ESCAPES FROM WRECK

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25428, 26 February 1948, Page 6

ESCAPES FROM WRECK

ACCOUNTS GIVEN BY PASSENGERS

(P.A.) BLENHEIM, February 25. Many passengers on the PictonChristchurch express had amazing escapes’in the wreck at Blind river. One man was hurled through a gaping hole in the side of the second carriage after it had gone past the engine. He landed on the side of the track away from the Wreckage. A young Rotorua woman who was in the second carriage was lifted from her seat and thrown through what was left of a window on to gravel at the side of the line.

z A woman with five young children in the second carriage escaped with a severe shaking. “Our carriage came abreast of the engine and hard along side it,” said Mr N. Meikle, of Oamaru. “Some dashed for the doors, to see if they were free. Steam was escaping from the engine and we were frightened that at any minute the boiler might blow up.” Mr R. S. W. Owen, Christchurch, said that men in his carriage broke windows to escape. Many passengers were helped twough these windows.

Mr G. L. Bradley, of Hamilton, said there was no warning, although the train semed to be swaying before it suddenly heeled over.