TERRIBLE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1599, 25 June 1887, Page 1

TERRIBLE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

, Stdnet, June 22, A train containing four hundred excursionists for Hawkesbury, met with an accident at Peat's Kiver yesterday. Shortly after leaving t'-nfe place the Westinghouse-Hornsby br.iko failed. The train whs too heavy for the light engine, and attained a velocity of seventy miles an hour down the steep declivity. The guard applied *he brakes, ort with no avail, and a poininrnan serine: there was danger of the whole train running into the sea, turned it on to a sidinp, where it dashed ; into some trucks, The two carriages nearest the engine were telescoped, and the engine fell over the bank into the sea. Wileon, tha driver, Ronnie, the engineer, Henry Hankins, clerk, and a young maa and ; two girls, names unknown,.were killed. Fully forty people were injured. Everything appears to have gone smoothly until reaching Ryde, but from that place it whs found the engine wan insufficient to draw the train of nine carnages up the eteep gradients. A portion of the train was detached and the two sections re-united at Hornby. -The train, a little late by this delay, proqoeded towards Pent's Ferry and at an increased speed the train rushed through the tunnel towards the iodine,-which leads right to the river's briuk. Suddenly tb'-re was a great increase-in speed. On emerging from the tunnel the driver appeared to Lave lost all control, >ind sounded the whistle continuously. The train oseilliated violently, a«)d the passengers alarmed, as the pace became tf-rrific. A disaster seemed now inevitable, an" i' in said that the driver made an attempt to avert utter ruin by reversing the engin , but was too late. Before the train reached Peat's station, however, a pointsfnan rufhed to the, points and holding them bravely, managed tdthrow the train on a siding, on,which were two contractors' trucks and .an engine. His presence of mind probably prevented: the whole train being precipitated, into the river. As toon as the firstand second carriages were telescoped, shrieks of agony and terror resounded on every side. The engine fell overthe'Bida of the embmkment into the mud, the fireman, much injured, being throvin into tbe water. Sosoon as the, intelligence was received | in Sydney doctors ar,.d appliances were I forwarded, and the sufferers brought back, ! many being in apitiable condition. There were heart-rending when relatives came to search for friends and relations. The wounded were: codveyed to the hospital and their own homes. Part of the embankment where the train went over is about J 3ft above high and the depth of water was 12ft. The wrecked train was completely fitted with haiid brakes, which were applied, but it is supposed the rate of speed and breaking on the gradients heated the brakes so that they would not act. The bodies of the killed were much mutilated. Many of the excursionists were young people engaged in various businesses in the city. Everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. Mr Wm. Reume, manager for Messrs Amos and Co., jumped from the train and was killed. Some of the injuries of the wounded are of a serious character.

The subject of the accident was dis" cussed in the Legislative Assembly to-day. A Board of Enquiry commences its investigntions to-morrow. Those injured by the accident are progressing favorably.