SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8534, 7 April 1891, Page 5

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A fatal accident occurred on the railway at Penrith the other day, and has caused quite a sensation in town. On the arrival of the express train from Sydney something was noticed to drop from the engine, and on examination this proved to be the body of a young man literally cut to pieces. The body was cut almost clean in two, and the hand was nearly severed from the body. Upon further inquiry it appears that William Dolan, son of Bartholomew I)olan, aged seventeen, left his home at Lambridge to attend service at the Roman Catholic Church. He started before his parents, and on coming to the gates just near the electric lighting station he stood waiting for a goods train going towards Sydney to pass the crossing. As soon as the brake van crossed he started to go through the gates, and it was just at this time that the express train came in from Sydney. Just before the train stopped the driver noticed a bump, and immediately brought the engine to a standstill. It was found that the rosary carried by the deceased was fixed on the front of the engine, and his prayerbook was found close by. The deceased was a twin son of Mr. Dolan, and was just preparing for the senior University examination. On the road to church the deceased's father heard of the accident, and told several people, and it was not till the service was half finished that Mrs. Dolan noticed that her son was not present. She went to make inquiries, and iound out the truth-