RAILWAY DISASTER

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12252, 25 September 1925, Page 4

RAILWAY DISASTER

PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL HOW THEY ARE FARING BOARD OF INQUIRY Per Press Association. HASTINGS, September 24. The condition of the patients in hospital who were injured in the railway accident is as follows -.—Mrs Begley and Messrs Murdoch Campbell, Alfred Hook, Harold McKenzie, and J. Craig, condition continues satisfactory ; Air Sam Marshall, still a serious case; Messrs A. M. Patterson and A. C. Moore, improving; Mesdames l’utter, Cross, and Kerrigan, and Messrs Knight, Jones, and \\ alker, all doing well. TRAFFIC RESUMED The line was cleared at 6.30 a.m. today, - and normal traffic has been resumed. Tire first train got through this morning. board~appoFnted INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE. The Prime Minister and Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coates) announced yesterday that the following gentlemen have been appointed the Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances connected with the disaster'to the Napier express on Tuesday: Mr Vv. G. Riddell, senior magistrate, Wellington. Mr J. Marchbanks, General Manager and Chief Engineer, Wellington Harbour Board. Mr W. D. Hunt, company manager, Wellington. The - board will commence its sittings immediately. Mr Riddell will be chairman.

AROUND THE WRECKAGE

SIDELIGHTS ON THE ACCIDENT

MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. The following sidelights on the accident are taken from the extended report of the Napier '‘Telegraph” : The first car next to the engine was a second-class smoker, and it was tilted from the track, with its right-hand wheels in the air. The forward compartment had smashed into the engine and the back end had been shorn off by the other cars 1.3 they passed. Though the floor was intact the sides and ceiling 'were in splinters. and broken, panelling sagged above the wreckage of seats and fittings. One bv one the injured were brought out. Many of them were injured surprisingly little, considering the chaotic nature of the wreckage. Tho last man brought out was unhurt. He was buned in the extreme end of the car, next to the engine tender. Another man was imprisoned on his feet by wreckage. A sliver of sharp timber had penetrated his clothing but had not broken the skin. Another inch or two, and it would have killed him. But he was bleediug freely from a wound on the face. BENEATH THE WHEELS Beneath the upturned wheels of this carriage huddled on the shingle of the track, the first -escuers found Miss Begley. . How she got there is a mystery. * Evidently some trick of the rapidly moving elements hurled her from the train. She was terribly injured, and from the first there was no hope for her. From the carriages that had run on past the engine other injured, several with broken limbs, were taken. Mr Iggulden was one of these. One of bis arms had wrenched off v and it was Pen at once that be had little chance of survival. Those on the right hand side of these cars had in general escaped unhurt. But those across the corridor had been 6lung in all directions by the impact as the cars hit, first the overturned smoker, and next the wheels of the engine.

FIRST AID MEASURES The services of a doctor travelling on the train, and of Nurse H. Badger, of the Napier Hospital, proved preciOU&. With a pocket ricile, while a Napier business man held her leg, the doctor amputated Miss Bagley’s pulped leg. Miss Badger, with a similar instrument, took off Iggulden’s arm, which was almost severed, and stopped the flow of blobd. The splints and bandages carried on the train were found woefully inadequate. Splints were improvised from broken timbers, u nd railway towels, nnd women’s + orn-up linen, were among the materials used as bandages. Mr Arthur Allen, of A. Allen and Co.. Wellington, merchants, was one nf tho more fortunate passengers. He was in the Ongarie smash on July Htli. 1023. and escaped injury. He -offered a great deal of shock, however, and had not patronised a train again till he left Wellington on the morning of the accident. “NO SLACKERS” On all sides the assistance was willingly and splendidly given and as Se."gennt-Mnior O’Leary, of Hastings, remarked. “There were no slackers. Each man did bis bit and the wav people passing in motor-cars offered thoir cars as temporary ambulances was magnificent.” All tho helpers and the injured passengers. too, paid a. tribute to the work of the Maoris from nearbv sett'ements, who entered into the work of succour with the same energy displayed by their nakeba brethren. Undoubtedly the escape of manv as miraculous. One passenger vlio was in the midst of +he worst of the smash was hurled through the carriage he was in, right into the next ono which was so badly telescoped and the wonder of it is that r-rrept for a few scratches and a great •bock be has nothing to show the arrow escape lie underwent. Another passenger was sent through a window and ended up in a bole - birb was mud and water filled. He [•resented rather a humorous sight when bo emerged from the bole, but for him the position was as serious as for the others, even though be '■'—•tied with onlv a few wrstebrs and <■ 'id-dir-kint:.