SOCKBURN TRAGEDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 1

SOCKBURN TRAGEDY

FATALITIES AT CROSSING KEEPER GIVES EVIDENCE Press .Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. ‘ The inquest opened before Mr. E. D. Mosley, coroner, concei'ning the deaths of the six victims of the recent Sockburn crossing smash. Henry McGx-ath, the crossing-keeper, said he went oil to the crossing between 5.15 p.m. and 5.20 p.m. to warn traffic of the approach from Christchurch of a train for Ashburton. While still standing there witness saw the headlight of a workers’ train from Islington approaching. He remained in the same position and several cars and cycles stopped. Witness saw another car approaching and held up his green light to show that the crossing was dangerous. When the car was about a chain away it swerved to the left and at the same 1 time the train came on to the crossing. The next thing witness knew the train had struck the car. The witness thought that the motorist could have pulled up if he had seen the train. Witness was no judge i of speed aud it was hard to say what speed the train was travelling at. "It might have been 20 miles an hour or it might have been more,” he added. Witness heard the engine whistle as it approached the crossing. The keeper was examined at length by counsel for the relatives of the victims. Counsel asked: “Is it your duty to signal to 'he train or to the traffic?” Witness: My duty is to protect the train. I show a green light to warn the public that there is danger as a train is approaching. Does the driver of the train see your green light?—Sometimes; it all depends. We are not supposed to show a green light to the train. Mr. Burns: Then so far as the train Is concerned you might be carrying any coloured light? The reply of the witness was not audible. Walter Yarwick Purchase said he was proceeding to the city at the time of the accident. He was cycling and he waited till the Ashburton train passed and then walked over the crossing. Witness heard the train from Hornby and heard the whistle sounded. He saw the train go on the crossing and heard the crash. Witness could see the light of the Hornby train half a mile away. It was a dark night, witness added, but there i was no fog. FIREMAN'S EVIDENCE i Frank Carson, the fireman who wxs i on the engine, said a good look-out was 1 kept by him on the south side of the j engine. The whistle was sounded near | the crossing and the line was then j clear on witness’s side. Witness saw a I car parked some distance from the I crossing on the town side. At the ; same time he noticed another car ap Iproaehing. The Coroner: Did you say anything'.' Witness: No, I could see that the i driver was keeping a sharp look-out ou that side of the engine. The brakes were applied about tv-o chains from the crossing and the emergency brake was applied before the engine got on the crossing. Witness lost sight of the car, and the next thing he knew was that the collision occurred. The engine was running tender first, and there was no cowcatcher. The speed was about 25 miles an hour. The witness, Carson, was questioned by Mr. C. S. Thomas, who appeared for tlie Engineers’ and Firemen's Union. Mr. Thomas: Do you know there has been a tremendous amount of complaints about the increase in speed when driving teuder first? —No. Do you know there have been complaints?—No. Mr. Thomas: Look, though your job is in ihe railways. Mr. Carson, you are here to give facts and you will not be victimised in any way. Let us have the facts. There have j been complaints and conferences with Mr. Sterling?—l have not been there. Mr. Thomas: Do you know it is so? —I have not heard much about it. Do you know if it is so?—I have not heard any complaints. (Proceeding.)