RAILWAY DISASTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2776, 29 April 1890, Page 2

RAILWAY DISASTER.

TRUCK COUPLINGS GIVE WAY. CHILDREN KILLED AND MUTILATED. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT). Sydney, April 25. A terrible railway accident happened at Bathurst to-night. A great crash, like an explosion, was heard about seven o'clock, proceeding from the gates in Russell-street. An engine was found with the front crushed to atoms, as were the carriages and trucks, and several dead bodies were found lying about. It appears a mixed train left for Sydney at C.30 p.in., and when near Raglan several truck couplings gave way, and many trucks came down from the Zigzag past Raglan at great speed, and dashed through the Kelso station. At Bathurst a goods train, just about to start for Sydney, failed to get out of the way of the runaway trucks, and a terrible collision resulted. The loss ot life at present is indefinitely known, but five bodies have been discovered. Some of these had been killed by the shock, while others were dreadfully mutilated. Later. The guard's van and the passenger carriages were completely telescoped by the engine, and the train from Bourke is nothing but splinters. i So far as is known several children named

O'Connor, who were returning from school, were all killed. Mrs Franklyn and the driver of the Bourke train were also killed. A child named Noonan was seriously injured. April 20. Tho driver of the Bourke train was not killed as at first reported, but he sustained severe injuries. Two firemen were also seriously injured, and had a miraculous escape of death. Those killed are Michal Downey, Mrs Franklin, and Henry O'Connor. Maude Radford, Miss Godfrey, and two others whose names have not been mentioned, sustained injuries from which they are unlikely to recover. The Stationmaster at Raglan, when he saw the runaway train, wired to Bathurst of the danger, but the tremendous speed at which tho detached portion of the tram travelled left no time for the line to be cleared. The Stationmaster at Bathurst states that when Kelso wired, " No. 2(i broken away" the up golds train had left for Kelso. He at once rushed on the platform and saw the runaway crossing the bridge (iverthe Macquarie River at a terriffic pace. Xo time seemed to have elapsed before he heard a dreadful crash, followed by the noise of escaping steam and of smashing timbers. The runaway train consisted of five trucks loaded with goods and sheep, nne empty horse-box, one six-wheeled carriage, and a composite brake van. The two latter, besides several of the trucks, were smashed to atoms, and some portions of them thrown over the top of the engine on to the tender. The engine itself was broken aud crushed up to the tubes of the bjiler. Later. The grade at Raglan, where the couplings of the train gave way, is one in forty, and it is estimated that in its descent the runaway part of the train attained a speed at the rate of 80 miles an hour. Eight hundred sheep stowed in the trucks were lulled, and added to the terrible nature of the scene. In side the boiler, which was stove in, were found portions of the brake van, clothing, and cushions, as well as human flesh and blood. The driver and fireman of the Buurke train gallantly remained at their posts, and fortunately were but slightly injunred. Maude Radford, one of those injured, died to-day, making four victims. The injured are progressing favourably.