RAILWAY TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 13

RAILWAY TRAGEDY.

LOSS OF TWO LIVES<

PORTER'S TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

SOMEBODY'S FATAL ERROR,

[from our own correspondent.! * SYDXEY, Jan. 30.

The most remarkable thing about tha derailment of the Blue Mountains expreSs last Monday night was the fact that only two lives were lost—those of the engine crew. Behind the two engines that toppled over the embankment were crowded carriages containing hundreds of people who had spent the holiday amoug the mountain sights. Had the train been travelling at a fast pace the loss of lives would have been terrible, for nothing could have prevented the carriages follow, ing the example set by the two engines. The primary cause of the crash was a truck derailment earlier in the day which had put one of the two lines out of commission. It was, therefore, necessary to work fairly heavy traffic on the single line, and in the single line working, apparently, a fatal mistake was made. It seems clear that owing to an error on the part of somebody the catch points were left open, for had they been closed it is difficult to see how a derailment could have occurredT The section where the accident took place has an easy curve, and would normally be safe at 60 miles an hour. The evidence that the train was travelling at a low speed is supported by the fact thafc no damage was done to anv of the carriages. The points, which are for the purpose of derailing runaway trains, were open, and that, was why two men lest their lives.

The hero of the sensational happening was a young porter, Joseph McGarrity, aged 16,-who told a dramatic story of his adventure. "We left Valley Heights shortly after 7 p.m.," he said. " Passing Warrimoo we came to the catch points. It was not dark, and we could see that the catch points were open. The fireman called out, ' Hold her, driver. The points are wide open.' Every thing occurred with a smack. The driver pulled on the brakes. There was a loud screech, the engine toppled over, and' everything was a blank. I was riding in the engine, and I was pinned down by the right leg and the right arm. Nobody will ever,, know whatf'l went through. " The driver and fireman —both food fellows—were suspended above me, and their feet were dangling near my face. Blood and steam dropped all over me. It was a terrible experience. I thought I would never again see daylight. My mother and father are dead, but I could not help thinking of my aunt, with whom I live, and my brothers and sisters. Doctors and ambulance men came to help me. All the time they kept cheering me up. Someone gave me brandy and I needed it badly. I was nearly through. " Then I heard someone say that there was no chance of getting me out unless my hand was sawn off. It was dreadful to hear them talking like that. But I knew that I was trapped. I could not move either my arm or my leg._ I think someone gave me an anaesthetic. lam too dazed to remember much. But .1 remember waking up, still under the tender, but my hand was free. It had been amputated. An even worse thing was to follow. My leg was firmly held to the ground by a tremendous weight. By this time I had been there for about two hours, and the breakdown gang had arrived. The only way they could get me out was by using the oxy-acetylene welding apparatus. The welder had to burn through the steel work, and the, fiames from the machine burned holes m my leg. But X knew that I had to stick it out, and I did." The rescuers, who speak highly of McGarrity's pluck, declare that ho never whimpered, and did everything that he was told to do. He repeatedly asked how his mates were—those who had been in the engine with him and who were lying dead in the tangled mess around him —and whether any of the passengers were hurt.