BLOWN OFF LINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22545, 9 October 1936, Page 10

BLOWN OFF LINE

MISHAP TO RAIL-CAR EIGHT PERSONS HURT GREAT FORCE OF WINI) GALE IN THE WAIRARAPA PASSENGERS' FORTITUDE [I»Y TKI/KGKAPH —OWN COKRKgrONDKNT] MASTERTON, Thursday Eight passengers, seven of whom were women, were injured when the Maniari, one of the rail-ears running on the Wairarapa line, was blown off the rails h.v a severe north-west gale at 8..'50 this morning when proceeding southward between Featherstoii and Pigeon Bush. The maximum force of the wind was estimated at 80 miles an hour. Three of the 26 passengers aboard suffered broken arms or ribs, or both, while five of the remaining occupants received minor injuries, mostly cuts. All were taken to a private hospital in Featherstoii, which reported to-night that the three who remained as patients were progressing favourably. The Injured Those injured were: — Mrs. .7. Hulnie, Short Street, Master-

ton: Fractured right arm and ribs. Miss G. Knott, 26 Kuripuni Street, Masterton: Fractured right arm

and ribs. Mrs. L. (,'ollott, New Zealand railways,

Masterton: Fractured ribs. Mrs. M. Moss, 20 Walton Avenue, Mastorton: Cuts on face and neck. Mrs. A. H. Bull, Grevtown: Cuts on

face. Miss B. Phillips, 10.'! Bentley Street, Masterton: Injury to finger. Miss l\ Hedlev, Gordon Street, Lans-

downe: (Jut on nose. Mr. A. S. Humber, South Road, Masterton: Cuts on left leg.

Terrific Gusts

Residents of long standing in the vicinity of the accident agree that the gale that raged this morning was the most severe experienced there for many years. The locality is widely known as a very windy one, north-west winds at this point sweeping down the gullies from the Rimutaka Ranges at times with gusts of terrific force.

A short distance from the scene of to-day's mishap, in September, 1880. several carriages of a steam train were blown off the line and for that reason a massive wooden breakwind was erected alongside the line over what was considered the worst portion affected bv the'wind.

The rail-car left the rails about a chain from the northern end of the breakwind, but the permanent way was not damaged. Eye-witness' Story

An eye-witness who was working a short distance away thus described the mishap:— "The rail-car was going along very comfortably when it passed me. Just short of the breakwind I saw it leave the rails and fall over on its side, but it seemed to go over very gently. I was soon on the scene, and the wind was so heavy that it was rocking the car about. Others arrived, and we were afraid that the wind would roll the car over again, so we propped it with some wood to keep it steady.

"We had to break some of the windows to assist the passengers out. The wind was the. most severe that I have experienced here for many years. It was quite an exceptional blow." As the rail-car left the line it struck an iron telegraph pole, which became wedged in the front left-hand side of the car and was carried with it until the car came to a standstill. Some of the windows on the side on which the car fell were not broken, and although the passengers were thrown about as the car lurched over they bore their experience with great fortitude.

Car Little Damaged

The interior of the car suffered very little damage. The driver, Mr. V. Schroder, suffered one or two cuts from glass. The guard, Mr. Seager, at onco gave first-aid to the injured and telephoned from a house near by for a doctor, who arrived from Featherston a quarter of an hour later. A second rail-car from Woodville, which left Masterton at 9.30, was detained at Carterton and the passengers were conveyed to Featherston by bus, where most of them resumed their journey by steam train.