VIVID STORIES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 155, 28 March 1938, Page 10

VIVID STORIES

Passengers Tell Of Experiences “TERRIFIC CRASH” People Flung Bodily Across Carriages Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, March 26. Flung bodily across the third carriage when it plunged into the bank of the cutting, Mr. T. J. Chilian, Herald Street, Wellington, found himself staring dazedly through splintered debris into the red glow of the locomotive’s firebox. “I was not familiar with the district and was expecting the train to reach Aramoho, my destination, at any moment,” Mr. Cal nan told “The Dominion.” “I felt the brakes go on and the train slowing down. “The next thing I knew there was a ferritic crash and a • door fell on me Our car had come to rest alongside the engine, but on the other side of the track, though I did not know this until I got out. I found myself staring through the broken window at a red glow. Escaping steam was making a fearful sound and I was afraid of lire. The engine was over on its side and I must have been looking at the fire-box. I managed to free myself from the remains without much difficulty and the men in the car lost no time in getting the women out. An elderly woman near me had her face badly cut, probably by broken glass, and an old man seemed to be in a bad way.” When Mr. Calnan scrambled out of the wreckage he found a man with an injured leg lying across the track. He had been flung out of a carriage and remembered nothing of his experience. Nearby was the body of a woman who had also been hurled from one of the cars and killed instantly. The second, third and fourth coaches had become separated from the car immediately behind the engine and were on the other side of the track. The morning was fine, but cold and foggy, and warm clothing was one of the first considerations for the injured. Mr.. Calnan paid a tribute to the splendid spirit of co-operation which existed ail round. “Nobody shirked,” he said. “Every man helped with the rescue work and the.women behaved splendidly. When I wanted something warm for one of the injured I had no trouble in getting two coats and a blanket.. Others had the same experience. The first ahibulance was op the scene in less than threequarters of an liour and several trips had to be made before all-the injured were .removed.” Asked about the speed of the train, Mr. Calnan said he would estimate it at about 20 miles an liour, but certainly not more than 25. “It was a peculiar thing, but just before the crash I seemed to know that

something was about to happen. I instinctively put my hand out to ward off what was coming and got this,’’ he said, showing a cut on his left hand. Lucky Decision. A lucky change of plans which might have saved her sister-in-law, Miss E. Ramage, from death or serious injury was described by Sirs. M. N. Ramage. 14 Devonshire Street, Miramar. “I did not intend making the trip, so my sister-in-law decided to go alone, and reserved a seat in the rear compartment of the first carriage,” said Mrs. Ramage. “At the last moment I changed my mind and we both obtained seats in the front compartment; this was fortunate, because the second half was badly damaged.

Mrs. Ramage said her first impression was a slight jar; then there was a great deal of noise and the lights went out. She was flung from her seat halfway up the aisle. There was no panic and everybody kept cool, but the darkness and confusion were most uncanny. Somebody struck a march and a man’s voice called from the.front of tlie carriage telling them to stay where they were.

Mrs. Ramage, .who eventually made her exit through a Dole near the roof and crawled over the tender of the wrecked locomotive, found a torch and relieved the situation witli some form of light. Men were doing everything possible to extricate the women and children, but to escape from the car they were compelled to walk along the windows because of the acute angle. “One of the most impressive aspects of all was the way people helped to the fullest possible extent,” said Mrs. Ramage. “It was nothing to hear a man calling out for the owner of a purse or some other article. Passengers were groping about in the darkness trying to find their belongings, but there was no panic and people were really wonderful. A number of young men who were passengers on the train worked like trojans and could not do enough.”

Not long after tlie crash a .settler’s wife and daughter In-ought welcome refreshments. and the women passengers were provided with hot tea. Many were very dazed and suffering from shock, and. in the general confusion, had made their escape without shoes, coats, or hats. Some women passengers who were not injured walked nearly a mile in their stockinged feet over the shingled permanent way to relief cars which had been sent out.

Mrs. Ramage is visiting her parents; Mr. and Mrs. E. Ching. 52 Wilson Street,, Wanganui. Passengers’ Fortitude. "Tlie fortitude shown by passengers uiider such a trying ordeal was worthy qf the highest praise.” said Mr, Mark McMillan. 223 Wellington Terrace. lie was in the second compartment of Ute leading car. and. except for a cut on the back of the hand, escaped injury. Tlie train had been travelling at w good speed along the. straight near Ratana. and, when tlie engine left the rails on the first curve, passengers in tlie leading ear were pitched and bumped about in an alarming manner. Mr. McMillan was satisfied that, had the remainder of the cars not rushed forward, they would have been badly telescoped, with' serious loss of life. “We could in a manner sense it coming,” he added, when describing the first impact. “All was pitch dark, and the confusion, together with the. loud hissing of steam, produced a weird effect. Nobody seemed to know whac would happen next and some feared

that the carriages would take tire before imprisoned passengers could be released. Debris was falling and there was also a' danger of people being crushed. One woman who had occupied a corner seat was tossed- probably the full length of the car.” Matters seemed to quieten down and a determined effort was made in the dark to get.as many people out as possible. One woman, with a terrible gash on her face and suffering from a leg injury, was -placed on tlie side of the bank and pillows were brought to make her. as comfortable as possiide. In an other car a woman was badly injured and could not be moved until daylight. The doctors made her as comfortable as possible, and before she could lie brought out on a stretcher a portion of the car had to lie cut away. Mr. McMillan added that the waif of two hours and a half in darkuesn was a time of considerable nervous tension. People wandered ' aimlessly about searching for friends whom they iknew litid been on the train.' One woman had her face and clothes covered with blood. She was not hurt but had come in contact with a girl who had received serious injuries. Scene of Confusion.

“I was half asleep and did not actually feel the bump, but woke up when tlie carriage was going over on its side,” said Mr 11. V. Squire, llataitai, one of tile injured passengers, who was in the front compartment of the third car. Mr. Squire, interviewed in tlie bos pital. said the side of the car was pushed in and the entire carriage thrown into confusion. “People and ehairs were ail mixed up and I seemed to be shot from one side-of the car to the other. Broken glass was scattered in all directions, and I seemed to land on top of everything. I did not have my' shoes on and that is how 1 came to get this” —Mr. Squire indicated an injured foot. “I helped to get a woman and a little girl from a corner. The child was frightened, but the woman was very calm and kept her head. People came from outside and gave assistance. Th? lights in the next carriage were still burning, which was a blessing, but 1 was fearful .of the wreckage taking fire. I came off very lightly, really. We were extremely fortunate in the circumstances. the cutting saved the train from toppling over a bank. Had tne accident occurred further down th* track nothing would have prevented a more serious disaster.

“We were going along steadily and it seemed as though our car jumped the rails,” said another of the injured passengers, Mr. I’. Clark. Shannon. “The train did not seem to be going very fast. It was travelling like an ordinary express."