THE RAILWAY DISASTER

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 41, 18 February 1901, Page 2

THE RAILWAY DISASTER

FURTHEII DETAILS

(By Cable.—Press Association.Copyright.) '

SYDNEY, February ifi.

In the railway accident some of the bodies were mutilated.

Many of the passengers were helpless with broken limbs, and it. seemed at first that the dead were more numerous than they actually were. for a large proportion of the wounded were rendered unconscious.

Fortunately there were few or no women aboard the train.

One of the first people picked up was Fireman King, a mere youth, who was lying clear of the wreckage. He had apparently been thrown out of the engine when it first fell over, and was quite dead.

Driver Doyle was found close to the engine badly hurt.

The fourth victim has been identified as G. H. Goulder, a. school boy, aged fifteen, the sun of a well-known city detective.

Beverley and Teece were also school boys. Three men still remain unidentified.

The latest returns give the number injured-as twenty-six, though a number of others received bruises and suffered severely from shock. About a score still remain in the hospital. The worst eases are Fred. Jaekel, injuries to the spine and bruises to the head, serious; Charles Spencer, broken jaw and injuries to the head: Fred. Rolfe, lacerated lung, critical; W- McCm'ver, a fractured skull, serious: Engine driver Doyle, fractured ribs, both legs broken, and injuries to the head, critical. The others are chiefly suffering from broken bones, severe bruises and shock.

SYDNEY, February 17

The inquest on the railway accident has been opened and adjourned till February 20. Jacob, the ninth victim.

i.-.; dead

Remaining victims of the accident have been 'identified as John James Morrison, engineer on the New South Wales railways; Herbert Henry Darnlev, a storeman, residing in the suburbs; and a youth named William Mort. The name of the boy previously given as Teeke is now stated to be' Albert Wadeston. The eighth victim is Charles Thomas Spencer, a young unmarried man, who died thi:_ morning. A gentleman residing close to the scene of the accident gives a graphic description. He was looking out of a window and saw the train approaching at a rapid rate. Suddenly the engine jumped off the rails, ploughing alongside the line. She gradually worked to the edge of the embankment and rolled over two or three times, falling with a tremendous thud to the side, of the street below. She jolted the first ca>s Avith her, but the tremendous jolt caused the couplings to part, otherwise the whole of the passenger-laden carriages would have been telescoped. The engine dashed down into the street close to two little children, who had a miraculous escape. They were covered with dirt and moisture' from the engine. When the engine car went oft' the remaining carriages by a miracle kept the rails. The srrade here is slightly up hill and all came to a standstill aboift fifty yards further along. When the train stopped out poured the affrighted passengers, and hundreds instantly set to work to render assistance to the injured, whose groans and cries were heartrending. One man who was riding on the footboard of the wrecked car was sent flying down the embankment. He jumped to his feet and is little the worse for his experience.

Driver Doyle, in An interview in the hospital, said it was all too sudden for anyone to see anything. He could give no reason for the engine leaving the rails- She seemed to jump off the railway and turn over. When he came to his senses he found himself in the hospital.

A fireman living near the scene rendered valuable assistance, drawing the fire and letting off the steam from the engine, and probably saving an explosion.