RAILWAY FATALITY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 136, 11 February 1915, Page 4

RAILWAY FATALITY.

MR M. E, THOMAS KILLED. The risks which members of the railway service incur in the course of their work received distressing exemplification this morning when, as the result of one of the heavy Main Trunk engines running into a jigger on which Mr M E Thomas, a platelayer, was seated injuries were sustained by Mr Thomas which resulted in his death a few moments later. The engine was driven by Mr G Ebbitt with Mr W Pattersrn a.s '.'ivoman and was proceeding "light," in railway parlance. withonT h load, for Taumarunui. The distressing fatality cccured at the sharp bend just this side of the first tunnel north of Taihape. Mr Thomas waft on a. jigger, followed by two other jiggers, which were propelled by Robert Bailey, ganger, and A. Green, platelayer Before the approach of the engine was noticd in time for an accident to be avoided, the cow-cather had piked up the first jigger and MiThomas, who sustained injuries to his head. Messrs Bailey and Green hurriedly jumped from their jiggers without sustaining injury. The unfortunate victim was brought to Taihape in the engine and immediately removed to the Hospital, where death resulted a few minutes after admission. Deceased had been a member of the Vc-cal surfacemen's gang for the past six months, and hailed from the South Island. He was about thirty years of age, and leaves a widow and sixmonths' old child to whom deep sympathy is extended. An inquest will be held to-morrow.

ANOTHER RAILWAY ACCIDENT. INVERCARGILL, This Day. Rerbert Martin, a clerk in the rail way service and a son of Bishop Maithij was run over by a truck at Bluff wharf to-day. Martin was shelter-Ming from a heavy vl'ind, under a line of waggons, and did not hear the whistle of the shunting engine, which knocked hira down. The wheels passed over both legs, inflicting other injuries also. His condition is critical.