SCOTTISH EXPRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1931, Page 5

SCOTTISH EXPRESS

JUMPS THE RAILS.

ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. March 22. The Scottish express passing LeighBuzzard jumped the metals and the engine and three coaches were overturned and telescoped. Twelve others left the line. The driver, fireman, restaurant nook and eight passengers are reported killed and it is believed many are injured. The Scottish International team who were going home, all escaped. FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received this dav at 1 0 p.m.) LONDON, March 22. The Royal Scot is One of the fastest trains in the world, which lust mo Ml) at turned a ninety miles per hour nonstop between London and Carlisle. To. day within a few moments, it was a heap of twisted steel and matchwood iVom whence came pitiful cries and groans from the injured and imprison, ed. The crowded train was going to Scotland and had slowed down to thirty miles an hour to take the points, when it leapt the rails, the engine ploughing up the permanent way for fifty yards, and then overturned, scalding and killing instantly the driver and pinning down the fireman, who died before rescue was possible. The first two carriages telescoped, and partially overran the engine, driving up the tender and scattering tons of coal. The third and fourth carriages slewed sideways and crashed into the second. The fifth overturned. Every carriage was derailed, the whole forming a rough cross across four sets of metals.

The passengers were just called to lunch and had not entered the dining car, which was completely smashed, otherwise the death roll would have been far heavier.

It is stated that six were killed and five seriously injured, many other suffering lesser injuries. Eye witnesses describe heartrending scenes and acts of heroism and the difficulties of rescue amid the piled up wreckage. The chef, despite severed fingers con. tinuously searched for his assistant cook, and when found dead, the chef refused to go until his body was extricated.

So oral injuries necessitated immediate operations. A woman, who was accompanied by a little girl had to undergo amputation of a foot before she was freed.

An injured Scottish woman was imprisoned in the debris tor throe hours and Lay with her 18 years old daughter’s head in her lap, when rescued it was found her daughter’s leg needed amputation.

A doctor relates how he found a man with only his head protruding from the wreckage. “He told me he was ail right and to go and help others to do more good, f gave him an injection to relieve the pain for I knew lie must he suffering although he refused to admit it.’’ Many of the less seriously hurt passengers refused medical attention, and assisted in the rescue work, in which Scottish Soccer players were prominent. There were numerous cases of miraculous escapes. A Glasgow business man says five minutes before the crash be lmd a premonition of disaster, and left the first carriage in which he was travelling. He had no sooner settled down in a rear compartment when the train was derailed^