PORIRUA DISASTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11951, 23 May 1933, Page 5

PORIRUA DISASTER

CROSSING’SUASH • ' . Vi f>- 'y - ‘p.

TWO SURVIVORS IN SERIOUS

CONDITION, t

THIRD REPORTED TO RE SLIGHTLY ' 1 Mt’ROVfeD. ‘ • *' i

EYE-VOTNESSES’ STORY OF ' ’ FATALITY.

(Press Association)

\I r ELLINGTON, May 22

. This morning, the condition °i Frank Lincoln, and his daughter, Frances Lincoln, two of the victims' injured in tb.55P-oriroa railway tragedy, oh Sunday evening, was reported to be serious, Tho condition of the third survivor, Harry Halroyde, was stated to be a littlje better. The three injured were tho survivors of a party ol seven in a motor car, those killed being Airs! Lincoln and lier 4-year-old 'daughter; Mrs. Frances Lena Gaskin ; and Miss Emvright, all residents of Palmerston North. Mrs. Lincoln, was aged 26 years, and was tho wife of Afir. Stanley Frank Lincoln, a butcher, of Rangitikei line. Airs. Lincoln was a daughter of Air. AlcHugh, of Tan■marunui, and niece of Air. E. R, B. Hoib'en, a well-known Palmerston North resident.

The . owner of ihe car, Airs. Frances Gaskin, 36, was the wife of Air. P. AY. Gaskin, Bourko street, and a daughter, of Mr. IV. Aforris, of Ekotnhuna.

Miss Aland Enright, 23, .Resided with the Gaskins, and was a daughter of Pohanginn residents, being employed in a local tearoom.

- Frances Lincoln, the fourth victim of the tragedy, was the four-year o]<3 daughter of tho Lincolns.

Those" injured are Stanley Frank Lincoln whose wife was killed; Joyce Lincoln, aged 3, another daughter; and Harry Holroyde, 2,3. of Palmerston North. The occupants of the car were returning borne from Wellington and arrived at Porima just before six o’clock. Tile. Palmerston North train which leaves Wellington at 5 o clock crosses the Otnki-Welliugt-oji train at Porirua, and had already run on to the siding, coming to a standstill with the. engine close to the crossing. It was due to leave at 5.48 p.m. The other train leaves Otaki at 4.30 p.m. and is duo ni; I’orirua at 5.40 p.m., leaving again at 5.50 p.m.

CAR BODY TORN FROM.

CHASSIS

The motor ear proceeded t-o go over the crossing to pass in front of the stationary train, but bad not passed oyer the first set- of rails when it .was struck by the engine of the Otaki-Wdlington train. Tlta body of the ear seems to have been torn from the chassis, io>v ihe chassis and wheels, smashed to pieces, were found against the stationary engine, while portions of the hood and body were strewn along tbo rails and between the carriages of the moving train. FOUR. KILLED INSTANTLY. The three women and child wo.ro instantly killocr. Airs. Lincoln and Mrs. Gaskin, after being thrown from the car, apparently were run over hy the train and -terribly irmtiliaior!. Miss Enwrighfc was thrown on to ihe engine of the other train, t,°-n-oiher with Lincoln and Halroyd. The. body of ihr- older child was picked up 6(t‘ away, while the injured child was near her father. •Messages immediately were despatched for doctors and ambulances, and shortly afterwards, the injured were attended by D-r. Williams and Dr Marshall, of Porirua. Mental Hospital, and Dr. Brown, of Wellington. Later they were conveyed to AVellington Hospital by ambulance.

WRECKAGE ALL OVER LINE. Air Norman Hannah, who was on. the down train, said the motor car rebounded off the- stationary engine and hit, the second carriage, in which he was riding. As soon as tho train stopped he ran back i- 0 " the engine of the other train. The wheels and chassis wore lying near it and' other portions of wreckage were all over tho line. Ho assisted to lift the wreckage in response to a call by the guard for volunteers, and the bodi-c-s were removed fco the side of the" track. Bart of the di-cod of "the car was found between tw 0 of the carriages. He also went to. the Mental Hospital for help, and met- the medical men just on the way. ' PASSENGERS TERRIFIED. An eye-witness who was standing at tho door of the waiting shed watching’ tho train approaching, said this on-coming train, which was blowing- its whistle, apparently caught the car toward the rear portion and hurled it- on to the- stationary train, smashing it to matchwood. Passengers on the station hearing the grating noise of a certain part of the car being dragged along, and seeing sparks being emitted by tho contact, with ihe- stones between the lines, were terrified. Few realised what had happened unt.il one of the side screens of the car was ejected at their feet- Several rushed to the engine ef the train, which was about 200 yards from me scone of the impact, and saw certain parts of ihe- damaged vehicles, and also a rug on the cowcatcher. Tho inquest for tho purpose of identification was formally opened in the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon before Air Gilbertson, S.AI. After the necessary evidence liad boon given tbo inquest was adjourned! sine die.