RAILWAY ACCIDENT

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 40, 16 February 1901, Page 2

RAILWAY ACCIDENT

. NEAR SYDNEY. ON THE. RUN TO TEMTE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12.38 this morning. Sydney, last night. A serious railway disaster occurred on the Sydney suburban line last night. The scene of the accident is a few hundred yards from the Tempo station. The train was a suburban one, running as an express through as far as Tempe. The train left the Redfern station, at the city, a few minutes before six in the evening, the busiest part of the day at the station, just as tho great proportion of the people were leaving business for their homes along the line.

The train consisted of nine carriages, and there were several hundred passengers aboard.

Just before reaching Sydenham the engine ran off. dragging the first carriage, a second-class smoker, with it. It ploughed some distance along the embankment, and rolled over. The carriage was smashed into pieces, and many passengers were pinned among the debris. The scene of the accident is a terrible sight. So far as is at present known, there were five killed, and between thirty and forty injured.

SEVEN PEOPLE KILLED

OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Received i.4< a.m.

Sydney, last night. Later reports state that there were seven killed. These are— Lister Beverley R. 0. Teece Fireman King Two boys And two men not yet identified. Several of ‘those injured are in a serious condition.

MUCH ANXIETY.

HEAVY RAIN —DARK NIGHT

Received i. 30 a.m,

Those who were injured were conveyed to the hospital. Doyle, the driver, is amongst those severely injured.

The affair has caused much excitement.

Many pathetic incidents are reported . In the city great crowds gathered at the Redfern station, and also at tho newspaper offices, anxiously awaiting news.

Heavy rain set in shortly after the accident.

The night was dark, and the darkness considerably impeded tho rescue operations. The railway authorities are unable to account for the accident.

Several trains passed over the line shortly before the accident.

SOME OE THE INJURED. CAR COLLAPSES THEN CLOSES ON PEOPLE. Received Eeb. 16, 1.6. a.m. Sydney, Feb. 15. The following are amongst those injured : Matthew Doyle P. Jock el Charles Beverly C. Spencer F. Rolfe R. W. Wildsmith C. Lake J. Cunningham O. Tiller J. Nicholson T, Beckenside E. Pollard A. Beattie F. Griffiths D. McMillan F. Clarke A,. Gilding J. Dillon Taylor E. Clapham G. Mort P. Bray L. Reardon Received Eeb. 16, 1.17 a.m.

From wbat can be gathered amid the scene of confusion, the engine, from some unknown cause, suddenly jumped, turning over. It righted itself again. The front car. a smoker, full of passengers, by the force of the impact, collapsed, split open, and thon closed upon the unfortunate occupants. Ready hands gave willing assistance.

Soon axes were at work cutting up the carriage. Some persons were pulled out through the roof, and some through the floor and sides of the car.

Some of the splinters were hurled high in the air, landing fifty yards away. ' r Alongside the line, where the accident occurred, is a blind roadway, and the wreckage went over and lodged itself there.

People came rushing from their houses, much alarmed, the noise of the catastrophe having been heard a considerable distance away, The driver shut off steam to prevent an explosion. All fears of a fire occurring were fortunately soon set at an end.