THE PEAT’S FERRY DISASTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1605, 9 July 1887, Page 3

THE PEAT’S FERRY DISASTER.

Stdnbt, June 27. Mies Hunter, who was one of the pas* aengere by the train which met with so serious accident at Peat’s Ferry, Hawkaabury River, has since died in the hospital. She succumbed to the shock follswi: g the amputation of her leg at the thigh. This is the sixth death. The inquest on the bodies is now proceeding, but the only point of importance yet brought out is that there was no brake van on the train, aa America car taking the place of it. The conduct of the pointsman who turned the runayyiy train off the main line has been warmly commended. A crowded train was just about to start for Sydney, and his presence of mind prevented what would have been a far more serious accident. As it was, persons visiting the wreckage could scarcely fail to bo struck with astonishment that the list of casualties, fatal and otherwise, was not oonsidrrably larger. Damaged carriages hugb splintered beams of wood, wheels and ironwork twisted into all sorts of extraordinary shapes, and fragments of ruling stock littered the embankment foi fully 50 yards, the engine lay In the water to the right of the embankment, with the (endeip on its aide ; a littl* further out the two carriages which bore the brunt of the co'lision were completely telescoped, firmly locked together and tiltr-d over on to ihe right side, overhanging the embankment. As far as c uld be judged the engine, immediately after dashing into the goods truck on the line, about 40 yards froip the end of the station platform, turned completely round aod following the tender rolled down the bank, and lay right side up. The body of Wilson, the engine*driver, was recovered by dfvers, They found it pinned by the legs under the forepart of the locomotive. With the greatest difiicuhy the body was extricated and hauled to the surface about a quarter past eleven, Wilson bad both his arras held high up in fropt of his face and partly over lifs head, as if he had gone to his death in the attitude of warding oft a blow. Pye, the fireman of the engine, had a miraculous escape, He was thrown off the engine into the water, and fortunately, fell clear of the locomotive, which immediately afferwirds rolled down the slope. Mauy stories aretold of the wonderful escapes experienced by those in the worst parts of the wrecked vehicles, and a large proportion of these pan be fully credited in the light of ell the oiroumstanc s. The young girl who lost her life and was not recognised at first, has been identified as Eliza Ann Waters, living with her widowed mother at Petersham, Her companion, who was also killed, was identified as John Philip-*, a plasterer, also of Petersham. The list of the killed and wounded m iy be summarised as follows :—Killed —Males, 4j females, 2; total, 6. Injured, broken limbs—Males, 4; females, 1; totu[, 5,

Injured, bruises—Males, 10; fema e , 15, total, 25. Grand total of killed and injured, 36. From the evidence given at the inquiry into the circums'ancps of the recent accident at Peat’s Ferry, Now South Wales, by tb« fireman Pye, it appear* *h t when about a in'le and a-lmlf from Pe-u’s Ferry the driver, Mr Uenuie, and himself feit that something whs wrong. Wilson, the driver, turning to Pye, said, “ look out, Jack, the tmin is running away *i h u?,’ 1 and then theyfu ly realised what a terrible position they were i". As they neared the sta'ion Kennie said “ I’ll jump,” but Wilson said “ Hold on,” and gripoed the brake with all his strength. They all made up their minds to-tick i>> the engine, and as calmly us possible under the circumstances awaited their fate.