COOTAMUNDRA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1299, 5 February 1885, Page 3

COOTAMUNDRA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Sydney, Jan. 27. On Saturday it commenced raining heavily, and soon the low-lying lands were flooded. In thirty-six hours the rainfall had reached to the enormous quantity of eight inches, At a point called Salt Creek the flood waters came down in great volume, and eoon left a channel about fifty yards wide and nine teet deep, and into this, about halfpast seven on the Saturday nigh*, the whole train plunged. The ordinary, mail train from Melbourne contained but few passengers, but a number of bookmaker*, at the invitation of Joe Thompson, chartered a special train in order to be present at Rand wick on Monday. This special came up with the ordinary at Albury, and the passengers were thereupon transferred. On the way from Albury a good many changes were made, and it is estimated that the train contained about 50 persons. The night was pitch dark, and a stiff breeze swept from the southward, with pelting rain. At the time of the accident many were sleeping, others conversing and playing cards. The train was travelling at the rate of thirteen miles an hour, when a kind of motion like a volcanic shock was felt, then a crash, and the train lay in a ruined mass in the bed of the creek, with the water pouring over it in a fierce torrent. Then arose sounds and shrieks an I cries of men and women for help, when those inside the last sleeping carriage thought they were about to be smothered, but the roof of the carriage was crushed off by telescoping with the hindmost car, and this enabled the imprisoned passengers or some ot them, to get out and swim against the current for shore. How so many esciped instant death is a marvel. Others were killed, and some carried down in theflo «1 waters. As soon as possible assistance was sent for to Cootarnuodra, about four miles distant, and in the meanwhile all possible assistance was rendered by those who had

escaped to those injured, and fires were lighted with the debris of the train. Everything was oner in a marvellously short space of time. So soon as possible medical assistance was rendered, and everything done for the sufferers. Of the bookmakers,.. Joe Thompson, Zucker, Bergin, Barnard, Cohen, Levy and others were more or less injured. There are six bodies recovered, and it is feared that the number may be increased. There were two washaways on the line, on© of which was known, and a man was sent for to stop this train, but it reached this washavvay or gap which was not known, and plunged into it before any warning could be received. The wires were down, and there were no means of communication beyond sending a man along the line to warn the approaching train. The scene of the accident is on a tributary of the Cootamundra, known as Saltclny creek. It is situated about three miles and a half south of the station, where the embankment has given way for 120 or 130 ft. The night was dark, and rain was falling in torrents. The train left Junee at 6.20 o’clock, and Bethungra nt 7.4, and arrived at the break about 7.45. Up to that time there was no thought or fear of danger. When approaching the bank the breaks were put down. Tin’s was followed a moment after by a crash and plunge of the carliiges into the creek, and by the screams and cries fur help and groans of “the wounded. Then followed a scene of wild confusion and intense excinement. Immediately the crash took place the train became partly submerged, most of the passengers being up to their necks in water. About three-quarters of an hour after the accident a stranger, who had come to assist, rescued two men. Only their heads were above water, and they seemed to be on the point of drowning. Mr Joe Thompson once got into deep water, but struck out well against the stream. Mr Oscar Barnett was talking to the conductor of the car at the time of the crash and received no worse injury than a severe shaking, while the conductor was killed almost instantaneously. The following is a list of those killed Joseph Campy, Robert Crawford, Alfred Wilson, Mrs Hodson, John Hide, John O’Dwyer, Warner Smith. Injured Mr and Mrs Smith, Mr Laurence Zucker, Mr T. O'Brien, Mr and Mrs Fawcett Hay, Mr Jacobson, Mr Israel Barnard, Mr W. W. Priddle, Mr J. McDara, Mr A. Schneider Mr John Cohen, Mr Austin Sacqui, Mr Joseph Thompson, Mr J. Levy, Mr Harper, Mr R. H. Beattie, Mr A. Trigalone, Mr John Ewer, Engine driver Moody, Mrs Dean and child, Charles Jenkins, W. Stone. Uninjured Henry Giles, J. H. Wood, McDonald, Risby, Patterson,' Bennett, Knowlman, Wellesley,’ Welman, Lambie (Dunedin), E. Zucker, R. Murphy, E. Gorman, Mrs Ryan. The poor victims were laid out upon the bank exposed to the pouring rain. One of Cubh’s coaches started from Cootamundia, but the ground would not curry it, and it had to be left. Several light buggies reached- the place after great perseverence, and the victims were brought into town at a late hour, The passengers by the train were principally Melbourne people on their way to Sydney races.