VIADUCT COLLAPSES

Evening Star, Issue 19273, 11 June 1926, Page 5

VIADUCT COLLAPSES

SYDHEY-BRISBAHE EXPRESS WRECKED MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY FIVE PEOPLE KILLED! OVER THIRTY INJURED APPALLING SCENES Pr*M Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, Juno 11. (Received June 11, at 8.60 a.m.) Owing to a collapse of a wooden viaduct between Fogar and Aberdeen, about 180 miles north' of Sydney, the Brisbane express, which loft Sydney yesterday afternoon, was derailed shortly before midnight. Five people were killed and over thirty injured, some critically. Medical aid was sent from Scone and Muswellbrook, and the injured who were able to be moved were sent to tho hospitals at those places. (Received Juno 11,.at 9.50 a.m.) Those killed in the railway accident are:

Miss B. Dalziell, of Toowoomba, Queensland. Mrs Bennett, of Mosman, Sydney. Fyhran Monsour, a Syrian. A man named White, of Queensland; and an unidentified man. The critically injured are: Mr Ward Morgan, the actor, who had both legs broken, and Mrs Alice Nicholls, of Manly, Queensland. The train consisted of two engines, a van, and seven carriages. There were 143 passengers aboard. An official statement shows that one engine and four carriages went off the line, and the assisting engine toppled on its side. (Received Juno 11, at 10 a.m.)

The accident was caused by three spans of a wooden viaduct collapsing when the train was passing over it. The viaduct crosses a ravine 25ft deep. The first engine crossed safely, but the viaduct collapsed under the second engine and the first carriage. This engine crashed into the ravine, followed by the next carriage.

It was fortunate that the first engine and the third carriage kept the track, thus preventing further wreckage and additional casualties. The viaduct is within a short distance of the Hunter River.

Owing to the darkness the work of rescuing the injured was very difficult, and the searching of the debris had to be suspended for some time. After 1 o’clock this morning the rescue parties built camp fires, and awaited the dawn. The passengers who travelled in the second class carriage, which was next to the engine, appeared to have suffered the most. The carriage was split In two. One part is still standing, and the other is overturned. The most of the dead were found in

this carriage. Appalling scenes were witnessed after the disaster. Flares, motor car headlights, and other-methods of illumination were used to throw light on the wreckage. Some people were so seriously injured that they could not he moved from the spot. Those less seriously hurt, after treatment at the hospital, were accommodated in private houses.

The permanent way is torn and twisted.

The driver and fireman of the second engine had remarkable escapes. Both were buried beneath the coal when the engine overturned. The fireman suffered a broken jaw, and the driver minor injuries and shock.

(Received June 11, at noon.)

Among the passengers in the wrecked train were the J. 0. Williamson ‘Katja’ Company of between thirty and forty members. Mr Ward Morgan was the only one seriously injured. Several others (including Miss Marie Bnrke, the leading lady) were slightly injured or are suffering from shock. Many passengers were asleep at the time of the collision. Jn consequence of the darkness and the complete nature of the wreck, it was hours after the smash before the victims were extricated from the wreckage.