DISASTROUS RAILWAY COLLISION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2733, 3 November 1894, Page 1

DISASTROUS RAILWAY COLLISION.

Sydney, October 31. A disastrous collision occurred this morning just outside the Redferu railway station. An incoming Paramatta train, crowded with business people from suburban stations, met the outgoing Goulbourn express on the same set of rails, with the result that the engines and carriages were telescoped. The accident caused intense excitement, and it is impossible to ascertain definitely whether anyone was killed, but it is believed that Orr, the fireman of one of the trains, is is dead. Among the injured are the following:—Mr and Mrs Hart, Messrs Pyman, Osborne, Pellick, Brierly, Horton, Jones, Johnston, Qarson, Bickett, Driver, Pearce, Glasson, Rev. Dean MacCarthy, Mrs Davis, and Miss Harper. Many are suffering from soalds. It is not know n how the two trains switched on to the same line. Mr Bullmer is dead. Mr Pearce, the driver, is dying. Mr Webb, Clerk of Parliament, and Mr Robertson, assistant, are both badly scalded. Mr Jones has also died. The Secretary of Railways, in his report to the Commissioners, states that the signalman heard the whistle, but thought it was for the engine to go out, and allowed the signal to drop. The driver of the Goulbourn train mistook the signal and steamed out. -' Nov. 1. Eye witnesses give heartrending accounts of the sufferings of those rescued from the railway accident. Skin was hanging in strips fr m their faces and hands. The most serious cases were those who inhaled the scalding steam. Tracheotomy was performed in several instances. Pearce, the driver, had his lower extremities parboiled, and has sucumbed. It is now evidently clear that the driver of the Golbourn train mistook the signal given to an engine lying on a siding as a signal intended foi him. The Chief Commissioners says that there was a good deal of excitement outside and people were rushing forward to help passengers who were imprisoned in the first carriage. This was full of smoke and steam, and people were breaking the windows in trying to get out. There were loud cries for help. The railway authorities came forward and quickly wrenched the iron bars from off the windows and assisted the unfortunate people to get free. One correspondent states that he helped to carry one man, he thought it was Mr Bulmer, to a conveyance, and he was taken to the Prince Alfred Hospital. Quodling, Granger, Sommerville, Berry, and McKenzie, died to-day, and others are not expected to recover. A singular feature of the accident is that no bones were broken. The engine was i travelling with the tender first. The driver and fireman acted heroically, and stuck to their post with certain death staring them in the face. Strathfield, Oct. 31.

As far as is known thirty were injured in the railway collision. Twelve were taken to the hospital and the others to their own homes. Dean MacCarthy is in a serious condition. The most serious cases are those of Jones (the fireman), David Jones, and Dean MacCarthy, who is fearfully scalded about the throat, and it is quite possible that tracheotomy will be necessary. There are but little hopes entertained of the rev. gentleman’s recovery. Mr Bulmer, a barrister, was also badly scalded, and is in a critical condition. Pearce, the driver of one of the engines, was badly injured, and Orr, the fireman, was killed. Others who received minor injuries are Miss Horton, Mesdames Davis and Hart, Messrs Pyman, Fullack, Johnston, Grierson (2), Bickett, Brierly, Hart, Osborne, Beaumont, McKenzie, Gillen, Ralston, Haslett, Banks, Wilson, and Raine. The occupants who were cooped up in the first carriage of the suburban train had a terribly thrilling time, and owing to the on the windows were unable to effect their escape until assisted from the outside.