THE ARSGILL DISASTER.

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1913, Page 5

THE ARSGILL DISASTER.

PASSENGERS IMPRISONED IN BURNING CARRIAGES. TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF FIRE. (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 3. Further details are now available of the disaster at Arsgill, in Yorkshire, where the Midland RailwayCompany's Glasgow to London express having stopped through loss of steam was run into at full speed by the Aberdeen express. The ascent at Arsgill is the highest piece of railway line in England, the gradient being 1 in 100, and the scene of the accident is an isolated spot surrounded by bleak hills, with only a few scattered cottages in the vicinity. Little water was available, and doctors and nurses were unobtainable for hours after the collision. The railway officials aroused the occupants of the sleeping cars of the Aberdeen express, and made the passengers alight, many of the women being only partially dressed. These passengers did not realise the seriousness of the affair until a voice was heard in the darkness crying, "Men wanted to help—no women wanted." The men, running forward, saw a desperate scene of destruction, and an outbreak of fire among the wreckage completed the tragedy. . CALLS FOR HELP. Neighbouring farmers and shepherds assisted the police to rescue the imprisoned people until the flames beat back the rescuers, many sobbing at the sight of hands waving to attract attention after it, was evident that the unfortunate people must be left to be burnt alive.

In one case eight passengers tugged an elderly man, who was pinned at the waist, until his clothes were pulled off and flesh torn. As the flames crept up the man kept crying, "For God's sake pull me out." Every few moments the rescuers had to draw back from the scorching heat, tut they finally made a desperate dash and pulled out the man as the burning woodwork released his waist. In another case a clergyman, seeing it was impossible to succour a man pinned amid the wreckage,, raised his hat and offered up a prayer. . t A Mrs Morrison was returning on the train from a holiday with her children. The mother was badly injured, but with a baby in her arms was rescued. Her first words were, "Don't bother about me, find the children." There are children among the unidentified dead. No list of the passengers is possible. In several cases the sex of the dead is yet unknown. In other cases the only proof is the existence of corset bones found embedded in the charred remains.

Sir Arthur Douglas, formerly Un-der-Secretary of Defence in New Zealand, was travelling from Glasgow to Gloucester. The critical experience which he underwent while

pinned in a burning carriage was a terrible ordeal for a man so advanced in years. He is now in Carlisle infirmary whither six porters carried him suffering from severe burns to both feet, the hands, back, neck, head and thigh. The fire —apparently due to the illuminating gas which escaped from the tanks beneath the carriages raises the problem of whether electricity should not be substituted. This was discussed in connection with a disaster in 1910.