ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 47, 14 February 1908, Page 2

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE NELSON COACH FATALITY Per Press Association. Nelson, Last Night. The inquest on the Appleby coach and '; S railway fatality on February Ist was <, resumed to-day, when tile Railway Department, Newman Bros., cough proprietors, Charles Bricland, coaclidrivcr, and the relatives of Miss Fitall, one of the injured passengers, were represented by counsel. The evidence of the railway ~" officials was to tlie effect that the .tram which wrecked the train was a passenger special which was not to stop at' Appleby unless there were passengers to be picked up. As there were none, thu train proceeded at reduced speed. Before it reached the crossing the usual whistle was sounded by Driver Stevens. ? The guaa'd, driver, and fireman saw the coach approaching the -line, anil concluded that- the coachdriver had seen the train and would stop. He, however, came on, and did not appear to be aw»re '' of 'his dauger until within about six feet of the line and a few yards oil' the engine, 'which was about to take the crossing. The engine-driver and fireman stated that he then roa(i from his seat and urged Ms horses forward. The hores cleared the rails, and the engine caught the coach amidships. The guard , had applied his brake simultaneously" witli the alarm whistles of the driver, but the train ran a considerable distance before it could be pulled up. The coach was carried into a cattle stop, where Miss Walters was found in an unconscious condition. The body of iMrs. Tilbury was carried BOinc distance further. She was killed instantly. Miss | Fitall was found clear of the line, having been thrown a considerable distance. Brie Wand, the driver* who was seriously injured internally, was stated to have said when picked up that it was a funny thing lie had not heard the train approaching. The other witnesses stated that the crossing was an open one with nothing to impede the view from the box of the cQach. The inquest was adjourned till to-morrow, and a further adjournment will probably be nccessarv to secure the evidence of Brickland, who . wtill be unable to appear for some weeks.

Wellington, Last Night. . A verdict of accidental death was returned in respect of the Wadestown mislap, by which William Wallace was killed by a fall of garth while employed on excavation work.

r , . JJuncdm, Last Night. 11 lluaiu Roche, 2o years of age, who hud been employed as cook at the Glasgow Restaurant, died suddenly in bed this morning. Roche retired to bed at about 10 o'clock last night, and at 5.15 this morning was found in what seetned to be a lit. Restorative aid was given and medical assistance summoned, but life was extinct. Deceased is said io have a brother 011 the steamer Kaikoura. Constable (irahain, stationed at Outram, died suddenly this evening. Ho complained of pains about (lie heart and chest the previous day, and had received medical attention. Deceased was appointed, to the force in 1875, and was stationed at Ngapara (North Otago) for several years.

William Wilson, a boy who was badly injured in the railway yard on Friday evening, died in the hospital to-day. Invereargill, Laßt Night. The police are advised that Martin Corcoran, who recently acquired the license of the Ballarat Hotel at Arrowtown, cut his throat this morning. Deceased was a, sober man, but bis nerves were upset.