ALARMING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 23 October 1882, Page 4

ALARMING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Narrow Escape of a Train.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWrt CO_EEBPO>T_3-tT.)

DUNEDIN, Sunday. A railway accident occurred near Blueskin, übout 17 miles from Dunedin, on Sunday night, 'Ihe 4,45 train from town to Oamam had reached the bottom of the in- 1 cline, within a quarter of a mile of Blueskiu station, when the engine ran off the line. This was just before reaching Waitati Bridge, and between the embankment. The engine immediately struck one side of the embankment, and turned on its side, being very seriously damaged. Tbe goods van, next to the engine, is broken to pieces. There were five passenger carriages, containing probably 80 passengers. The carriages are all badly wrecked. But the principal accidents to life or limb are. three, namely, a passenger named Guy, employed in the J. unedingoodsshed, badly cut on the temple, and now in the Dunedin Hospital, but it is not thought that he is dangerously huit; a woman cut about the head through being propelled throngh one of the carriage windows ; and a man somewhat severely hurt about the legs. Dr. Mansell went in a specisl train from Dunedin to attend the injured. The express passengers were transferred, and got into Dunedin about 10 o'clock. The passengers by the wrecked train were all sent on.

The escape of the train wa» miraculous, Fifteen yards further and the train would have gone over tbe Waitati Bridge, when probably the most serious railway accident that has ever occurred in the colony would have had to be chronicled. The fengine-driver and fireman jumped off, and escaped almost unbnrt, Why the eogine left the rails is quite unknown. It is possible that some of the engine gear broke and got beneath tbe wheels, or the line may have been damaged at tbe spot, or something may have got across the line. Doubtless, a departmental enquiry will be held. The passengers describe the affair as having been over in a moment. There was a jerk as the engine left the roils, and another as it struck tbe bank, Alter that, all was confusion, and everybody was thrown off their seats and against each other. The express luggage has not yet reached Dunedin, Specials wets run last night for the passengers, and another was out this afternoon.