FRIGHTFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2337, 13 September 1880, Page 2

FRIGHTFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Additional Particulars

[By Telegraph.]

Wellington, Sept. 12. The special train returned from the scene of the railway accident lato last night. It appears the train left Feathcrstono asi usual yesterday' morning, there beiug/two carriages and a van in front of the engine, and two loaded goods wagons and break-van behind it. The train reached half up the Rimutaka incline in safety, but immediately after emerging from a deep cutting a terrific gust of wind caught the first carriage, with first and second class passengers, and threw it over an embankment ; the second carriage followed, and the weight of the two drew the van over, fortunately, the couplings of the carriages and van held, and thus prevented the train from going to the bottom of the embankment,which, is nearly 200 ft deep. As it was, the precipice over which they fell was fully 70 feet in depth. Almost instantaneously after first carriage left the line the body of it was carried away from the rest and literally smashed to pieces, the passengers being thrown to the bottom amongst debris. It was at first feared that the whole of the passengers —about fifteen in number were killed. Assistance being at hand, the work of rescuing the passengers commenced. In the second carriage which had been thrown over on its side, it was found that of its twelve occupants one—a lad namcdQuinn, aged three years, a son of a publican at Greytown —was killed ; it is supposed through suffocation. Tin other passengers —some of whom were rather severely injured—were got out of the wrecked carriages as soon as possible, and placed in safety. Among those who were thrown from the first carriage Miss Pharazyn, aged cloven years,daughter of Captain Pharazyn, a well-known station holder at Featherstone, was killed instantaneously, and it is thought—as she bore no marks of injury her neck was broken. A lad named Nicholas, aged seven years, was also killed, he having the back part of bis head tom away, and the brain exposed. The remaining passengers were more or less injured, those not seriously injured doing all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the others. The injured were removed on to the line, where a train was waiting to bring them on to Kaitoki. About an hour after this medical assistance from Wellington arrived, and the wounds of the injured were attended to, after which three persons, named Haro, Jackson, and a man name unknown, were sent to the Grey town Hospital, their injuries being more serious. The othe.is came on to Wellington. The force of the wind may be imagined when it is said that the two loaded wagons in the rear of the engine were (subsequent to the carriages) capsized, but, fortunately, not thrown over the embankment. The line was cleared again at a late hour last night. Those killed arc: Miss Pharazyn, aged 11; John Quinn, 3 years ; Master Nicholas, aged 7 years. The injured, so far as can bo ascertained arc :—Mrs Phillips, dislocated wrist and internal injuries; Mesdamcs Bodge and Quinn, slightly bruised ; Miss Pharazyn and Master Nicholas, injured about the head, not seriously, Messrs McKenzie (drover), left shoulder dislocated, right hand injured, besides injuries to the head ; James Crouch, badly cut about head and legs; Quinn (publican at Grcwlowu, bruised about the head ; Haro (rnnholder at Mastertonl, has a large wound on the forehead, feared erysipelas will set in; Jackson (saddler, Grey town), concussion of spine and partly paralysed ; man, name unknown; and Donald, of Featherstono. severely injured about the head ; A. Blakely (clerk, Wellington), contusions about the bend and hips ; Rodaick.of Featherstone, injured about the head, not seriously ; Hikson, of Wellington, injured about the shoulders,not seriously; Mrs Pye, about 60 years, bruised and shaken and internally injured ; four of Mr Quinn’s children, slightly injured. A report that the Hon. W. llollcston’s daughter had been killed by the accident was incorrect, as she was not in the train, THIS DAY. Young Nicholas was delirious last night, and it is doubtful if he will recover. Jackson is still in a critical condition.