SHOCKING FATALITY NEAR NEWMARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12708, 10 November 1904, Page 5

SHOCKING FATALITY NEAR NEWMARKET.

' » . MAN FALLS UNDER A TRAIN. BODY ALMOST OUT IN TWO. A sensation was created on the race special train running between EUerslie and Auckland, about six o'clock Inst evening, when it was reported that % passenger had fallen off a carriage on to the line near Newmarket,; and his body had been passed over by the . train.:- "' "'" It appears that at first the seriousness of the accident was not iully realised, but from remarks made by passengers when the train was pulled up at Newmarket railway station, the railway officials wore induced to return to investigate the oilair. The spot indicated as the scene of the mishap was near the overhead bridge just beyond the railway workshops on the Remuera side, and the distance would be some 200 yards from the Newmarket railway station platform. ... As the search party approached the spot a sickening sight met their eyes. The lifeless form of a young man lay across the railway line, with the body cut almost in two near the waist, 1 and the two arms severely smashed. Death must have been instantaneous. '" r ;V: : '■ ' ; '-:':.'■'; '-■-"■■ ' : ■ A stretcher was promptly procured, and the dead body was carried to the Newmarket station, where it was identied Dy ft couple of passengers as that ol Mr. John Sullivan," a very well-known resident of Devonport. Constable Mackle, of Newmarket, was communicated, with, and ho took charge of the mangled corpse, securing an express to I convey it to the morgue. - " \-. Exactly how the sad fatality happened has not been made perfectly clear, as no person who actually saw the late Mr. Sullivan fall from the.-.train has come forward. At the particular spot where it took place there is a slight bend in the line, but it is hardly of a sufficiently sharp character to cause a jerk that would make a passenger lose his balance, providing, of course, the passenger was not in the first place seated or standing in a precarious position. : ; . * At the time the accident would have taken place, Guard Beere, who was in " charge of the train, was busy attending to the brakes as the train would be slackening speed in approaching the Newmarket station, and he was, therefore, not i-: a position to see what really occurred. He has, however, reported to the stationmaster at Auckland that Mr. Sullivan fell off the train, and his body was passed over by th& van." A passenger, wfcosa name could riot be ascertained last nig lit, states that the deceased was sitting up on the back of one of the seated waggons brought into requisition to cope with the anticipated heavy traffic, and at the bend referred to Mr. Sullivan lost •his balance and was thrown back, falling between the waggon and the van which followed, ■ The train from which Mr. Sullivan fell was carrying a considerable number of passengers, out was not overcrowded, there being ampla seating accommodation for all ■who were, travelling by it. As a matter of fact, none of the trains, either outward or homeward, were taxed to their utmost- holding capacity. The deceased, : who wag unmarried; was about* 28 - years of age, "and had \ lately been in the bootmaking business. He is a son of Captain J- 'Sullivan, of ■Devonport, who is a very popular and old. officer of the Devonport Company, and he is a brother of Mr. Thomas Sullivan, the well-known New Zealand oarsman. The deceased was a good athlete, and excelled in football, for several i years past representing the' North Shore ■ District Club, and being the delegate of that club on the Auckland Rugby Union. He .was held in high esteem by his comrades, and not only will his tragic end be deeply regretted, : but sincere sympathy will be extended to the bereaved family.