TEMPLETON RAILWAY FATALITY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 234, 8 November 1909, Page 2

TEMPLETON RAILWAY FATALITY

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Cliristchurch, Last Night. An inquest touching the death of Sydney Carlisle Free, fifteen years of age, who was billed by collision with the first express at Templeton on Friday evening, was held yesterday. Thomas Pringle, driver of the first express, said that lie had driven tlie train from Timaru to Chvistehurch. He remembered approaching_ the crossing, where lie blew the whistle. He saw nothing, but hear! some shingle strike the front of the engine. Such an occurrence was not unusual, The fireman looked back and 6aw a spade stuck in the buffer of the first car. The train was then one hundred yards past the crossing, and witness thought the train liad merely struck a spade on the track. The trnin went on to Hornby and stopped there as usual. Witness's attention was there drawn tn tie faet that two stanchions on the front footplate had been broken, and he saw some hair there too. He then took the'train on to Cliristchurch and did ■"ot hear of the accident until his return trcm Lyttelton. ITe would be travelling at about forty miles an hour over the ; evcl crossing, and kept a good look-out. Tile conclusion became to was that they had struck the horse.

T'.dwni Harvey Andrews, fireman on the train. gave evidence Hint lie saw nothing either while nearing or when lie arrived at tile crossing. In reply to the Coroner, Constable Pfnder said the spade liad been in the

The fireman, continuing, said that he had seen nothing of the-contact with the gig.

William Samuel Palmer, platelayer, said that he found deceased lying quite dead on the road, and the trail was slashed up. Tile horse was dead, havni'T liinl Ifg nock broken. Tile Coroner returned n verdict' of accidental dentil.