THE TRAIN TRAGEDY AT THORNDON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 2

THE TRAIN TRAGEDY AT THORNDON.

INQUIRY HELD. XO' BLAME ATTACHABLE. Yesterday afternoon 'Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., conducted an inquest regarding tho death of Mrs. Maria Donovan, who was run over by a train near the Thorndon Esplanade crossing on Monday evening.

George William Hutchins, tho enginedriver of the train, said that when approaching the Esplanade crossing, ho sawno cue on the line. lie sounded tho whistle and he and tho fireman kept a look out. Ho however felt a slight movement under the engine as though a twig had snapped. Afterwards he heard stone Hying under tho second wagon and at once pulled up. He then alighted and made an 'nspection. In tho break-gear of tho wagon he found some woman's clothing. He returned to the engine and remarked to the fireman that they had run over a woman, lie made a second journey back along the track, and at tho back of the guard's van found unmistakeablc evidence of what had happened. The train consisted of 3 milk wagons, 3 passenger cars. an«,l a guard's van. Ho spoke to tho guard about the matter, and tho guard replied that they could do nothing but go on to Lanibton and report tho matter, so that certain steps might bo taken before another train passed. At the time of. the accident the train was travelling at twenty miles an hour. Tho night was dark and windy and there was no light at tho crossing. Mr. Donovan (husband of deceased): Can you tell me the exact spot at which the accident occurred?

The driver: About 20 yards this side of the crossing. Mr. Donovan t'hon said that it had been stated by some that Mrs. Donovan was lying down alongside tho track. That could not have been .the case. ' Mr. J. M'Donald (representing the Railway Department): You said that there was no light on the crossing? Driver Hutchins: No; there was no light (here. Mr. M'Donnltl: Are you sure of that? The witness was about to reply when it was remarked that the glaro from tho headlight on the engine might prevent his particularly noticing other lights. Arthur Hastings, the fireman, corroborated tho driver's evidence as to keep, mg a look out.

Jaines Roberts, coaching foreman at Wellington, deposed that, when the accident was reported to him, he proceeded to the scene, and (it yards on tho Lanibton side of the Esplanade crossing he found evidences of what had occurred. Mr. M'Donald: Did vou notice if the crossing was lighted? Witness: Yes. U was lighted. City Council lights; not railwav. By one or two lamps?—two. Were they near the crossing? Were thev throwmg a lijvht on tho crossing?—Yc«.' Station-Sergeant Darin-: Would those amps throw any light on the snot whero the accident happened?—l could not say. Edward Joseph Donovan, son of tho deceased, a civil servant in tho Stamp Department, gave evidence as to identification nf the clothing. The last occasion on which he had seen his mother alive was about 7 o'clock on the evening of the accident, when ho was going out. Ho returned at about 10 p.m., aud did not know his mother was missing, and was not aware of that fact till 8 o'clock ne\t morning, when, not noticing his mother about as usual, he looked into her room and discovered that she was not there. On the way to work he noticed bv the newspaper bills that there had been a terrible, railway accident, and he' came to the conclusion that the victim was his mother. Ife then inquired of the police, and was directed to (lie morgue, where he made the identification. His mother had not been in very good health lately. She suffered from nervous trouble, and at times was melancholy. Sho was onco in the habit of taking walks in the evening, and'the Esplanade was her favourite nlnce on those occasions, but latterly she had not been taking this recreation. The coroner said that ho deemed the tai.ality to be accidental, and stated that neither the engine-driver nor the fireman was blameable.