NEW LYNN COLLISION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 30 May 1913, Page 2

NEW LYNN COLLISION.

HOW THE IMPACT OCCURRED. IN- ENGINE-DRIVERS' VERSION

|; New Lynn station, is situated just ten miles from Auckland,. on the North'Auckland line. Tho.'scene of "the recent accident,is about 300 above the station. The bridge on which theicoHisj-onitook phyye, is ajbout long, cree£ is'between 40 feet and 50 feet below. Had the cars gone over the bridge, which has no parapets, the accident would have _been followed bv/, i&x v ja.ft}]e> > terrible consequences.

J. Benny, an engine-driver of fourteen years' experience, who was with the fireman in the engine-box on the outward bound, -£i;ain, in-speaking pf the-accident, remarked that the whole thing happened so quickly, that he had only a few/s.ecpnds to decide what to do. After hißv'caught'jsight of the other train!'as,'ft• showed^, up through the dashed over,the bridge to collision, "my train (the,, 5.25 a.m. goods from Auckland) was

RUNNING. RJGHT UP r TO TIME," he said, "and- the tablet picked upat Avondiale was dropped at New Lynn. After taking water wo went up as usual past the station 'towards the bridge in order to back on to the siding to let tho passenger train through to Auckland. It was just before the engine had left the bridge, and as I was about to reverse the engine gear to shunt back on to the siding, that I saw the other train coming. My mate noticed it at the same'time, and we made a simultaneous shout of warning. Our train had commenced to movo back very slowly, but in order to offer as little resistance as possiblo when the smash came, I gave the enjgine full reversing steam, and t\-q had got two or three car lengths when tho- engines met." Benny is of opinion that had not his train been moving back at the time of tho collision the smash would have been a.great deal more serious. There, were twelve trucks laden with general goods, a covered van, and a guard's van behind tho engine of the out-going train. As the result of ; the collision the buffers and draw gear between the vehicles were damaged, and the contents of the trucks suffered . some hurt. Except for tho damago to the engines no harm was done. Otherwise the effect of the accident was to cause stoppage of traffic on the line for about seven hours, the wreckage being cleared away by about 2 p.m. LIST OF THE INJURED. Amongst those reported as hurt are the following:— Stone, Waikumete, severely crushed and injured internally; small'hopes are entertained of his recovery. Corrish, driver of *.he passenger train, badly cut about head arid'faeo. England, fireman, injuries to head and evo.

Miss Smyth, Henderson, severely cut about head and rendered unconscious. H. Thomas', Waikumete, laceration above both eyes, necessitating stitches, concussion and laceration of nose. W. H. Perkins, Henderson, serious cut over left eye, necessitating several stitches, and injuries to bade. A. B. Stych, Waikumete, laceration over eye and scalp wound. W. H. Elderton, Henderson, severe injuries to leg. A. W. Tuck, Henderson, injuries to head, which temporarily rendered him senseless. Others were sHehtlv injured.