RAILWAY TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22119, 27 May 1935, Page 8

RAILWAY TRAGEDY

AGED WOMAN KILLED IN THE WRONG TRAIN ALIGHTING AT A STATION FALL UNDER THE WHEELS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] HASTINGS, Sunday An elderly woman, Mrs. Matilda Mitchell, was killed at Waipukurau this morning when, in spite of the effort of a youth to detain her, she stepped off the south-bound mail train as it was leaving the station. The train was pulled up almost immediately, but not before two carriages had passed over the deceased. Death was instantaneous. Mrs. Mitchell boarded the train at Waipukurau, evidently thinking that she was travelling to Waipawa, five miles north of Waipukurau. W 7 hen she discovered that she was on the wrong train she decided to leave it. A youth named Collett, who was standing on the platform, endeavoured to restrain her as the train was in motion, but she evidently thought that she could alight safely. She stepped off the train, fell on the platform and then fell under the carriage wheels.

Passengers in the carriage immediately applied the Westinghouse brakes, while at the same time the stationmaster, Mr. C. A. Gallagher, and a carrier, Mr. A. P. Green, who saw Mrs. Mitchell fall, rushed across the platform, caught the last carriage and also applied the brakes. In spite of such prompt action, two carriages had passed over Mrs. Mitchell before the train was brought to a standstill. The-tragedy happened in full view of the other passengers and the crowd of people at the station.

Mrs. Mitchell; who had lived the greater part of her life at W aipawa, was about 70 years of age. She had been visiting her grand-daughter, Mrs. J. Ralph, at W r aipukurau, and was int<yiding to return to her home. Among her relatives are three daughters, Mrs. E. Limbrick (formerly of Waipukurau and now of Seddon, Marlborough), Mrs. W. Lowe (Hastings) and Mrs. A. J. McKay (Palmerston North). Her husband and another daughter, Mrs. Rose, of. Waipawa, died a short time ago.