RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 236, 3 October 1894, Page 2

RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

COLLISION NEAR NEWCASTLE,

A TERRIBLE FATALITY

Newcastle, September 20. Further particulars of the fatal railway accident show that an empty stock train was delayed at Waratah on accotmt of the c oal train being ahead of , it. The guard of ; the stock train, named Carroll, noticing that the mixed goods brain from Newcastle had not slowed down, jumped out of his own and ran , the locomotive, with a view of stopping the train. Evidently he was unaeen by RobertBon or his mate Cousens, or else tho latter had nob had time to pull vp t]p for the locomobivo of the goods train, which happened to be a Baldwin, No. 294, dashed into the rear of the stock train, smashing the guardvan and telescoping several trucks.

The impact was co great as to cause the huge engine to be thrown off tho line, whilst two trucks attached to ib were hurled righb over the back portion of the tender. Noticing the accident one of the railway officials rushed to the engine and shut^off the steam. Ho found Robertson pinned to his seat on the, engine frightfully mangled, a piece of iron and other debris having penetrated his body. He was extricated as quickly a3 possible, but death must have been almost instantaneous.

"■ Cousons, the driver, was found hemmed in near the tender of the engine and badly injured.- He was immediately removed to Newcastle Hospital. • The guard of tho mixed goods train,1 Maher, "and his assistant, Kelly, experienced a severe shaking. The former is^at present confined to his bed at hisresidence at Islington. Robertson was a married man with one child, residing ab. Singleton. Couaens was also a resident, of the same town.

The railway authorities intend holding nn inquiry into the cause of the collision. Pending this there is nothing definite to show how,tho'mishap occurred.

The damage done to the rolling stock is considerable. >

Superintendent. Kttching. and a large staff of men wore immediately on the scene of the accident and succeeded in getting the line clear of the debris in less than an hour.:

Traffic on the down line, however, is still impeded. Ab this wiring Coußens was somewhab better, and hopes were entertained of bis recovery, but he subsequently died.