SENSATIONAL OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15807, 2 January 1915, Page 5

SENSATIONAL OUTRAGE.

PICNIC TRAIN FIRED ON. BY TURKS OR AFGHANS. v THREE PERSONS KILLED. ONE ASSAILANT SHOT. THE OTHER WOUNDED. By Telegraph Association— Copyright. :Rocked January 1. 11 t>.m.) Si'DNET, January 1. A sensational affair occurred at Broken Hill. The Inspectcr-Oeneral of Police this afternoon received the following report from Inspector Miller: Two coloured men, either Turks or Afghans, armed with rifles, fired at a picnic train laden with men, women, and children, en route for Silverton, just outside Broken Hill, this forenoon, killing and wounding several. The p. 'ice went in pursuit of the offenders, who took refuge among the rocks en the hill. They fired at the police, wounding Constable Mills. The offenders were finally shot down. One is dead and the other wounded. Constable Mills and the. wounded prisoner are now in hospital. Turkish Flag Flown. Unofficial reports state that the train was crowded with members of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, en route to their annual picnic. When three miles from Broken Hill, the passengers were startled by the sound of shots. A cart flying a red flag with tie star and crescent on it was standing near the line. Two turbaned men on the cart were rapidly firing rifles. As soon as the position was realised the train puL'°d r.ack into safety zone. . The passenger? r.ced back to the scene of the firing, but the attackers had fled, taking refugo ir. a rocky hill in the vicinity. The flag and cart were seized. When the news of the outrage reached the town a number of local infantry riflemen and police, fully armed, scoured the country. They discovered the fugitives and opened fire. After several volleys, one of the Turks dropped dead. The other fras wounded and captured when seeking fi-psh cover. A third Turk put in an appearance and was taken prisoner. On their arrival at the town, an enraged crowd tried to lynch the prisoners. Names of the Victims. An eye-witness, who was in the train, observed puffs of smoke and. the sounds of firing. At first he thought someone was practising with a gun, but when bullets hit the train in all directions, and he saw the Turkish flag flying, he knew something :r.are serious was afoot* One man jumped from the train with a view to informing the police. The Turks turned their fire on him, but" he escaped. The attackers renewed their firing as the train moved out of danger. So far as is known, three persons were tilled :Wm. Shaw, sanitary foreman at Broken Hill; Miss McGowie, of South Australia; and a man named Millard, an employee of the Umberumberka Company, AH were shot through the head. Eight ' jieople were wounded. !