BLOCKED ON THE RIMUTAKA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4245, 17 October 1892, Page 3

BLOCKED ON THE RIMUTAKA.

A passenger by the WellingtonMasterion train on Saturday evening last, supplies us with the following details of the journey We reached the Summit at 5.45 in safety, although our Wellington friends . had endeavoured to frighten us from starting by making sure that an accident must occur before we reached the hill, on such a day. In Wellington, without doubt, Saturday was themost severe day I have experienced for many years, and the town was simply deserted. We were at tho Summit waiting for the Wairarapa train, and as one could not stir outside the carriage, it was a dull hall hour. Various surmises were passed from one carriage to the other, but it was not till the energetic boy with tho" Wairarapa Daily Times" had walked about a mile along the line, that tho woeful news reached us that a slip had ocourred. It was, however, con-

fidently stated that the line would be Reared in a very short time. W One hour slowly passed anil we wore still stationary. The officials were very retioientwith regard to the matter, and in reply to anxious enquiries would answer" a few minuteß more, sir." One or two of the passengers braved the elements with the view of investigating, but after travelling about a quarter of a mile, over a veiy rough and watery railway track, the night by this time being intensely dark, they returned as wiso as ever. At 7.15 word came along the line that all was clear, and we were to start. We wero going at a snail's pace, but could see from tho danger signals flashing all round, that wo wero not yet out of the difficulty. Safely inside the big tunnel another stop was made, and instructions were sent that on account of another large slip just coming down, and a tree serosa the line, we would have to gather together our luggage aud walk to'the Wairarapa train on the other

side of the" block'" This was by far «tlie worst part of the journey, for our Jfciin was'full of passengers including a great number of ladies and children and to walk through the big tunnel with no lights was extremely awkward to say the least of it. On each side of the line was a rapid stream of water, and the three railed line was fearfully rough, How some o£ the gentler sex got through is a mystery. The tunnel Eeoroed endless, and it wus only by feeling along the walls that one could find the way at all, Every | now and again the wailing of the children or the shouting of inen would meet tbo ear, and sevoral heavily laden persons were bruised by falling over the line. The big slip occurred on the Wairarapa tide of the loog tunnel, and (o

get past the debris with tho rain pelting down, and the-wind blowing a hurricane, was no joke, About tho most dangerous part of the half-mile walk, however, was a small bridge, and several yells were beard from those who had missed their footing aud gone through, Two of tho railway hands were placed there to warn tho weary travellers and they had to rescue and place ut good few on terra firm again. At last the light of the Wairarapft tram was the guiding star in thn intenso darkness, nnd when that was reached, sevoral parcols were found to be missing, one young lady losing a bag with all her savings in, The fair ones behaved wonderfully well during tho trying journey, only one going oil in hysterics, and iu a fainting condition she had to be convoyed to tho carriage. After all the passengers of both trains bad changod places, another start was made at 8.15, after two hours and a half at the ouo spot. A great- number of people were anxiously waiting at all the stations along tlio line, to hear the particulars of tho mishap, no doubt something far more serious being expected, At Featherston the wind was terrific, aud several times it was thought the carriages woro going over. The train arrived in Masterton after ten o'clock being nearly hevon hours on tho roadj and right glad wore the hungry and tired passengers to once more alight,