WHAT FIREMAN SAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 9

WHAT FIREMAN SAW.

CAR ABOUT TWO CHAINS AWAY engine-driver did not SPEAK- ( ; PINNED UNDER BOILER.--(Br Telegraph-—Own Correspondent.) CHRIST CHURCH, Monday. In a graphic account of what happened tSa fireman on the engine, Mr. Frank Carson, said to an interviewer. "When I first saw the lights of the car it would be about two chains J5° m tie crossing. We were then about tree chains avaj and the driver started pu tmg nn the brakes at about the same time. We were right on the crossing when I felt the bump and the engine must have left the rails soon after for 1 began to topple, although it did not actually fall until it had travelled about half a chain. "At first I was held by the cab. but wlien the engine settled I was freed. The fire-hole was open and I clambered out through the stonm iriiat was filling the cab. My side of the cab must have been the only part that was not smashed. . It was a miracle I wa3 not killed. "I looked for the driver to see if I could help him, but I could see that there was not much chance of getting him out as he was right under the side of the boiler. He could not, have been thrown out as he was still on the driving side, up under the boiler. When he saw that the accident was likely to occur and put the emergency brakes on he did not say anything. "When I got out I was a bit dazed and I saw that I could not do any good with the people in the car as there were ether round about. I saw that the fire was coming on so I told somebody who was standing there to go and ring for the fire brigade. "I cannot understand why the driver of the car did not stop. He seemed to have ample room but he came on. I saw tie crossing-keeper standing, there 3nd so did the engine-driver. It is hard to judge the speed of the car, but it did not seem to be exceptional. We were travelling at the usual speed for that train." Sir. Carson, whose age is 29, wa.3 only slightly bruised and scalded and considers it a marvel that he escaped. The engine-driver had been employed by the Kailway Department for 39 years, and was within a few weeks of his retirement on pension. CAR DRIVER'S LAST EFFORT. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. - The crossing-keeper, Mr. Henry McGrath, stated that just before the accident he was out on the road on the Christehureh side of the crossing. He saw the car approaching. "When he was quite close," said Mr. McGrath, "only a few yards away, he must have seen either my light or the engine,, for he swerved suddenly to the left, apparently in an effort to avoid the But he waa too late and the engine struck the car right in the middle. "The engint? seemed to rear up a little, a nd it and the first sis or seven trucks • plunged to the left, off the track, and I®ed up in a heap. The next eight or nine trucks swayed a little but did not leave the line. The back part of the train seemed hardly to be affected afc all.