RAILWAY COLLISION NEAR MELBOURNE.

Press, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5364, 4 December 1882, Page 3

RAILWAY COLLISION NEAR MELBOURNE.

£Bt Cable/}

DkBCTEB's TELEGRAMS.] Received December 3rd, 11 a.m. MELBOUBNE, December 2,7,55 p.m. A. shocking railway accident occurred at 6.30 £lix 3 evening on ~tiie end Hairthorne railway line. Toe special train returning from a land sale at Boxhill passed the Hawthorne station without ! stopping, and when it had turned the corner of Richmond Park came into violent collision with th.c train from Melbourne to Hawthorne, travelling on the same line of rails at a speed of twenty miles an hour. The engine of the Melbourne train was driven through a first-class carriage next it, wbieh it completely telescoped, the engine penetrating the greater portion of the vehicle. The second and third carriages of the Hawthorne train were like-' wise telescoped, the wheels of one carriage resting on the seats of the other. There were many passengers in the train at the time of the collision, and twenty to thirty are injured (several very badly), and the cases of some are deemed hopeless. So far as is at present known, however, none were killed outright.

Particulars received regarding the railway collision last evening show that two carriages in each train were completely smashed up. One, next to the engine of the train from Melbourne, was. driven right through the next carriage. The scene at the accident was most dis- ! tressing. Several of the passengers I were only extricated from the wreck with extreme difficulty. Many of the injured were fearfully cut about the head, and several have broken legs, arms, and ribs, and internal and spinal injuries. of the sufferers are now in Melbourne Hospital, and several are in Albert Hospital. So far as is known, no prominent citizens have been hurt. The accident is attributed to the special train from Boxhill passing Hawthorne without stopping to allow the other from Melbourne ! to pass. There is great excitement in town over the catastrophe, and the Melbourne newspaper offices are crowded with persons anxious for news. According to the latest information, W. Thomas has died from the effects of the injuries received, and Boss is in a hopeless state.

Sunday, midnight. No further fatalities have as yet resulted from the railway accident.