HARROWING SIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 13

HARROWING SIGHT

SCENE OF THE WRECK RESIDENTS HELPLESS NEWS AT CANBEKBA PARLIAMENT ADJOUK N'S (Receded October 25, 9.54 p.m.) » MELBOURNE. Oct. 25 The air liner Kyeema crashed at about 1.45 p.m., 200 yards from the residence of Mr. Eric Singleton, who heard the machine overhead but it was totally obscured by the io g. Almost immediately afterward Mr. Bingleton heard the noise oi the crash and an explosion. He and his wife ran to the scene, where a heartrending sight confronted them. Another resident, Mr. Reginald Lyons, was soon on the spot, but neither he nor Mr. Singleton could render the slightest aid to the occupants of the burning air liner. The four people who had been hurled from the machine obviously were dead.

lur. Jjyons iosx, 110 unie in buiiuuuulug the police, doctors and ambulances. The Kyeema cost £30,000 and was licensed to carry 15 passengers. She Was to have been transferred to tlie Brisbane-Tow nsville air service shortly and a new Douglas D.C.2, at present being assembled, was to have replaced her on tho Adelaide-Mel bourne-Sydney run. The pilot, Captain Webb, was aged 31. He was in the Royal Australian Air Force nine years and for three years was with Australian National Airways. The first officer, Mr. Steen, was formerly instructor to the Aero Club at Esserlflon. Miss Elva Jones, the air hostess, was aged 25. She lived at Toorak. The news of the accident caused a painful sensation in legal and political circles in the Eastern States. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, informed the House of Representatives at Canberra to-day of the tragic news and announced a State funeral for Mr. Hawker and the adjournment of Parliament until next Wednesday.