HAWES RAILWAY SMASH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 7

HAWES RAILWAY SMASH.

HOW IT HAPPENED.

A SIGNALMAN'S ADMISSIONS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association-CopyrJgßi. (Received December 50, 11.30 p.m.) London, December 30. It is believed that the death roll of the .railway disaster at Hawes totals 13.

Though no relatives have inquired regarding a woman the doctors believe that female bones have been discovered among the charred remains of victims.

A passenger has written to the Coroner stating that he saw a young woman imprisoned in the debris, and held for a few seconds. Sutton, a signalman, gave evidence at the inquest as to sending the two engines, with which the express collided, on to the main line in order to make way for another train. His attention being distracted by a telephone he omitted to signal to the engines to proceed to Carlisle, and thus caused the disaster. He was fully occupied in moving nine light engines from one side of the road to the other and by passing trains on the main lines. He did not attribute his action to lapse of memory or to excessive work.

Sutton added that his mate came to the signal box and asked where the engines were, and he immediately telephoned to the next signal box when he realised that a tragedy had occurred, saying: "I have wrecked the Scottish express."

FATE OF THE VICTIMS.

EXITS OF BURNING CARS BLOCKED. London, December 29. At the inquiry concerning the Hawes disaster the evidence showed that the fire started in the second carriage, the end of which was blocked with wreckage, and it was impossible to reach or help the passengers. Six out of eight cars were burnt. The sleeping cars were lighted by electricity and the rest by gas. The flames appeared 10 minutes after the collision. A " Scotch mist" affected the view of the driver. The inquiry was adjourned uniil January 12.