AFTER THE SMASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 9

AFTER THE SMASH.

LITTLE CONFUSION. PASSENGERS IMPRISONED. AXES USED ON DOORS. \ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. "Everything seemed to collapse in bits. The carriage was smashed to pieces and absolutely all that was left was the floor and the debris," said Mr. H. A. Milne, of Hamilton, one of the few passengers in the first carriage to escape without a scratch. Mr. Milne, who joined the express at Frankton on Saturday, said the train was doing an average speed at the time the engine went off the line and down the bank. "I saw the driver and fireman crawling out of the top of the cab," Mr. Milne said. He could not understand how nobody was killed. He felt the brakes being applied and then the engine struck. The sides of the carriage and roof were piled up like matchwood. Broken glass and debris were strewn over the floor and seats. Had the engine not gone off the line, Mr. Milne said, the front carriage would liavo telescoped. His first job was to pull a girl passenger out from underneath the debris. The most amazing thing, he said, was to see the driver and fireman climb out of the engine with no apparent injury and join in the work. Residents and settlers provided biscuits and tea, which were served in the guard's van and much appreciated. All hands set to 111 removing the injured. Men were seen running about in the rain without coats, which they had given to women and children. Passengers in the sleeping cars gave their berths up and everything possible was done for those who were hurt. There was little confusion, although some of the women were affected by shock. Mud and Slush. The relief train left the scene at about 10.15 and arrived back at Wellington shortly after 11.30. Some of the passengers had been brought to Wellington by taxis and private cars. Mr. Milne mentioned that it was noticeable that nobody travelled in the front carriage of the,relief train. They all piled into the back. The tension was still noticeable. It was raining heavily at the time of the smash, Mr. Milne said, and the passengers had to wade through mud and slush when they got out of the train, and again on transferring to the relief train.

Some idea of the experience of people in the carriages further back was given by Mr. and Mrs. J. Richards, of Levin, who were coming to Wellington to spend a day with their son. They were in the third car from the engine. "We heard a crunching and splintering sound and had a sensation of going off the line. We thought the leading carriages had already gone," said Mr. Richards. "The train went on a short distance after the engine went over the bank and came to a stop with the second carriage level with the engine tender. Tribute to Engine Crew. "The passengers in the first carriages were imprisoned for a time, as the cars had been driven together. When the train came to ite sudden stop it was not quite daylight and was very wet and misty. The front of the engine came to rest down on the road, and the driver and fireman stuck to it. It tipped over on its side. "I have never seen so quiet an accident. Nobody got excited; all were calm and collected." The doors of the carriages, he said, were jammed, and there was some difficulty for men to clamber out and assist the women passengers to alight. Mrs. Richards received a slight head injury through being thrown against a scat. A farmer nearby invited some of the women passengers up to his home for tea, and tea was provided for others in the guard's van. "Seemed an Eternity." "Those of us in the third carriage were completely imprisoned for a while," said Mr. C. P. S. Boyer, of Wellington. "All the windows and doors were jammed, and we found it impossible to get out. Although it seemed an eternity to those of us in the carriage, actually it was not long before some railway workers from Paraparaumu came along and were soon busily hacking at the doors with axes. I was in the front seat of the carriage. With the impact and the derailment of the carriages I was hurled from my seat, and I had a momentary glimpse of the carriages on either side of ours thrusting their way through the ends of the one I was in. Fortunately the train pulled up. A slight wound in the head dazed me for a while, and I seem to remember nothing until I looked out of a window and saw earth tumbling down upon the carriage. "It was a great relief when we were able to get out. When the passengers were all rescued they commended the prompt action of the engine crew, who handled the situation very well.-"