Railway Accidents in South Australia.

Evening Star, Issue 6895, 6 May 1886, Page 2

Railway Accidents in South Australia.

An accident occurred on the Hergott and Strangways Railway works on the evening of April 23, resulting in five men being killed and three wounded, though not seriously. At about eight o’clock, as the engine with eleven trucks in front, on which were about thirty ballast pitmen, had reached the embankment, about thirtyeight miles from Hergott, some cattle belonging to Mr Russell, of Mundoora, were noticed on the line, but not soon enough to avert a disaster. Three head of cattle were killed, seven trucks were thrown off the line, and five men, named Russell, Rysn, Clifton, Owens, and Smith were killed instantaneously. The guard Corbett, who was on the first truck, was thrown several yards, the truck falling over him, but he escaped without a scratch, though the men sitting on each side of him were killed. Some of the bodies were fearfully mangled. An inquest was held next day, when the jury returned the following verdict:—“ We are of opinion that the deaths are the result of injuries received by the trucks overturning, caused by cattle straying on the lino, and infer that no blame is attached to anyone, and that all means possible were taken by the railway officials for the relief of the sufferers. We wish to add that a brighter light should be put at the head of the train than an ordinary guard’s lamp.” The jurymen and the witnesses all handed their fees to Mr Mann, the resident engineer, for the -relief of the widows and families of the deceased. The resident engineer says that where the collision occurred two falling gradients of one in eighty meet on a bank twenty odd feet high, running over the swamp at the north side of Finnis Hill. The gradient down which the train went is only about a quarter of a mile long, but at the lowest point the curve commences, and the trucks flew off at a tangent. About twenty cattle were herding on a spur at the eqst end of the bank, and three were knocked? over by the ballast train. The leading truck was pushed for twenty yards off the rails before overturning down the bank, and six others followed. All the men killed were found lying close to the rails, but many of those who escaped owed their deliverance to being jerked clear of the wreck. Mr J. Peterswald, the Commissioner of Police, gives the following account of the railway accident at Mount Lofty on Easter Monday:—“ Everything went well until about four miles after leaving Mount Lofty, when we felt three sharp shocks, and the carriage began to oscillate a good deal, after which the train came to a standstill. On looking out of the window we found one of the engines a long way down the embankment, embedded in gravel. The steam was escaping and making a great noise. The other engine was lying across the track. The post office van, next the engine, was smashed in pieces. The passengers were struggling out of the carriages in all directions. The doors of our carriage, in which was the Governor, were locked, and we had to scramble through the window. There was great confusion. When it had subsided a search was made to see if anyone was hurt. One of the engine-drivers was cut about the head badly. The stoker of the engine wan lying across the line, imprisoned under the engine. Brigadier-general Owen, who was a passenger, directed the work for his release, The general got under tho engine hiuWlf. k experience Was of

great advantage. The engine was raised by means of a rail, which was used as a lever. The man was scalded and bruised, but had no bones broken. The Governor did all he could to assist the wounded men. I never saw a more miraculous escape from a frightful accident. Had it not been for one engine falling across the line, and acting as a drag Against the engine which ran head foremost down the embankment, the train must have been wrecked. The Westinghouae brake also assisted to prevent the catastrophe. At the time of the accident we were approaching the siding, and the points must have been somehow disarranged.” It is supposed that the accident is due to the points being wyong. ________