SINGULAR ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1916, 16 October 1884, Page 2

SINGULAR ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.

[by telegraph.— own correspondknt.] Auckland, Wednesday. At 8.52 this morning, a shunting-encrino was standing in the Auckland station-yard, when another engine, propelling trucks, ran out of the shed and bumped sharply against the shunting engine. Mr Bennett, the engineer on the latter, had been employed oiling the machinery, and the shock threw him down, and in falling against a ■water-tank he lost three fingers. The bump, at the same time, caused the regulator of the engine to fall, and the steam being admitted into the cylindeis the locomotive started off up the line at half speed. The fiieman (Mills) was at this time on the top of the engine, and was knocked off by its sudden starting, so that he was unable to do anything towards preventing any further mishap. The telegraph wires were immediately set in motion, when that which was most dreaded was found to be the fact. The Onehunga train had left Newmarket about a minute before the warning telegram was received by the Newmarket btatioYimaster, and was then on its way to town, and a terrible calamity beetned imminent. The Onehunga train left Newmarket about the same time that the runaway engine started on its purposeless journey from the Auckland station. Attached to the Onehunga tram were five carriages and van. Tho engine was in charge of Mr Robertson, one of the most efficient men on the Him*. There were about one bundled passenger, a large proportion being school children. There is a slight bend in the domain tunnel which prevents a clear view being obtnine-1 right through. Daylight is however only lost for a period of two or thiee second*-. When Robertson had brought his engine round the curve, he caught sight of the runaway engine bowling along toward*, him. Owing to the construction of the tunnel, he then had a clear view of nearly a mile ahead. He promptly shut off steam and had the brakes put on, and' «it the same time sounded the whistle. The shrieking of whistles together with the slackening of speed had by this time communicated to the passsengers the fact th;it something was wrong. Some looking out of the windows, could see the runaway engine approaching. The imminence of a collision under such circumstance created the greatest excitement and appro hension ; many of the ladies buist into teals?, and the unfoitunate children seemed paialy.sed with terror. One male passenger sprang out of the train, and falling on the track, cut his nose. The guard*!, who did not lose their presence of mind, called out to the passengers to lie down and hold <>n to the seats. This suggestion was geueiallv acted upon, and no doubt prevented seriouconsequences that otherwise might have occuncd. By this time Mr Robeit-on hid brought his tram to neatly a dead htop, just at the commencement of the woodwork of the tunnel, and just then the tuuaway engine, whose speed had been con biderablv reduced by the arduous pull up the steep grade, collided with Robeitson's engine. The shock was not a se\eie one, and none of the tolling sLock left the line, although the cow-ca teller of the pai-cnger tiain was cairiud away, and both engine-, were slightly injured. The passengerwere agieeably surprised on finding that the shock had not been a \iolent one, and that the casualties were nil. A number of them scrambled out of the train and inspec ted the damage. Shortly afterwaids a relief train with officials and appliance-, arrived on the scene, and the line was cleared without difficulty. In consequence of the accident, the Waikato train was detaiued three-quaitcrs-of-an-hour, but otherwise the time-table was adhered to. The driver of the uinaway engine had three fingers smashed, which were amputated at the Hospital to-day.