ENGINE OUT OF CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 63, 1 March 1929, Page 5

ENGINE OUT OF CONTROL

WILD CAREER DOWN INCLINE FOURTEEN MEN INJURED Westport, Feb. 28. A sensational accident occurred on the Westport-Stockton tramway line this afternoon. A motor engine with, it is understood, about 30 waggons attached, got out of conircl coming down an incline and was travelling at about 60 miles an hour. A number of the men in the waggons, who were returning from work, jumped off, and about 14 were more or less seriously injured. The engine spread over the line in a “B” tunnel, after travelling about three-quarters of a mile, and pulled up, those who remained in the waggons being uninjured. Five of tho men brought to the Westport Hospital are:—Donald Hunter, chin and throat wounds (the most seriously injured); Thomas Nicholls, lacerated fingers, bruises and scalp wounds; Robert Campbell, scalp wound and fractured collar bone; James Mcßurn, fractured wrist and scalp wounds; Archibald Miller, lacerated fingers. No information is at present available concerning the ’others who were injured, but the fact that they are not being brought to hospital suggests that tho injuries are not serious. INQUIRY BEING HELD. Westport, Mar. 1. In connection with the accident at the .Stockton mine yesterday, it is reported that the driver of the locomotive, Shearer, when he found the brake not working and the engine gathering speed, jumped clear. This induced 12 others to do likewise, and all were more or less severely injured. The five men taken to hospital were reported to be progressing favourably this morning. An inqunry is being held to-day by the Inspector Miners and the Public Works Department Only for the promptness of Cook, the second man on the loco, in applying the emergency brake, till on board would have been killed. When the emergency brake was applied the loco, left the lines. The company is reticent until the inquiry is completed.