DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Patea Mail, 14 September 1880, Page 3

DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

TRAIN BLOWN over PRECIPICE On the Rimutaka. Five Persons Killed, 17 Injured. A dreadful railway disaster occurred on Saturday forenoon, on the Wellington- Foathcrston line. A Fell engine was pushing a train up the Rimutaka incline during a gale, and a furious gust of wind hurled two carriages and a van over the precipice, the engine remaining on the rails by reason of its great weight. The carriages were full of passengers, and the fall being nearly 100 feet, the smash was terrible. Four dead bodies were taken from the debris. Seventeen passengers are reported to be injured, some very badly, and one additional death has occurred, making five. The Wellington Post says; The train leaving Grey town at 8.30 on Saturday morning, proceeded without mishap to Cross Creek, the station at the foot of . the Rimutaka Incline, where the ordinary locomotive is detached, and one of the Fell engines put on to push the train up the 2-1- miles of 1 in 15 ascent to the Summit. The plan now adopted is for the luggage van and passenger carriages to be placed in front; then the Fell engine ; next any goods waggons there may be; and last, the Fell brake-van, which works on the middle rail. In this case it is not known whether there were any goods waggons, but there were two passenger carriages and a luggage van in front, the engine in the middle, and the Fell brake-van bringing up the rear, as usual. It is necessary to bear these details in mind to understand the nature of the mishap. The train started on its laborious ascent up the steep gradient, and had travelled as far as a part of the line generally known as “ Siberia,” from the piercingly cold blasts of wind which seem almost constantly to sweep down the mountain gullies which converge at that point. Here a strong N.W. gale was found to be blowing across the track, and suddenly a terrific gust struck the train. The consequences were most disastrous. The two passenger carriages, which are stated to have been full of passengers, and also the luggage van, were hurled bodily off the line and over the edge of the precipice, which at that point is nearly 100 feet in depth. The three vehicles fell with a fearful crash to the bottom, and were seen lying a wreck of smashed timber and ironwork, at the bottom of this fearful declivity. Fortunately the couplings broke, and liberated the falling train, otherwise the engine and brake-van must have followed, and then hardly a soul might have escaped to tell the talc or seek assistance. As it happened, the engine remained on the rails, and the driver and fireman stayed to render what aid they could to the wounded, while the brake-van, being un-

coupled, ran down the incline by its own momentum, under the charge of the guard, to Cross’s Creek, where a hasty telegram was sent to the GeneralManager, reporting the disaster, and asking for immediate assistance. A special train was instantly got ready, and messengers despatched in all directions for surgeons. The “ special ” left at 11.30, consisting of an engine, carnage and brake-van, taking Mr Lawson, Commissioner of Railways, Mr Ashcroft, General-Manager, and Drs.Diver, Gillon, Tripe, and Kestevcu,

KILLED AND INJURED. (Telegram from our Correspondent,') Wellington, Monday Night. The disaster has caused a terrible sensation here. No doubt it will stimulate the formation of the coast railway via Foxton, to avoid that immense and dangerous climb over the Rimutaka. The rise by the old coach road is seven miles to the top of the ridge, and the descent is six, and the working of traffic by a Fell engine is slow and very expensive. In connection with this question, the Mayor of Palmerston has convened a meeting for a tri-weekly mail between Wellington and Foxton. The number of deaths is now five. Three are children named Pharazyn, Nicholas, and Quinn. The injured number 17. and six are very serious cases. Among the injured are Messrs Jackson, McKenzie, dislocation of the shoulder*, James Gooch, severe scalp wound and injured leg; Hare, of Masterton, serious scalp wound and other injuries; Catharine Phillips, Mrs Turnbull, R. Dick, Feathcrstone ; Mrs Madden, Mrs Pyo, Miss Pharazyn, and several others. Borne of the injured were taken to Greytown hospital, a few cases were taken to Feathcrstone, and the remainder were brought to Wellington hospital by special train on Saturday afternoon.