and also despatched a messenger and cab for Dr. Wait, who was shortly in attendance. His I head and knee are severely bruised i and cut, but he is progressing favorably. ' When he had been attended to, the engine J returned to the scene of the accident with I several men to see to the horse. He was j fmmd to be in the ditch under the dray, ! and was eventually released and put into a paddock. He is severely cut on the \ hind quarters.