FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 129, 15 March 1879, Page 2

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

It is our painful duty to have to record a fatal• railway accident which occurred on Wednesday on the Point line, and which has resulted in the death of Mr Shields, an old and much-esteemed resident of Tirnaru. It appears that the train from Albnry en route for Tirnaru had passed the Point an hour later than its usual time, which had been altered, and duly advertised, on account of: the Tirnaru races. Mr lleeves, the engine-driver, observed, by means of the light from the lamp, that a man was a little way before the train, standing up between the two rails. With commendable promptitude lie reversed the engine, and, in his own words in recounting as to how the accident occurred, whistled ‘‘ breaks down.” Pic was unable however, to bring the train to a standstill before reaching Shields, and the cow-catcher caught him, throwing him up, and causing him to fall clear on the line. On the train stopping, the guard (Mr Quinn) went back along the line and found him unconscious and much injured. With aid he was placed in the van and brought to town. Luckily Dr Williams met the train, having been telegraphed to at the Wash dyke station. He was conveyed at once to Dr Williams’ surgery, where he remained in an unconscious condition all night. Dr Williams, his son, and Mr P. Beil, the unfortunate man’s son-in-law, sat up with him all night, but without avail, as he succumbed to the effect of the injuries he received at an early hour this morning; while being conveyed from the surgery to his residence. He had several wounds on his body, some of his ribs were broken, and Iris head was also injured. He leaves a widow and several children to mourn his loss. At the inquest the jury brought in a verdict— ‘‘ That the deceased, John Shields, met his death by coming into contact with lire train from Albnry on Wednesday evening, the 12th inst., and that no blame is to be attached to the enginedriver, stoker, or anyone connected with the railway.”—Evening Telegraph.’