THE ONGARUE SMASH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 12

THE ONGARUE SMASH.

SUCCOURING THE INJURED TRIBUTE TO DR. BATHGATE. vspxcijll ro "tee r?.ssa.") AUCKLAND, July 10. Stories of the train wreck continuo to come to hand. A graphic account of tho disaster is given by the Rev. W. G. Entieott, Methodist minister at Tanmarunui, who is said by passengers t;> have don© splendid rescue work with Dr. Bathgate, of Turua. Mr Entieott said that simultaneously with the first tremendous bump, a great white blaze of light burst out, and ho thought all the passengers were likely to be burnt to death. It was a mystery how the fire was extinguished so quickly. The rescuers, broke through into the first compartment, and tried vainly to free Mrs W. Donald and also -other passengers jammed in tho wreckage. Those free, both injured and dead, were taken from the two front carriages, Dr. Bathgate rendering, first aid in every case. Great praise was due to the doctor, who worked with few appliances. The first-aid box contained bandages, but no iodine. There were no lights available except two lanterns.. The injured showeu wonderful fortitude. All who were conscious were anxious that others should be attended. The dead were terribly mutilated. Some were probably asphyxiated. Some of the passengers were severely criticised by Mr Entieott for their indifference. They did not give assistance when asked. Some looked on fijom the top of the telescoped carriages, when they might have helped to cany bedding from the sleeping cars. One woman was jammed in the wreckago with a huge splinter of wood and iron pressing into her side. Most of the injured were freed from the wreckage ivithin an hour, and the last was freed about the time the relief trryn arrived. The last man lifted from under five deacl was Constable Grant, who was suffering greatly, but was wonderfully brave. The injured were gathered together in front of the train, and transferred to the relief train, and attended by Drs. Bathgate, Welby, Fisher, Vivian, and Howard, and Nurse Kenderdine. During the journey "Poll" Currie died near Otfahukura.. Mr Entieott considers the injured owe deep thankfulness to Dr. Bathgate for the cool and capable manner he attended to them and organised other helpers. A Harrow Escape. Mr Henderson, of Te Kuiti, husband of Mrs Henderson, who had her foot severely injured, states that his wife and child were in carriage D. He was on the platform, and was just comir into the carriage when he felt the first bump. Instinctively he jammed his foot against the door and kep't it open. Then came the second crash, and he was pinned, and wtis at first unable to get free. Later he managed to free himself, and was able to help get his wife and child and others out. One man who was killed had just bought a farm, and, wishing to save mo.ney, travelled eiecond, instead of ,rst, as usual. The Late Constable Grant. Constable A. M. Grant, who died in hospital, was known as "headman" in the Urewera Country. He was constable, postmaster, and storekeeper at Te Whaiti. A man of many parts, his services were very valuable to the public. He was universally esteemed and greatly beloved by Maoris and pakeha alike in every part of Tuhoe. Many high Government officials from the time of Mr Seddon on have gladly accepted his services as guide and philosopher on matters pertaining to the wild country between Te Whaiti and Waikaremoana. He had been all through Rua's country, and was associated with the police and Inspector Cassels, of Christ-church, in the work of arresting the Maori "prophet" in tho wilds of the Urewera country m April, 1916. He was a Maori linguist of more than average ability, and had considerable "mana" among the Maoris of tho Urewera. He was proceeding to Waikouaiti,_ near Dunedin, to the ueath-bed of his father, aored 86, when he met his own end. He leaves a .widow and family.

■j DR. BATHGATE'S STORY. TOOLS TRAINS SHOULD CARRY. (SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") WELLINGTON, July 10. Interviewed here, Dr. D. A. Bathgate who, as the only doctor on the train when the disaster took place, was naturally looked up to for orders from all the passengers, said that he felt helpless when he first tried to extricate the passengers, and could do nothing but administer morphia until the first relief train arrived with breakdown tools and a jack. His first inspection revealed the fact that in the front compartment there were limbs, bodies, seats and wreckage jammed as closely as they could be, and it was impossible for human strength alono to get the men out. The lirst men to enter the car were Detectives Walsh and Revel!, Dr. Bathgate, Mr Moran, and a ganger. The bodies were at once passed out through tho windows, and then the doctor went outside to attend to the injured as they were handed out. He inspected each body in turn, and then gave directions to the numerous others who were giving valuable aid. Meanwhile a party was making progress with the tools that had come up \%jth the relief trains, and with the coming of daj'light the work became easier,, though none the less strenuous. With him all the time were the Rev. Enticott and Mr H. Nash, a medical student, who responded splendidly to his calls. One of the chief difficulties was the extricating of the fireman, who was pinned, and was all the time being scalded. When he was eventually removed and placed in the mail van he was writhing with pain. One thing that was noticeable was the plentiful supply of whisky and brandy, but in some cases people were apt to administer these to those suffering internally. He suggested in addition to those things mentioned at the inquest that the trains in future should carry a cylinder of oxygen as, in cas-ss where the carriages catch fire, the passengers are often almost asphyxiated. < * Detective Walsh speaks in the high est terms of the work of Dr. Bathgate. He also gives a very different story regarding the assistance given by one much advertised passenger. He said that many people were taking a great deal of praise to which they were not entitled, and he instanced the case of a certain man who had made statements to the effect that he was appointed to take charge of the work. This man had done very little else but talk,

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and had been more of a hindrance than a help. Everyone had recognised that the doctor was the only one capable of taking charge, and all the credit was due to him.- Detective Walsh went on to say that after they had obtained a jack they were all right, but they could no nothing until this had arrived. When he entered the carriage there was no one there except the original passengers, and soon after he entered he had to stop a man from chopping at the roof, as this was proving a danger to those inside. The man who had taktTn all the credit, so far as he knew, had not even dirtied his boots, and he had not seen him lend a hand with any of the stretchers, or even touch a body. He suggested that the trains should in future carry a portable telephone, such as is carried by members of the Post and Telegraph staff, heavy tomahawks with spikes at the back instead of axes, and a number of jacka of different types.