ALARMING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Patea Mail, Issue 949, 23 October 1882, Page 2

ALARMING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

(per united press association.} DUNEDIN, Oct. 22. Alarming.rumours prevailed in the city last night with regard to a railway accident which occurred near Blueskin about 17 miles from Dunedin. These rumours were that the Christchurch express had gone over the cliff into the sea, and that there had been a collision between pas.sengcr trains, and that a number of people were killed, and others seriously hurt* The facts ascertained this morning show that these rumours were greatly exaggerated, and the correct particulars of. the affair are as follows. The 4.15 p.ra. train from town to Oamaru had reached the bottom of the incline within a quarter of a mile of Blueskin station when the engine ran off the line. This was just before reaching Wailaki bridge. The engine immediately struck one side of the embankment, and turned on its side, being very seriously damaged. Tbo goods van next to the engine is broken to pieces. There were five passenger carriages containing probably 80 passengers. The carriages arc all badly wrecked, but the principal accidents to life or limb are three, namdy, a passenger named Grey, an employee in the Dunedin goods shed, badly cut in tbo temple. lie is now in Dnuedin hospital, but. it is not thought to be dangerously hurt. A woman was cut about the head through being propelled through one of the carriage windows ; and a man somewhat severely hurt about the logs. Dr Mansell went in a special train from Dunedin to attend to the injured.

The express passengers were transferred, and got into Dunedin about 10. The passengers by the wrecked (rain were all sent on. The effects of the accident are miraculously slight. Fifteen yards further' and the engine would have gone over the Waitaki Bridge, when probably the most serious railway accident that ever occurred here would have had to be chronicled. The engine driver and fireman jumped off and escaped almost unhurt. Why (ho engine left the rails it is unknown at present. It is possible that some of the engine gear broke and got beneath the wheels, or the line may have been damaged at the spot, or something may have got across the line ; but at present all is conjecture. Doubtless a departmental inquiry will be held. The passengers describe the affair as having been over in a moment. There was a jerk as the engine left (he rails, ahd another as it struck the bank. After that all was confusion, and everybody was thrown off their scats, and against each other. The express luggage has not yet reached Dunedin. Specials were rim last night for the passengers, and another goes out this afternoon.