IN A RAILWAY SIGNAL BOX.

North Otago Times, 6 August 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

IN A RAILWAY SIGNAL BOX.

One of the saddest stories in all railway history is that of the Thirsk disaster of : November 2, 1892 when, through' the mistake of a signalman, the i'lying Dutchman dashed into a good's traip between': Otter-' ingliam and Thirsk, 10 passengers being killed, and 3!) seriously injured. Yet .When James Holmes, the erring signalman, was" tried for man-slaughter at the York Assizes, and found guilty, the Court rang with cheers as the Judge dismissed the broken-down, weeping man without punishment,

In truth, poor fellow, he had much to urge in extenuation of his fault. That day his . child had died, and unnerved at his loss, in deep distress over his wife's loss as well as over his own,: and utterly worn out after so many hours' weary vigil, he felt himself unequal to his work and asked to bo relieved from duty that night. 1 " Can you send relief to Manor House. Cabin to-night ? Holmes's child is dead," was the, telegram sent to the traffic manager, but the answer. received .was, ".No relief can be sent, .and. so-the .weary man went to 1 duty, only to fall asleep over his work' with the awful results just mentioned. , Set; this against, another true story of a,signal-box, the! signals of which wero seen, to, lie clear for an up and .a down train to pass, but before the trains had come up they were all standing lit danger-. ■

The trains 1 came to a standstill, but.no signalman - was to be seen. They went to seok him and found him lying lifeless on the floor of the cabin. . , ■ ■ ..

Mortally stricken, ho must have felt himself dying, and, thinkin'g only of the safety of his trains, pulled his signals to danger with his" last strength, and then fallen dead.— " Leisure Hour."