RUNAWAY TRAIN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28620, 24 June 1958, Page 13

RUNAWAY TRAIN

40 Killed In Mexico (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 23. A runaway passenger train plunged at full speed down Mal.trata Mountain in Mexico yesterday and ploughed into the Maltrata village station, killing an estimated 40 persons and injuring 80 others. Twenty bodies were recovered. Rescue worker's said at least 20 others were buried in the wreckage. They said two electric locomotives, three passenger cars, a luggage car, and a mail car crashed through the station and overturned. A Red Cross official said 80 persons were injured. The victims included those aboard the train and Indian villagers and fruit pedlars who were waiting at the station to board the train foi their Sunday visit to nearby Orizaba. Officials of the Ferrocarril Mexicano railroad said the train, which was going from Mexico City to Veracruz, had been halted by a power failure near the top of Maltrata Mountain. The officials said evidence indicated that the power supply had suddenly resumed without notice, and that the two engines pulling the train took off with nc-one at the controls, and sped down the one-in-three grade at full speed. The train screamed down the mountainside and then leaped th.® tracks as it entered the Maltrata station.

The front engine piled through the rear wall of the station and came to rest against the wall of a freight warehouse. The second engine and the five cars ripped up the track and overturned in the station itself Only a sleeping car and an empty dining car remained upright. The train knocked down the only telegraph and telephone lines in Maltrata village, and reports of the accident were delayed. Ambulances from Orizaba and nearby Cordoba brought out the injured.

No Krupp Deal In Queensland

(Rec. 8.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 23

The Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation today scotched rumours that the West German industrialist Alfred Krupp was planning substantial investment in Queensland’s bauxite and coal industries.

A spokesman for the corporation today denied reports that negotiations were taking place with Krupp for participation in the development of the Blair Athol coalfield in Central Queensland.

He said the company had not at any stage negotiated with the Krupp organisation or other interests on participation in the development of the field for the production of petrol and chemicals and electric power for* smelting aluminium in central Queensland.

Federal and State Government sources said they had no knowledge of any Krupp interest in the venture.

Kramer Seeking Russian Tour

(Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 23. Jack Kramer, the professional tennis promoter, is flying to London today to arrange details of the first professional tennis tour of the Soviet Union. Kramer will also try to get permission for his players to put on a series of matches at Wimbledon, one of the last amateur strongholds.