CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 32, 7 February 1910, Page 5

CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.

tOW BRAKE POWER. A FIREMAN'S AGONY. (Received 10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. The surviving driver, Gronn, was scalded ."'rom hip to toe, while his Dack and loins were crushed and his hand broken. He states that a Scotch mist had resulted in slippery rails. As he came down Beaufort Banks the first thing he knew was that the drivet of the train on nmuber two line called out: "Good God! Charlie, we are on number two; there is a dead end. Jump!" But before either could jump the crash came, and the huge engines, with the heavy wheat train behind them, piled up. He was jammed between the lever frame and injector pipe by the foot. Then the gauge glass burst, and began to scald him. It was awful, but the steam made his boot slippery, and he was able to wronch his foot out and get on to the permanent way. The drivers of the second engine was nearly cut in two, while the head of Russell, the fireman, was almost severed from his body. Gilliard suffered awful agony. He w:is pinned in the wreckage in an upright position, enduring terrible agony from thp heat of the boiler, while a hooked piece of metal penetrated his back. He lived four aifd a-half hours. Superhuman efforts were made to release him, and once or twice he encouraged his rescuers, who were doing their best for him. Occasionally a cry was wrung from him' by the scalding water from the boiler. Daylight found him in the same state. A doctor was standing by administering morphia, but Gilliard died before he could bfi extricated.

Gronn complained before leaving Stawell that his engine was not properly braked. It appears that the engine was practically without brake power on the fatal journey. The railway officials cdmit that the second engine was of low brake power. The signalman's story shows that the stationary engine had nothing to do with the disaster. The line had been made clear for the goods train. He went down the platform with his staff. When the train was within fifty yards of the station b« saw she was travelling too fast, ard he ran back to the signal box to tnm her off the loop on to the main line, but it was too late. She was over the intersection, and making straight for the dead end. He heard Gilliard cry out, "For God's take hit mc on the head and put mc out of this!" He then ran for a doctor.