How The Accident Occured. Sunday.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1281, 14 September 1880, Page 3

How The Accident Occured. Sunday.

The special train returned from the scete of the railway accident late last nigbt. It appears the train left Featherstone as usual yesterday morning, there being two carriages coupled in front of the engine, and two loaded goods waggons, and a brake van behind it. The train reached half-way up the Rimutaka line safely, but immediately after clearing a deep cutting, a terrific gust caught the first carriage, with first and second class passenger*, and threw it over tha embankmeat. The second olass followed, and the weight of tho two drew the van over. Fortunately, the coupling of the carriages and van held, and this prevented the train from going to the bottom of the embankment, which is stated to be nearly two hundred feet in depth. Immediately the accident was noticed, the break van; in rear of the train ran down the incline by its own momentum to Cross Creek for assistance. Almost instantaneously after the first carriage left the line, the body was carried away from the bed and literally smashed, the passengers being thrown to the bottom among the debris. It was at first feared that the whole of the passengers, about fifteen in number, were killed. Assistance being at hand, the work of ie?cuiug the passengers commenced. In the second carriage, which had been thrown over on its side, it was found that out of twelve occupants one lar] named Quinn, son of a publican at Grey town, was killed, it is supposed through snffocation. The other passengers, some of whom were rather severely injured, were got out of the wrecked carriages as soon as ptssible, and placed in safety. Among those who were thrown from the first carriage was Miss Fharazyn, aged 11 years, daughter of a well known sta-tion-holder at Featherstone, who was killed instantaneously. It is thought, as she bore no marks of injury, that her neck had been broken. A lad named Nicholls was also killed, he having tha back part of the head torn away and the brain exposed. The remaining passengers were more or less injured. Those not seriously injured were doing all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the others. The injured were removed on the line, where a train was waiting to bring them on to Kaitoke. About an hour after this, medical assistance from Wellington arrived, and the wounded were attended to, after which three men, Hare, Jackson, aud a man unknown, were sent to Greytown Hospital, their injuries being more serious. The others came on to Wellington. The force of the wind may be imagined when it is said that two loaded wagons in the rear of the engine were subsequently capsized, but, fortunately, not thrown over the enbankment. The line was clear again at a late hour last night Those killed are Miss Fharazyn, John Quinn, Master Nicholas. Injured, so far as knpwn,are:— Mrs. Phillipsdeslocated wrist and internal injuries; Mesdames Hodge and Quinn, slightly bruised ; Miss Fharazyn injured about the head, not seriously; Messrs McKenzie (drover), left shoulder dislocated, right hand injured ; James Crouch, badly cut on the head and legs j Quinn, bruised about the body ; Walter Dunn, it is said, has two or three ribs broken; Madden (blacksmith), bruised about the head ; Hare, runholder (Masterton), large wound on the forehead, and it is feared erysipelis may set in ; Jackson saddler (Greytown), concussion of the spine, and partly paralysed ; man, name unknown, and Donald, of Featherstone, severely injured about the head; A. Blacksley, contusions about the head and hips ; Riddick, injured about the head, not seriously; Jackson, injured about the shoulder, not seriously ; Mrs. Fye, aged 60, besides being shaken, is internally^ injured. Four of Mr. Quinns children were slightly injured. The report that the Hon. W. Rolleston's daughter had been killed by the accident is incorrect. An inquest will be held at Featheratone to-morrow.