RAILWAY FATALITY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 230, 4 January 1898, Page 2

RAILWAY FATALITY.

A TRAIN DERAILED, TOE FIREMAN KILLED. (by telegraph.—own correspondent). Auckland, Last Night. INFORMATION was received I eic this morning of another railway rccident, the scene of the casualty being Godwin's Bridge, on the Kaukapakupa line. The train was the ordinary morning train, which lift Kanohi at 10.35 for Helensvilh and Auckland. As to how many passengers were on the train information is not at present available, but the Hon. IS. Mitchelson was a passenger. All escaped without injury. The engine and three carriages adjoining the engine left the rails at Goodwin's Bridge, situated some distance south of Kaukapakapa. The engine turned completely over and rolled down the embankment. The fireman, named J. Barker, fell underneath the engine and was killed. Dr. Roget, Constable Kelly, and a gang of platelayers have left Htleusville for the scene of the accident. An eye witness of the accident states that when the engine left the rails it turned completely over, and was brought up in a ditch at the foot of the embankment. Two carriages were also derailed and a third carriage thrown at right angles across the line, and a fourth carriage, though not derailed, sustained some damage. The railway track sustained some damage. The driver of the engine, P. Neville, was considerably shaken but not seriously hurt. He jumped off the engiue and had a marvellous escape from death. Guard Manning was not seriously hurt. The body of Baiker has been brought iuto Helensville. Deceased, who was 30 years of age, leaves a widow and two young children. The theory of the accident is that the heat caused the expansion of the rails, which resulted in their buckling as happened in the Woodville district - . The Traffic Manager at Auckland on hearing of the casualty telegraphed to ascertain if any assistance was recpiired, and a reply in the affirmative being sent, Mr Grant, District Traffic Manager, left by special train at 1.15 p.m., taking with him a gang of linemen and platelayers.