Railway Accident at Sydney.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 110, 19 February 1901, Page 3

Railway Accident at Sydney.

Sydney, Feb. 15.

A serious railway disaster occurred at Sydenham to-night at Tempe station. The train was a suburban one running as an express through as far as Tempe. It left the city a few minutes before six, the busiest part of the evening, and just as the people are leaving business. The train consisted of nine carriages, and had several hundred passengers aboard.

Just before reaching Sydenham the engine ran off the line dragging the first carriage, a second-class smoker, with it, and ploughed some distance along the embankment, and then rolled over. The carriage was smashed into pieces, and many persons pinned in the debris. Later reports state that there were seven killed and between thirty and forty injured. Several of those injured are in a serious condition.

From what can be gathered amid the scene of confusion the engine, from some unknown cause, suddenly jumped, but turning over righted itself again. 'The front car, which was a smoker, and was fu’l of passengers, by the force of the impact collapsed, and split open and then closed upon the unfortunate occupants. Some of the splinters were hurled high in the air and were landed fifty yards away. Alongside the line where the accident occurred is a blind roadway, and the wreckage went over and lodged itself there. The driver shut off the steam to prevent an explosion. All fears of a fire were soon at an end.

The injured were conveyed to the hospital, where about thirty received treatment.

Doyle, the driver, is amongst those severely injured. There was much axcitement, and many pathetic incidents in the city. Great crowds gathered at the Redfcrn station, and at the newspaper offices, anxiously awaiting news.

Heavy rains set in shortly after the accident, and as the night was dark, this considerably impeded the rescue operations. The railway authorities are unable to account for the accident. February 16.

So far as is at present known nine persons were killed, and between thirty and forty injured. A gentleman residing close to the scene of the accident givek a graphic account of it. He was looking out of a window, and saw the train approaching at a rapid rate. Suddenly the engine jumped off the rails, ploughing alongside the line, and g> actually worked to the edge of the embankment and rolled over two or three limes, falling with a tremendous thud to the side .of the street below. She jolted the first cars with her, bat the tremendous jolt caused the coupling to part, otherwise the whole of the passenger-laden carriages would have been telescoped. The engine dashed down in the street close to two little children, who had a miraculous escipe. They were covered with dirt and moisture from the engine. The cause of the dera iment is still a mystery. The theory of leading roilway officials is that the brake was suddenly applied as the train r i-s.ml the spot. An exaun ■ nmu showed the tracks to be in good order, and had only just left the i "pairing shops. The rate of speed was not excessive, as the train was only running between twenty and twenty-live miles an hour. A fireman living near the scene rendered valuable assistance by ■drawing the fire and letting off the steam of the engine, probably saving an explosion. February 17.

The inquest on the railway accident was opened and adjourned to February 26th.