THE BARBERTON RAILWAY FATALITY.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

• Papers from South Africa contain the following account of the Barberton railway disaster, in which a. large number of New Zealand troopers lost their lives, and others were seriously hurt: — BARBERTON, April 3 (Reuter).—ln connection with the railway accident, the detachment of the Hants Regiment in the train comprised 36 men of the Volunteer Company, under-Captain Grant and Lieutenant Holbrooke. Of these, ten men were killed and 25 wounded; 30 men of E Company, under Lieutenant Parker, of whom 24 were killed and four wounded; 51 of G Company, of whom six were killed and nine wounded. One man each was killed from B and D Companies, making a total of 80 killed and wounded out of 102 starting.

No officers were injured.

Corporals Childs and Henty were the 'only non-commissioned officers killed ; all the others were privates.

The engine-driver, named Rankin, was killed on the spot, while the stoker, a Mauritian, died unconscious on the way to the hospital.

A civilian named White jumped from the carriage, and was killed against the bridge. One Dutch child has since died. The accident occurred four miles from Biirberton, at the sharp curve leading on to the bridge, over a donga forty feet deep. At the end of the three miles down incline the train had attained a speed of over eighty miles per hour. The engine first left the fails,, turning completely over, and then the boiler burst.' Six trucks, containing soldiers, were hurled with terrific force 20 to 30 yards from the line and smashed to jmatchwood, three lying all in a heap. One caught the corner of the bridge and fell into the donga. Twenty-two dead bodies were taken from here. The passenger coach, with several women, children, and men^ had a most miraculous escape. The wheels left the rails, and the coach ran across the bridge on the girders, within three inches of the edge. All must have been killed hud it followed the soldiers' trucks into the donga. This would have happened had not the guard jßoss) kept the brake down, after the engine and front trucks left the rails. With the exception of the Dutch child and a passenger badly cut about the head, all the passengers escaped with a severe shaking, although the carriage was completely smashed.

There "are now in hospital , two dangerous and sis serious cases. Thirty others are doing well. The regiment was veiy popular during its year's stay here, and deep sympathy is felt by the whole community over the terrible calamity. .The cause of the engine getting out of control is still unknown.

BARBERTON, March 31

Corporal Charles and 38 men' of t-heJ Hampshire Regiment were .buried in Barberton cemetery yesterday. The service was read most impressively by Major Crofts. Two others died during the day. The majority of injured in the hospital are doing well. This accident, coupled with Mr Rhodes' death, has cast a. gloom over the whole community. -