THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN TASMANIA.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6491, 13 July 1886, Page 3

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN TASMANIA.

.a*. [FROM OUB COS—ISPOHD—ST.] [By T——:a___ fbo_ thb Bluff.] MELBOURNE, July 2. Tbe first serious accident on the Taenia—iaa main line of railway occurred on Tuesday night. A large number of visitors pioceeded from Hobart on the occasion of the opening of the railway to Fingal, and when returning late at night the accident occurred. The scene was about twenty miles from Hobart, near Brighton. Ihe line is narrow gauge, and the train was being driven at the dangerous speed of forty miles an hour, going down a grade of 1 in 90, and round a curve of six chains radius. The engine-driver put on brakes but the wheels skidded, and the train jumped clean off the line. The train was completely smashed; the driver was killed, and the fireman, who was badly injured, died in the hospital next dsy. Both were sober, but the driver persisted in running at top speed in spite of the warning of the fire* man. In the traill were Mr Dodds, AttorneyGeneral j Mr Burgess, Treasurer; Dr. Agnew, M.L.C.; Mr Parker, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly; . and Mr Grant, manager of the Main Line' Bailway Company; several members of the Hobart Council; several Press men, including Mr Nioolls, editor of the "Hobart Mercury." Many passengers were hurt more or less seriously. Mr Dodds was cut about the head, and sustained several contusions. Mr Burgess was bruised and cut, Mr NfchoUs severely bruised, and has a rib broken; Alderman Harbottle has several ribs broken; Mr Wise, of the Marine Board, was seriously hurt, being cut on the head and having three ribs ana his collar bone broken; Alderman Crouch had his collar bone broken. The accident created much excitement throughout Tasmania. [F—ESS A3aOCI_TK>K TBI KG—_«.J HOBABT, July 6. The sufferers by the railway accident are progressing favourably, the injuries not being so Berious as at first supposed.