VICTORIAN TRAIN DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 309, 8 February 1910, Page 5

VICTORIAN TRAIN DISASTER

HOW IT OCCURRED. THE SURVIVOR'S ACCOUNT. TERRIBLE SUFFERING. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Melbourne, February 7. fflie surviving driver (Gronn) ol the ill-fated No. 0 goods train, that was smashed up at Beaufort, was scalded from his hips to his toes. Ilis hack and loins were crushed and his Jiaml broken. He states that a scotch mist" made the rails slippery. As he came down the Beaufort bank the first thing he knew was that the train was on No. 2 line. He called out: "Good God, Charlie, we are on No. 2. There is a dead end. Jump!" But before either could jump the crash came. The huge engines, with a heavy wheat train behind them, piled \ip, and he was jammed between the lever frame and the injeetor pipe by the foot. The gauge glas* burst and the steam began to scald liim. It was awful, lie said; but the steam macte his boot slippery, so that he was' able to wrench his foot out and get on to the permanent way. The driver of the second engine was nearly cut in two, while Russell had his head almost severed. Gilliard suffered terribly, being pinned by wreckage in an upright position and enduring awful agony from the heat of the boiler, while a hooked piece of metal penetrated his back. lie lived '4y s hours. Superhuman efforts were mades to release him, and once or twice he encouraged the rescuers, who were doing their best for him. Occasionally a cry was wrung from him by the pain caused by scalding water from the boiler. Daylight found him in the same state, a doctor standing by administering morphia, but Gilliard died before lie was 'extricated. <lronn complained before leaving StaWell that his engine was not properly braked. It appears that the engine Avag practically without brake power on the fatal journey. The railway officials admit that the second engine was of low brake power. The signalman'* story shows that the stationary engine had nothing to do with the disaster. The line had been made clear for goods. He went do\r.» the paltform with the staff, but when the train was within fifty yards of the station he saw she was travelling too fast. He ran back to the signal box to turn her off the loop on to tins main line, but he was too late, she was over the intersection and making straight for the dead end. lie lieanl Gilliard cry out: " For God's sake hit me on the "head; put me out of this." Then he ran for a. doctor.