Feeding Passengers In Limited Smash

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 259, 1 November 1940, Page 3

Feeding Passengers In Limited Smash

PRAISE TOR DR- R. G. SALMOND There were several Feilding passengers on the Limited express which met with disaster near Mercer on Mon day morning and all were fortunate to escape serious injury. Tra velling in the second coach was Private - Robert L. Ewen, of the Machine-gun Corps, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Ewen, of Kimbolton Road, Feilding, and yesterday he related some of his experiences in the course of which he paid a tribute to the untiring work of Capt. K. G. Salmond, of the New Zealand Medical Corps, who was also a passenger on the train. . Private Ewen said that he was proceeding to Auckland to visit relatives and was talking to Dr. Salmond when the coach suffered a violent jolt and lie was precipitated from Iris seat across the carriage. This was the experience of everyone in the coach and at the same time the woodwork along the floor where it joined the wall of the coach broke away. The passengers were all more or less jumbled together, but be yond a little severe bumping and a few scratches all escaped serious harm. Private Ewen suffered slight-scratches to his face and a jolt on his elbow, but otherwise suffered no harm. As a consequence of the damage to the coach the doors would not open and the passengers were obliged to escape through the windows. Mrs. A. E. Ramsay, formerly of Feilding, had an unenviable experience, finding herself locked in the lavatory and unable to get out. Before she was released the compartment had to be pulled apart. On escaping from the carriage Private Ewen was able to appreciate what had happened and immediately Dr. Salmond, who was the only medical man available, promptly threw off his coat and took charge of the matter of rendering first aid to the injured in the first coach. The situation was rather chaotic, but . Dr. Salmond quickly marshalled together helpers and had the injured removed and accorded them immediate medical aid. Private Ewen joined with other members of the forces in rendering every assistance, but the work of Dr. Salmond, he said, stood out and was the subject of very warm praise and appreciation on the part of all present, 'fhere was absolutely no panic and everyone excepting the seriously injured, went about the business of helping to do what was necessary with Dr. Salmond in control of the situation. He had accomplished a great deal of first aid under difficult conditions before additional medical aid arrived from Pukekohe. Mrs, Ramsay was travelling to Auckland with her husband who has been visiting Feilding and. district on his annual leave.