FATAL RAIWAY ACCIDENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 456, 22 March 1890, Page 4

FATAL RAIWAY ACCIDENT.

In consequence of an extensive landslip on the railway line near Mount Victoria, a train was thrown down a steep embankment with fatal results. The scene of the accident, briefly described, is as follows : A short distance on the Sydney side cf the distant signal at Bell station there is a hollow and crossing. Near this commences the cutting. The embankment over the hollow, which has really very little catchment area for water, is about 15 feet high on the southern side, but on the northern about 60 feet. The water seems to have thoroughly saturated the bank, which collapsed. Several, trains passed over only a short time before the ill-fated one. The engine of the train which went over lies down the bank about 40 feet, deeply embedded in mud. Driver Heron, who" was killed, was found lying under the boiler, with his hand on the side of his head. One truck was thrown clean down the bank and shattered to pieces; all the others are twisted and broken in every direction. The width of the washaway is some 70fc., and does not extend right through. The stuff has been carried away down the gully fully a quarter of a mile.

Heathcote, the fireman, sustained injuries of a serious nature. Three ribs are broken, there is a large gash on the

forehead, and he complains of pains in his head and back. The fireman’s . brother says that he was engaged shovelling coal, and immediately after this the engine went over. Prior to going over, the driver called out to him to “ look out.” He says that when the engine turned over to the bottom he scrambled out and up through the debris to the top. Heron was 47 years of age, and had been employed on the railway for 26 years. He leaves a widow and three children. The engine shows that prior to his death he had thrown the lever over, shutting oft steam, and the steam brake applied. About noon a party started to get out the body of Heron, and in a short time succeeded in digging sufficiently to get him out. Heron’s brother was present. The corpse presented a fearful sight. The head was battered, the chest completely crushed inand scalds andbruises were seen on several parts of the body. The unfortunate man’s watch, which was battered a good deal, had stopped at 5.27 ; the time his train should have arrived at Bell is 5.30.