SENSATIONAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3944, 29 May 1913, Page 5

SENSATIONAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

MEAD-ON COLLIBION NEAR NEW LYNN. v TWENTY PEOPLE INJURED. SOME MIRACULOUS "ESCAPES. TWO OAKS CRUMPLED UP.

TELEGRAPH —SPEC LAX CORRESPONDENT] AUCKLAND, May 28. A sensational railway accident occurred at New Lynn this morning when two trains collided on the railway bridge just above the New Lynn Station. Both engines were badly damaged. Two carriages were completely telescoped and 20 people were injured. The accident occurred at 6.50, when the suburban workman’s train from Henderson, carrying between 70 and 100 passengers, was running across the railway bridge about 350 yards above the New Lynn Station. It is customary for the incoming passenger train to pass an outward-bound goods train at New Lynn. The latter (No. 5) leaves Auckland at 5.35 a.m., and at New Lynn the engine takes in water and then side tracks for the purpose of allowing the 6.50 passenger train (No. 6) to pass. This morning No. 5, as usual, watered at the tanks just above the New Lynn Station and then proceeded as far as the railway bridge for the purpose of getting back on the side line. It was at this moment that the incoming pasenger train rounded the curve _ which gives the first view of the bridge and the station. The morning was particularly hazy and this may have accounted for some misunderstanding in regard to signals. On an almost even grade No. 6 came rushing round the curve right on to the almost stationery goods. The driver of the engine on the latter train just had time to realise the impending danger and managed to . get his train in motion backwards. Too late the driver ofl No. 6 applied . his brakes with a crash which the passengers on New Lynn Station describe as sounding like a great explosion. The two trains met. The engines at the point of collision were just clear of the bridge, but the cars of the passenger- train telescoped on the bridge itself. That the whole train was not tumbled into the stream 50 feet below was simply marvellous. The cars were splintered to matchwood and telescoped one within the other. The great hardwood sleepers in the ; centre of the bridge (which is 40 feet long) were broken like twigs under the force of the impact, and the rails forced out of shape. Hurled Into the Stream. The whole of one side of a car was torn out and hurled into the stream below, and the side of another hung suspended in mid-air. . ; k There were broken beams and ironwork twisted into grotesque shapes, .and debris everywhere, yet the wheels never left the structure, and a much more terrible calamiy was so avoided. A leading railway official directing wrecking operations after the smash passed the opinion that it was to him a miracle that under such conditions ; the whole train had not been precipitated into the bed of. the creek below. That there should not have been a frightful death roll under such conditions is one of the most remarkable features of the catastrophe. Just hew many people were on the train it is, of course, impossible to say, but an official'estimate placed the number at 80. There were eight cars, and m the two which were telescoped there were only a few people. Car No. 2 was smashed eonceirtina-wise from a length o 3 20 feet or more into a total space of four or five feet. It con- ■ tained two men, one of whom was ter- ; ribly injured, while the other escaped without a scratch. The reason-for: this fortunate crowding of passengers to the points of the train where the least damage was done is explained by the fhet that suburban train travelers know their trains and avoided the particular carriages, which were of an old type, in favor of newer and more comfortable cars. This reason • accounts for the presence of 20 passengers in tho ear immecliatoly behind the engine, the car in question being a new one with double seats across the compartment instead of running ; the full length ofi the carriage as was the case with the telescoped ears. Passengers, in fact, stated after the ; collision that the popularity of the new car was the reason for the -carriage behind the engine being weu filled. „ , It is significant that except ror the injuries sustained by Mr Ston-e, one of the two occupants of the telescoped compartment, the passengers in No. 1 car were almost (the only ethers on the train to suffer. They suffered severely and, so far as iB ascertained, only ono out of the 20 occupants of this particular carriage escaped injury. , . , , How severe the concussion was loflowing on the collision of the engines may be gauged by the fact that although the car was new the iron seats were driven through the floor. _ How hard some of the passengers hit the seats in front may be gauged by the fact that the woodwork on the backs of! the seats was in some cases broken clean away by the impact of tossing bodies. After the Smash. _ ~ Visited after the collision, in fact, this new car presented a gruesome sight. On 20 seats there 7/ere pools: of blood showing how practically every passenger had suffered. The floor, likewise, bore equally sanguinary evidence of the injuries received. The car was of the second-class division and the seats were fixtures and were not upholstered. Consequently tli© men <xnd women thrown forward were badly cut about the head and face. Six had to be carried out in on unconscious condition pending medical attention. . Others were assisted to the waiting room at die station, while others, though badly ,cut about, were .able to proceed at .once to their homes. ■ _ Dr Rossiter happened to be in the •locality and devote duntiring attention to those most seriously in need or aid,. It is an extraordinary thing that half-a-dozen people injured and bleeding considerably were allowed to remain three hours in the waiting room at the station before they received medical attention. Even then it was doubtful if thev would have obtained relief had not Dr Owen happened to lie visiting the neighborhood and, {rearing or the train smash, hurried to render any assistance possible. It was nearly 12 o’clock before Dr Owen had finished with the last man requiring assistance. - Although probably half the people! * on the train were more or less injured and isuffered severely from .shock, those who were actually incapacitat- •: • >ed-- may be estimated at' - about 20/; Even at -thi> m^e^u^Jimatej.h^^

proceeded to their homes which, in the majority* of cases, were not far distant from the scene of tho accident. The Casualty List. Amongst those reported as hurt wore the following :—Mr Stone, of Waikumete, who was so severely crushed aud injured internally that small hopes are entertained of his recovery. V Corrish, the driver of tho passenger train, who was badly cut about the head and faoe. Englan, the fireman, who received injuries to the head and eve. Miss Smyth, of Henderson, who was severely cut about the head and rendered unconscious. Mr Thomas, of Waikumete, who sustained laceration above both eyes necessitating stitches, contusion and laceration of the nose, followed by considerable hemorrahago. Mr W. H. Perkins, of Henderson, serious cut over the left eye, necessitating several stitches, and injuries to back.

Mr A. B. Stych, ofl Waikumete, laceration over the eye and a scalp wound.

Mr W. H. Elder ton of Henderson, received injiries to trio head which temporarily rendered him senseless. Others who wero slightly injured were Messrs W. Fenney, Cartwright, Ready (2), Wright (2), D. Ness, V. Elderwood, W. Moore, H. Elsby, H. W. Ingram; Misses Smith, Wright, Ready, S. Spearpoint, and Alps. Drs-Rossiter and Owen greatly assisted by New Lynn residents, who did everything in their power to make provision for those who were hurt.

“Down and Out.”

“The first thing I knew about the accident was when I woke up and found that I was lying on the ground on someone else’s overcoat, and that I was being given a drink o fwater, said Mr A. Stych, of Waikumete, who was badly cut about the head. “There was a big lurch when we rounded the curve. I was sitting with my back to the engine near the door and when the collision occurred the door must have swung violently open and caught me on the temple. At any rate I; went down and out, and that was all I know about it.” Mr H. Ederton, ofi Henderson, who received injuries to his leg, was almost thrown out of his seat as they rounded the curve and several ladies in the carriage screamed at tho time. They had not gone much further when there was a crash and he found himself on the floor..

There were twelve trucks laden with general goods, a covered van and the guards van behind the “W.F.” type of engine of the outgoing train. As a result of the collision the buffers and draw gear between the vehicles were damaged, and the contents of the trucks suffered somewhat. Except for the damage to the engine no harm was done otherwise.

The accident was the cause of_ a stoppage of traffic on the lines for about seven hours, tire wreckage being cleared away by .about 2 p.m.