RATANA ACCIDENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1938, Page 8

RATANA ACCIDENT

DEATH OF SEVENTH VICTIM. FIREMAN OF EXCURSION TRAIN. WANGANUI, April 11. After lying critically ill in the Wanganui Hospital for 16 days Mr K. Millar, the fireman of the excursion train which was derailed at Ratana on March 26, died at 8.15 to-night. His death brings the total of lives lost in the disaster to seven. Mr Millar was pinned in the cab of the engine when it left the rails and plunged into the side of the cutting. He was seriously burned almost all over the body by jets of steam from broken pipes. It was some time before rescuers could free him and he was removed to hospital critically injured. His condition remained grave until yesterday, when he appeared to show a slight improvement. At six o’clock this evening it was observed that he had relapsed and he died about two hours later.

Mr Millar, who was very popular among his colleagues and highly respected, was 34 years of age. He leaves a wife and three young children. He joined the Railways Department about 14 years ago, and was considered most efficient in his work. A short time before the accident he passed the department’s examination for his acting-driver’s ticket.