ALPS DISASTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 218, 29 August 1927, Page 6

ALPS DISASTER

A RUNAWAY TRAIN 23 DEAD; 30 INJURED. Paris, Aug. 26. So far 23 are dead and 30 were injured several of whom are not expected to recover, in the sensational Chamonix accident, which was the worst in the l.istory of the French Alps,

A blinding snowstorm and fog caused 100 tourists to crowd into a two-car train for the descent, and it is believed the driver omitted to alter the speed in order to counterbalance the weight, which proved too great. The cars gathered speed in an alarming manner. It is estimated that they were travelling at 60 miles an hour <vhe“ the locomotive jumped the rails, dragging the hrst carriage, containing <w passengers, with it, the cogwheels failing to grip the ratchet ran. The guard had the presence 01 mind to uncouple the seconn carriage, containing 40 passengers, and apply the brakes. The nrst car was splintered to matchwood. A second train carried the dead and wounded to the bottom.

Among the victims were two English girls, Adriane Matthews and Mary Green, who were spending their first holiday in Switzerland. The dead include nine women and young girls. Several bodies were so mutilated that the authorities issued descriptions of the clothing and jewellery as the only hope of identifier tion. •

The train started in a blizzard. Several passengers jumped before the crash and some were badly injured but certainly saved their lives. An official inquiry has opened- Meantime officials only repeat that the brakes failed, though they should have acted automatically as soon as the normal speed was exceeded.

Terrible as was the accident, an even more terrible disaster was averted by a woman passenger. Despite fog and snow, she ran along the line nnd stopped a crowded train following five minutes behind the wrecked one. the o'-mipants being ignor/nt of the smash.

It was necessary to break open the cab of the fallen engine to rescue the driver, who died on the way to hospital.—(A. and N.Z.) BLAME LAID ON DEAD Driver Paris. August 28. An official inquiry into the Chamounix disaster resulted in the blame being laid on the dead driver. Experts gave evidence thr.t it appeared that he. opened the steam regulator while on the steep slope, causing a sudden jerk and consequent de railment — (A.P.A. and “Sun” cable.)