RAILWAY DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 August 1907, Page 2

RAILWAY DISASTER.

RUNAWAY ROTORUA TRAIN. TOHPUSS OVER AN EMBANKMENT. ONE GUARD KILLED; OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED. PASSENGERS ESCAPE UNHURT. GREAT DAMAGE TO ROLLING*" STOCK. Per Press Association, Rotorua, August 4. A serious accident occurred between eight and nine o'clock on Saturday night on a goods train bound from Auckland to Kotorua. The train was a long one, comprising two engines, a large number of trucks, and a passenger carriage.

While ascending a steep grade three miies on the Rotorua side of Putaruru, all thq trucks, the carriage and the guards' vans became detached from the engine and went down the hill at a terrific pace, till reaching a culvert, when they went over the embankment into a guily fifty feet below. J. Lotve, a guard, was killed. lie never became conscious after tile acciuent, and died iu 'three-quarters of an nour. James Dwyer, a guard, sustained a broken arm and oilier injuries, and Iyer, an assistant guard, aiso received a broken arm and other injuries. Kingdon, u platelayer, was injured internauy ,aud (received also concussion of the Drain. Dwyer resides at Mount Eden, i'yer at Aucklandj and Kingdon at falaruru. Of Hie lour passengers, none were injured, although the carriage went over tiie embankment. One of the engines brought the injured men here, "arriving at four this morning, when the injured men were taken to the sanatorium. Dr. Kssellbergcr, of ilataniata, one of the passengers, rendered valuable aid to the injured. Lowe was a favorite guard, and was greatly respected. Several of the trucks contained cattle, and many were injured. The accident happened at a place known as Bell's siding, where a new line had been constructed. No particulars are available as to the cause of the accident. The engines were driven by Messrs laylor and Cooper respectively, and the train, which was due at Rotorua at 8 o'clock, was running late. All the trucks, the carriage, and the guards' vans, were greatly damaged.