TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 259, 28 October 1897, Page 7

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

CASUALTY AT A RAILWAY ™" CROSSING.

;3VS BI JN INTO BY A TRAIN

jgREE PERSONS KILLED

gT ATEMENTS BY PASSENGERS.

of those terrible accidents ' OP* rast a gioom over the whole occurred on the night of Ser Ist at the railway crossing P^ffioms-street. The performance » J£ Flying Jordans Company, on Ground, had just and a Ponsonby 'bus, C°-!?7 full load of passengers, crossing- the railway line when W3Lf run into by the 10.20 train iX Tts way out of the station. The °Vne struck the 'bus by the right f^ wheel, and knocked it comS y round, parallel with the railSv line, carrying away the front IL\ and cutting- into one of if torses The occupants of the tb tside seats were hurled, on to the 'Id by the force of the collision, f-Tof them falling on the railway v ! Tight under the wheels of the fine It all happened so suddenly S$ those inside were quite unaware , their danger until they felt the °lch while the outside passengers, SL* they heard a warning cry S before the collision, had no time niuWP off before the train was upon them The train pulled up as quickly fl s possible, and as the news spread there was a great rush of people to 'he scene of the disaster. Constables Boreham, Potter, and some of the railway employees hurried to the snot and made a search among the $:bns for the injured. These were found to be eight in number, and three of them—Thomson Leys, son of the editor of the "Star," aged 13,; E coy named Charles Akast, and the driver of the 'bus, William Ness, were seen to be seriously hurt. These three died from their injuries after their admission to the hospital, where they were taken after the accident. Five others were more or less seriously injured, viz., J. E. Parkin, Highstreet ; Hal. Holmden, aged 16, a pupil at the Auckland Grammar School; J. Osborne, 'bus driver ; a boy named O'Brien ; and an expressman named Beehre. THE REST OP THE INJURED. Mr John Osborne was taken in a tab to the residence of Dr. Parkes, where Ms injuries were dressed. Ihese were confined ' o a severe gash on the cheek. A boy named O'Brien ffas also attended by Dr. Parkes, his injuries being a broken nose and some scalp wounds. Beehre was token up to Dr. Hooper's, in Hobsonstreet, by Constable Fraser. His injuries consisted of scalp wounds, and are not serious. After his wounds lad been dressed Beehre Avas taken lome to his residence at Cox's Creek.

The driver, William Ness, was lame. He had been for a long- time in the employ of the Tram Company and it is stated that lie was a most fearless man in handling troublesome horses. He. was only recently discharged from the Hospital owing to injuries through a fall from a horse on the Ponsonby Eoad. AT THE HOSPITAL. : Shortly before 11 o'clock the injured were taken to the Hospital in cabs, at intervals. They were received by Dr. Pabst. The first to be brought up Avas Akast, then Leys, Ness, Holmden, and Parkin. Akast was sensible but suffering from shock. He lived until 1 o'clock. It was found that his right arm was torn off and both legs badly crushed. Leys only lived a few minutes after admission. He was unconscious. His skull was badly fractured and he had several scalp wounds. Ness was insensible and never rallied. He died about 3 o'clock, Holmden was suffering from shock and was much dazed. He walked into the operating room with assistance. It was found that he was suffering from a wound of the left leg, The man Parkin who was the last to arrive had only a scalp wound. The Hospital resident staff, together ttith Drs. Challinor Purchas, Girdler, Marsack, and Coates with additional nurses were kept busy until an early lour in the morning operating and dressing the wounds of the sufferers. For two hours the Hospital was beseiged with anxious friends and inquiries by persons through the telephone. The authorities did all they could to meet the exceptional demands made upon them and relieve the anguish of relations and others.