RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR GOULBURN. EIGHT PERSONS'INJURED.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 315, 10 November 1888, Page 6

RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR GOULBURN. EIGHT PERSONS' INJURED.

A iiailavay accident of, a very serious nature occurred on the bridge over the JFish River, about 3 miles on fclpe Sydney side of Gunning. A stock train lelt Gunning alittle before 5, followed 10 minutesaftorwards by al second. The first division, it is reported, losb time in'reaching the river, the gradients being heavy and the iail& greasy, and on gaining the tanks, whicji are located at the bridge, stopped toj, take in water. The second division, in fcharge of Driven Hjll, ,-can3jo.-,at P , i iu : ftpoclj rate of speed, 'aftd a tlhough f| ulie' v 'latker i became a ware- x of •Uio sfcationery -Ivnlp before him 1 , he could not pull un,; as h a incline towards the tanks, uhahdjiler, Uio driver of the first train, made an attempt tc^ get out of the way, but was not able.^tfnd a torrifi'c smasJi ensued. The engine of 'the 'second train crashed into the brake van, smashing in the end. Had if not been for the fact, of the engine being thus bedded in the van the accident avouM have been much moro serious, as a pair of truck wheelsgot jammed under the engine, lifting > it off the metals and slewing it partially round. , Had the engine travelled a few leet in the new direction given to it, it would inevitably have gone over the bridge and fallen a distance of 30fr. or 40ft. Be sides the brake van, three or four trucks wore smashed and a number of sheep killed. A number of railway employees wore in the stationary train coining to Goulburn to take part in the laihvay picnic on Monday, and several of the^e sustained injuries of a more or less severe charactor. A settler named Henry Wisby was most seriously hurt. He was rendered unconscious and remained so for some hours. Later in the day he, with the rest, Avas brought to Goulburn. Witby was admitted to the hospital. His injuries consist of a severe crush to the head (probably a fracture of the base of the skull), several ribs broken and concussion of the brain. Shortly -after the accident Dr. Engli&h, of Gunning, was on the spot, s and did all he could to relieA'e the &ullerers. A special was put on from Goulbuin conveying Drs. Morton, McKillop and McMaster, as well as a gang of men to clear the line. A pair of truck Avheeis were driven by the force of the concession the whole length of the Fish iiiver platform. One young man, hearing the whistle of the down-rushing triun^ Jeaped out of the van, and just*, had time to fling himself along the girder of the bridge when the impact occurred. Another got safely out of the van, but Avas pushed by someone o\erthe bridge, and received injuries to the Avrist and a severe shaking. There was a dense foe: prevailing at the time of the accident. The following, is a list of the injured as far as is known :—: — Henry Wfcby, concussion ofHhe" brain, fractured ribs and probable fracture of the base of the skull ; in hospital. , Thomas Riley (drover in charge of sheep), injury to shoulde'*; in hospital. George Howard, fractured ribs and contusions on the head. James Coombs, sprained wrist and .severe shaking. Mi> Spiers, fracture of the right shoulderblade.. Mr Spiers, cuts and contusions, principally on the face. Henry Stephens, injuries to the lips and nose. Tudor, injuries to the head and aim. The permanent Avay was torn up for a j distance of teveral yards, .sleepers were splintered to atoms, and a sfcdel rail bent', into a curve. The damages to rolling stock Avill amount to a large sum.