QUEENSLAND DISASTER

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 4

QUEENSLAND DISASTER

SYDHEY-BRISBAHE TRAIM SMASH. OFFICIAL CASUALTY LIST CAUSE OF ACCIDENT UNKNOWN. Pr« 9 Association— By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, Juno 11. The official list, of the dead.is as follows : H. C. White (Canterbury, N.S.W.), Slinion Mansour (Waterloo), Miss Barbara Dalziel (Rockhampton, Queensland), and a man not yet identified. Thirty-three persons were injured. The driver of tho leading engine, who had a miraculous escape from death, said that his engine would have fallen over, but the second engine pulled the drawbar right out of Ins engine; and, although it lost its tender wheels, the pilot engine never left the road. Ho added that, if the train had boon composed of ordinary passenger cars, there would have been hardly any survivors. As it was, the special steel-frame ears did not buckle, thus saving many lives. The reason for tho train leaving the rails is not, known. Tho officials emphasised tho fact that tho accident was not caused through the viaduct collapsing. The wooden viaduct is about 400 ft from tho steel bridge that spans the River Hunter, and a single lino runs across the viaduct and bridge. It slopes down towards tho river, but -the grade is slight and the lino is straight. The Minister of Works "and Railways (Mr M. Flannery states that apparently tho derailment occurred before the viaduct was reached.

Tho question of the safety of wooden viaducts was raised in tho Assembly in December last, when the Commissioner of Railways stated that ho had adopted a bridge of standard design composed of brick and masonry or concrete with a steel superstructure, and those wore replacing the wooden bridges as the latter got out of repair. A report on tho disaster is being prepared for tho Bailway Commission. CONDITION OF THE INJURED. UNIDENTIFIED MAN SUCCUMBS. SYDNEY, Jurfe 12. (Received June 12, at 10.5 a.m.) It is reported that tho man so far unidentified has succumbed to injuries received in the train disaster. Mr Ward Morgan and .Mr Peter Hopkins are in a critical condition. Miss Marie Burke is also reported seriously injured.