ELEVEN INJURED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 358, 19 May 1928, Page 1

ELEVEN INJURED

Engine Skids on Greasy Rails and Crashes Into Carriages

RAILWAY SMASH NEAR GISBORNE

Press Association. GISBORNE, To-day. ELEVEN passengers out of the 25, who were aboard when the train ’eft Gisborne yesterday afternoon for Motuhora, were injured in an accident on Otoko hill about 8 o’clock last evening. Generally the injuries were of a minor nature, but two men were brought back to Gisborne and admitted to the Cook Hospital at 3.30 a.m.

The names of the injured are: MR. Fi. WHITSON, of 13 Norana Avenue, Remuera, Auckland, engineer—ruptured vein on the hip, ' F facial injuries, and concussion. MR. A. J. CAMPBELL, of Opotiki, settler —concussion and minor j' injuries. 1 MRS. T. L. BARKER, of Motuhora—ruptured muscles of the back. Mr. F. W. Marshall, of Patutahi, tiadly jarred and abrasions on the right knee; Mr. G. A. Ross, 31 Lyndhurst Street, Gisborne, slight bruise on the head; Mr. P. H. Whittington, of Motu, slight bruise on the left hip; Mr. Harry Maxwell, 13 Stanley Road, Gisoorne, cuts on the lip; Mr. V. P. Fredericks, of Rakauroa, slight bruise on the head; Mr. V. Oman, of Grey Lynn, Auckland, abrasions on the left leg. Mrs. V. P. Fredericks, of Rakauroa, ruptured muscles of the left shoulder; Mrs. B. J. Climo, of Motuhora, cuts on the head and a bruise on the left leg. The misKap was due to the heavy rain and the consequent greasy nature of the rails. All went well as far as Otoko Hill, which has been the cause of frequent trouble to the Railway Department. The train comprised four trucks laden with general merchandise, cars, etc., two passenger carriages, and a guard’s van. The engine-driver made strenuous efforts for three-quarters of an hour to ascend the hill, and it was then decided to follow the common practice and divide the train. The engine, of the W2 class, drawing four trucks, reached the top of the hill, left the trucks there, and then descended for the carriages and guard’s van. Com ng down the hill again the wheels of the engine would not grip on the greasy rails and despite the fact that the driver applied the brakes the engine crashed, bunker first, into the leadin stationary carriage. The impact was a terrible shock for the passengers, who were thrown in jumbled heaps about the carriages.

The lights immediately went out, and the shrieking of women and children added to the general panic. A moment before they had been chaffing one another about the long wait, the next moment was all confusion. Order was restored gradually and the true state of affairs revealed. Fortunately for the passengers the brakes of the carriages had been securely locked, and they held against the strain of the engine’s crash. Had the brakes given way, since the smash occurred some distance up the hill, the carriages would have swept downhill, and probably jumped the rails, bringing about a far more terrible smash. The foremost carriage was buckled throughout its length, and the forward platform was almost flattened up against the carriage end. Evidence of the buckling was given by the smashing of a wash-basin in the centre of the carriage, and the partial squeezing together of the seats. The second carriage did not suffer nearly so much, but its occupants suffered in hardly less degree than those of the first carriage. The front of the engine suffered only slight damage, being badly dented and having some heavy couplings snapped off. Mrs. Vivian Oman, of Auckland, came in for special praise from all passengers for her work after the crash. Relief gangs were dispatched from Rakauroa and a train sent out from Gisborne with a doctor and nurses, the scene of the accident being reached at 11.30 p.m. Everything possible was done to relieve the sufferers before the arrival of the relief train. The first carriage was taken back to Rakauroa by the original engine. The relief engine on arrival pushed the remainder of the train to Rakauroa and then took all, except the badly damaged carriage on to Motuhora, while the damaged engine came back to town with the relief party and the injured. Messrs. Campbell and Whitson and Mrs. Barker were taken to hospital. The guard of the train was Mr. A. F. Bird and the driver, Mr. B. J. Penberety.