THE RICHMOND DISASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14427, 21 July 1910, Page 5

THE RICHMOND DISASTER

SUFFERINGS OF THE VICTIMS.

MADDENING AGONY.

RESCUERS' HARROWING STORIES. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, July 20. Some .of the carriages wrecked by the collision at Richmond' were taken over from the old Hobson Bay Company, and had been in use over 40 years. It was in these carriages where the loss of life occurred. The modern carriages nearer the engines received heavier shocks, but suffered little, while an older carriage collapsed, and was smashed to matchwood. Details of the rescue work form a gruesome record. In the compartments next the guard's van the mangled bodies were crushed down to the door by the smashed partitions, and were huddled together in a hideous mass. The unfortunate victims endured indescribable torments until released. In the same carriage three men had their legs pinned down by one seat. Close by was a woman, whose head had been smashed by a beam. A yard away was a man with his eye torn out. Hanging out of a first-class smoker was the body of a man crushed as flat as a board, and not far off lay the headless body of another victim. The head was found on the permanent way, where it was wrapped in a newspaper, and conveyed to the waiting-room. Crushed, maimed, and in sorpe cases legless sufferers, in every kind of attitude, were seen struggling for release from maddening agony. Up to last night 187 claims had been received by. the Commissioners.