A Terrible Disaster.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 72, 16 March 1914, Page 5

A Terrible Disaster.

"I CANNOT HELP YOU!"

THE KILLED AND INJURED.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright]

L .United Pukss association, j Sydney, March 15

The disaster was the most terrible in the history of the New South Wales railways. Later advices state that confusion still exists in the identification of the killed and injured in the disaster. The latest advices give the corrected list of the killed as follow:—Heaver senr., Arthur Heaver, Alice Heaver, Mail Guard Bray, J. C. Minnis, Mrs Minnis, G. L. Pollard, Mrs Clarke, Fred Kurzenhagen, Misses Eglington and Shelly, Mrs L. A. Parker, a youth supposed to be named Walker, a woman believed to be Mrs Kurzenhagen.

Nineteen Avere injured and placed in hospital at Bowral, where they are progressing favorably. Reports state that at the moment of impact the goods train was being shunted on to a siding to clear the main line and allow the Temora mail to pass. Dense fog obscured the signal, and the mail crashed into the goods train, telescoping two carriages. Neither engine left the rails.

First arrivals state the scene was one of indiscribable horror. The mail van was reduced to matchwood, and there were ghastly heaps of human beings, and screams and groass of tho imprisoned victims coming from the mass of debris.

A very sad feature was that tho Heaver family were , travelling to Cootamundra to bury Mrs Heaver, senior, whose body Avas on the train. The widower, his daughter, and daughter-in-law were killed, and the son seriously injured. Bray, the guard on the mail van, was about to throw the mail bag, and was killed, while his mate in the same carriage escaped. Another sad case was that of a father, mother, and three young children buried in the. debris. The eldest appealed piteously to the mother for help, and she replied: •'Love, I cannot help you!" The children were ultimately rescued, but the parents are dead.

PROPER WORKING ORDER.

THE DRIVER'S STATEMENT.

The Acting-Chief Commissioner of Railways, states that the signals, brakes, and everything else were in proper working order.

The drivers and firemen of both engines escaped with slight injuries. Driver Irwin, who had charge of the Temora mail, states that tho distant signal showed a green light, showing the home signal up, but, owing to a thick mist he was unable to see, and reduced speed. As soon as he caught ;ight of the home signal at danger, the fireman shouted: "Hold her, for God's sake!" He applied the brakes. but it was too late to avoid the collision. i SOME MARVELLOUS ESCAPES. COMPARTMENTS COMPLETELY WRECKED. (Received 10.40 a.m.) Sydney, March 16. Extraordinary escapes characterised the disaster.

One man and his wife escaped with slight shock, while Minnis and his wife on the opposite seat were killed. Another passenger, sitting still, had two dead bodies thrust upon him.

Several children in the fatal carriages who were thrown into the corners or on the racks, were lifted out little the worse for their startling experiences.

So completely were the four compartments wrecked that, it is marvellous that any escaped.