RAILWAY INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23022, 27 April 1938, Page 15

RAILWAY INQUIRY

RATANA DERAILMENT PASSENGER'S EVIDENCE UNKNOWN MAN MYSTERY THE QUESTION OF SPEED [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The board of inquiry set up to investigate the cause of the derailment of an excursion train near Ratana early on the morning of March 26, as £i result of which seven lives were lost, sat in Wellington to-day. The hearing of evidence had been adjourned from Wanganui 011 April 13.

The board consists of Sir Francis Frazer (chairman) and Messrs. F. W. 1' urkert and H. L. Cole. They were appointed by the Minister of Railways to carry out. a thorough investigation and to present their report to him not later than April 30. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., with him Mr. F. W. Aicken, railway law officer, is representing the department, and Mr. C. G. Watson appears for the Knginedrivers' Association. Mr. Watson is also representing the driver of the train, Mr. E. Percival. Premonition of Disaster James L. Winstone, of Otaki, nurseryman, a passenger, said he was in the third carriage from the engine. About 2.10 he went into the vestibule to have a smoke. While he was there the training was gaining speed all the time. Something struck him that something was going to happen. He returned to his seat and said to his wife: "There ij- something going to happen here," and as soon as he said that the train went off the line. He was imprisoned in the carriage until lifted out through the roof. A man, who appeared to be the foreman of the train, came along and witness had a conversation with this man. Mr. Watson objected to a conversation with an unknown man being tendered as evidence. The difficult}', he said, was that matters of this kind were apt to go beyond the commission. Sir Francis Frazer said he did not want to shut out anything that was valuable. » "Got Away With Him" It was agreed that the members of the Court should first ascertain what witness intended saying, and witness was left with the members of th« Court for a few minutes for this purpose. On returning Sir Francis said he thought witness' general statement should be investigated. There were one or two sections of it the Court could reserve. Witness said he asked the man if the enginedriver was hurt, and the man said "Yes." The man said he was not the foreman, but was riding in the cab, and had got thrown clear. Some time afterward, in reply to witness, the man said that "she was going too fast, and got away with him." Later the man came back alongside witness and collapsed. He heard him tell other passengers what he previously had told witness. The man had suffered an arm injury. Witness did not see any more of the man. Rocking from Side to Side

Later to Mr. Aickeu, witness said the train was travelling pretty fast when he left the carriage, and a great lot faster when he returned. The train was rocking at a fast rate from side to side. He did not notice any application of the brakes before the carriage left the line. He was able to tell when a driver applied the brakes. To a further question, witness said he thought he would recognise the man he talked to. He said he did not have a cap on and had lost a shoe. He appeared to be about sft. 6in. and rather thick set. He was wearing dungarees or overalls, and appeared to have a Scottish voice. He appeared perfectly sober to witness, but excited after the accident. The man's wife and child were with him. The child was calling the man "daddy." To Mr. Watson, witness said he suffered fractured ribs and internal bruising. He had not yet made a claim against the department, but thought he should have some compensation. Application of Brakes

Further questioned, witness said it was after he left his seat that the train gained speed. It gained speed for two to three minutes. Mr. Watson: If other travellers in the train say that they felt what appeared to them to be the normal application of the brakes before the accident, what would you say to that. Witness: Thay did not appear to mo to bo applied until the train was off the line. Witness was not prepared to state definitely that the brakes were not applied. He was prepared to contradict any passengers who said the train was travelling at the ordinary slow speed. To Mr. Watson, witness said that ho was unaware that detectives and the Railway Department had been unable to trace such a man as witness had described. Mr. Watson reminded witness that he had said the man stated he had been thrown clear to the left of the cab. Counsel as a matter of comment pointed out that the engine toppled over on its left side against the bank. Man Addressed as " Mac " Witness reiterated that the man told him he was riding in the cab. This was as a result of witness' inquiries about the driver and the fireman of the engine. The man was the only one he saw in dungarees, and lie thought he should have been easily distinguishable to the police and railway officials. Mr. Watson: Can you offer any explanation as to wliv the police and railway officials did not see nini? Witness: 1 can't offer any reason why they didn't. Witness said he heard the man addressed as "Mac." .Mr. Watson: Did he go on for two hours with one shoe on helping to extricate passengers: Witness: Yes. as far as I can see. Mr. Watson asked that, as the question of speed had been raised, certain witnesses whom he named be called. These passengers had made definite statements that the speed was not excessive. and bad given reasons in support flf that view. Sir Francis Frazer said that arrangements could be made for them to be called.