RAILWAY SMASH

Northern Advocate, 19 May 1928, Page 9

RAILWAY SMASH

ENGINE DASHES DOWNHILL

COLLISION WITH COACHES

ELEVEN PASSENGERS INJURED

(Per Press Association.)

GISBORNE, This Day.

Eleven passengers out of 25 who were aboard when a train left Gisborne yesterday afternoon for Motu hora were injured in an accident on Otoko Kill, about 8 o'clock last night.

Generally the -injuries were of a minor nature, but two men were brought back to Gisborne and admitted to Cook Hospital at 3.30 a.m. The names of the injured are. —

WORST CASES.

R. Whitson, of 13 Norana AvenuV, Remuera, Auckland, engineer, ruptured vein on hip, faeial injuries ami

concussion. A. J. Campbell, of Opotiki, settler, concussion and minor injuries.

MINOR INJURIES

F. W. Marshall, of Patutahi, badly jarred and abrasions on right knee. G. A. Ross, 31 Lyndhurst Street, Gisborne, slight bruise on head. P. H. Whittington, of Motu, slight bruise on left hip. Harry Maxwell, 13 Stanley Road, Gisborne, cuts on lip. V. P. Frederick, of Rakauroa, slight bruise on head.

V. Oman, Grey Lynn, Auckland, abrasions to left leg. Mrs V. P. Fredericks, Rakauroa, ruptured muscles of left shoulder. Mrs B. J. Climo, of Motuhora, cuts on head and bruised left leg. Mrs T. L. Barker, of Motuhora, ruptured muscles of back.

GREASY RAILS

The mishap was due to the heavy rain and consequent greasy nature of

the rails.

All went well as far as Otoko Hill, which has been a cause of frequent trouble to the Railway Department.

The train comprised four trucks laden with general merchandise, enrs, etc., two passengers carriages and a

guard's A'an

The engine driver made strenuous efforts for three-quarters of an hour to ascend the hill, and it was then decided to follow the common practice and divide the train.

The engine, of the W2 class, drawing four trucks, reached the top of the hill, left the trucks there and then descended for the carriages and guard's van.

TERRIBLE SHOCK.

Coming -downhill. again tho wheels of the engine would not grip on the greasy rails, and despite the fact that the driver applied the brakes the engine crashed, bunker first, into the leading stationary carriage.

The guard of the train was A. F. Bird and the driver B. J. Penberthy. It was a terrible shock for the passengers, who were thrown in jumbled heaps about the carriages. The lights immediately went out, and the shrieking of women and children added to tho general panic. A moment previously they had been chaffing one another about the long wait. The next moment was all confusion. Gradually order was restored and the true state of affairs revealed.

PROVIDENTIAL BRAKING

Fortunately for the passengers, the brakes of the carriages had been securely locksd and they held against the strain of the engine's crash.

Had the brakes given away (since the smash occurred some distance up the hill), the carriages would have swept, downhill and probaby jumped the rails, bringing about a far more terrible smash.

CARRIAGE BUCKLED,

The foremost carriage was buckled throughout its length, and the forward platform almost flattened up against the carriage end. Evidence of the buckling was given by the smashing of the wash-basin in the centre of the carriage and the partially squeezing together • of the scats.

The second carriage did not suffer nearly so much, but. its occupants, suffered in hardly less degree than those of .the first carriage.

The front of the engine suffered slight damage, being badly dented and having some heavy couplings snapped off.

WHERE PRAISE IS DUE

Mrs Vivian Oman, of Auckland, came in for special praise from all the passengers for her work after tho crash.

f Belief gangs wore despatched from Kflkauroa and a train was sent out from Gisborne with a doctor and nurses, the scene of the accident being reached at 11.30 o'clock.

FIRST AID.

Everything possible was done to relieve the sufferers before the arrival of the relief train.

The first carriage had been taken back to Eakauroa by the original engine. The relief engine on arrival pushed the remainder of the train to Rakauroa, and then took all except the badly injured carriage on to Motuhora, while the damaged engine came back to town with the relief party and the badly injured men, Messrs Campbell and Whitson, who were taken to hospital.