RAILWAY SMASH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9713, 8 February 1910, Page 5

RAILWAY SMASH.

SURVIVING DRIVER'S STORY. AN AGONISING TIME. GILUAKD'S FORTITUDE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received February 7, 10 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 7. The surviving driver (Gronn) was scalded from hip to toes. His back and loins were crushed and his hand broken. Gronn states that when the accident occurred there was a Scotch mist, and the rails were slippery. As he came down the Beaufort ban k the first thing te knew was that the train was on the No. 2 line. He called out: ' Good God! Charlie, we are on No. 2. There is a dead end. Jump!" But before either could jump the crash came, aud the huge engines, with a heavy whsat train behind, were piled up. He ,*as jammed between the lever frame and the injector pipe by the foot. The gauge-glass burst and began to scald him. It was awful, but the steam made his boot slippery, and he wag able to wret.ch his foot out, and get on the permanent way. " The driver of the second engine was nearly cut in two, while Russell, the fireman, had his head almost severed.

Gilliard, fireman cn the first engine, endured awful suffering. He was pinned in the wreckage in an upright position, and was put to terrible agony by the heat of the boiler, while a hook piece of metal penetrated his back. He lived four and a half hours.

Superhuman efforts were made to release him. Once or twice he encouraged the rescuers who were doing their best for him, but occasionally a cry was wrung from him by the pain caused by scalding water from the boiler. Daylight found him in the same state. A doctor was standing by administering morphia, but Gilliard died before he was extricated.

DEFICIENT BRAKE-POWER ALLEGED. SIGNALMAN'S STATEMENT. TRAIN TRAVELLING TOO FAST. Received February 7, 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, February 7. Gionn, driver'of the first engine, complained that before leaving Stawell his engine was not properly braked. It appears that the engine was practically without brake power on the fatal journey. The railway officials admit that the second engine was«ot low brake power. The signalman's story shows that the stationary engine had nothing to do withlthe disaster. The line had been made clear for the train. He went down the platform with thestaff, but when the train was within fifty yards of the station he saw that she™was travelling too fast. He went back to the signal-box to turn her off the loop on to the mam line, but was too lata She was over the intersection, and making straight for the dead end. He heard Gilliard cry out, "For God's sake hit me on the head —put me out of this !'* and then ran tor the doctor.