FATALITIES. THE NELSON RAILWAY ACCI. DENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1908, Page 3

FATALITIES. THE NELSON RAILWAY ACCI. DENT.

A HUTT RESIDENT KILLED. [BY TELEGEAPH. — PiiESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON, 2nd February. The fatal railway accident {of which* brief particulars wero pxiblished on Saturday) occurred at the crossing near Appleby station at 12.20 yesterday. A train to Nelson was approaching the crossing when the Nelson-Motueka coach, driven by Charles Brichlands, attempted to cross in front. The horses cleared the rails, but the engine crashed into the forepart of the coach, and smashed it to -pieces. ' There were three passengers in the. coach, and one of them, Mrs. Tilbury, wife of Mr. A\ J. Tilbury, of tho Hutt, was killed instantly, her body being terribly mangled. She was evidently thrown through the side of the coach. Tho / wheels of the engine passed over her body. Both legs were severed. Mrs. Tilbury's sister, Miss Susan Walters, was thrown clear of tho train, and is suffering from shock and bruises. It is not anticipated that her injuries will prove serious. Miss Fittall, daughter of Mr. Alfred Fittall, of Richmond, was seated on the box, and she also fell clear of the train, but suffered a broken thigh. The driver of the coach, Brichlands, was picked up from the ruins of tho vehicle unconscious." He was 'seriously injured internally, and is in a critical' condition.' " ' "' ' . Mrs. Tilbury's body and the injured occupants of the coach were placed oa, the train and brought on to Nelson. The latter were ' taken to the hospital. The viewj both ways at the crossing 'is not obstructed -by treesj and it is difficult to unders'tandlwhy£he^coacb-drivei\ a careiul man, accustomed~to tho road,.^ failed to see the train approaching. The;! coach is in the custom of crossing the«s! lino some time before the train reaches •- that place, but owing to the anniversaryj holiday the train arrangements to-day, were altered, and probably Brichlanda was not aware of the change. He is not yet able to give an account of tho matter. ' Mr. and Mrs. Tilbury were on a holi-" day visit to Nelson, and Mr. Tilbury} "was following the coa;ch on a bicycle. ' Later. The people injured in yesterday's coach accident are- making favourable progress, though, the condition of the driver is still very serious. An inquest was opened this morning * on the body of Mrs. Tilbury, and after, fornjal evidence had been taken was adjourned till the 13th insfc., to allow of> the evidence of the coach-driver and other passengers being taken, if they, are then fit to appear. . WOMAN FATALLY BURNED. AUCKLAND, 2nd February! A burning accident, which resulted ' fatally, occurred last evening. A woman named Mrs. Elizabeth Black, 33 years of age, wife of a fisherman, broke a kerosene lamp, and the oil ran on to the iloor. She lit a candle, and -was wiping up the kerosene from the floor when the cloth came in contact with the lighted candlo. A flame immediately shot up, and enveloped the woman. Her husband went to her assistance, but the unfortunate woman was very severely burned before the flames were extinguished, and her husband's hands were burned, as were also those of two other men who assisted. Mrs. Black was taken to the hospital in a critical conditiou, but did not survive long, dying this morning.A MAN DROWNED. DUNEDIN, 2nd, February. A drowning X accident occurred ," at Dunedin wharf shortly after one o'clock this morning, the victim being a man about 45 years of age, whose body has^not yet been identified. Deceased was shown on board the Corinna by a wharf labourer about 10 last night. Earjy this morning the Union Company's night watchman heard a splash in the water, and ho and another man threw deceased a rope. Deceased was nulled ashore," and medical aid sent for, but when the doctor arrived deceased had expired.