MAGNIFICENT WORK

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1923, Page 8

MAGNIFICENT WORK

■RESCUE ORGANISATION WARMLY

PRAISED,

Amongst the passengers who arrived by train this morning from Taumarunui was' Mr. G.S. Matthews, of Matthews and Co., Ltd., merchants, Wellington. Mr. Matthews says that:at the time cf the accident he was asleep in a carriage at the rear of the train, and was awakened by a sudden shock—not: very severe. A fellow-passenger just behind him remarked somewhat jocularly, "as they had been speaking about the slips on. the line, "Hullo, we have just struck the slips!" "We immediately went out on the platform," said Mr.' Matthews to a "Post" reporter, "but we could sea nothing to indicate that anything out of the ordinary had happened, and I concluded that the train would start again in a few minutes. The impact was so slightly felt in the'rear of the train that some of the persons in the sleepers were unaware that any accident had happened until at least half an hour after the occurrence. It was just dawning at the time, and there was a half-moon shining in the sky, so that wo could see moderately well. It was oniy when I and others walked along to tho front.of the train that we realised the seriousness of the accident. Details of the smash of the carriages, and the; dorailing of the engine and pcs'tal van have already been given, so I will not refer to -this, nor to the shocking scenes of mutilation of those who were killed outright. I wish, however, especially to emphasise the, fact that there was no confusion or screaming, as • has been mentioned in some reports. Until axes and saws were procured,- it was impossible to do much in the way of rescue work for those unfortunate persons who had been .covered by the broken carriages; but in the meantime what could be done was done. Not a moment ■was lost in--, giving relief to the injured-,- and I. wish•• to bear testimony to the splendid rescue work which was accomplished. Amorisrst those who specially deserve praise I would like to mention the guard of the train, the Maori footballers, members of the theatrical company, and particularly Detective Walsh. It required strong' men to lift many of the heavy portion of the broken carriages. Theee men all did fine work. "The promptitude of tho arrival of the relief train from Taumarunui reflects the greatest credit on the railway officials and''staff. , To thos« who were present, the speedy arrival of the relief train :was. a subject of sincere praise. It seemed marvellous that a relief train could arxive from a distance of 15milesso speedily,- and at-such an nearly hour'of the morning. The officials of the Railway Department did all that it was humanly possible to do under the distressing circumstances. The relatives of the injured may .rest assured that every-effort was made to give medical and nursing- attention to the injured, and to mitigate their sufferings." . ■ Other passengers by the train also speak;in high terms of the work.done by the railway staff and the settlers, and thank's were expressed to. the officials on the derijl.ed postal van and to the postmaster,, and telegraph staff at Taumarunui for the speed with which they dispatched-, telegraphic messases to the relatives, and friends of those who were on the train which met with the disaster. •■■■■.-■

Detectives L. Revell and Walsh, who were "on the train when .the accident happened, returned to Wellington this morning. ._ They had a particularly trying time "in assisting to remove the injured from the debris. They bear eloquent testimony to the efforts of those "associated with them in the rescue work, and specially mention a medical, student and" two "nurses, the latter refusing to cease work although somewhat badiy scalded, by the escaping steam.