SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT STUART STREET CROSSING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10359, 14 May 1895, Page 7

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT STUART STREET CROSSING.

An accident of a most serious character happened on the Ith inst. at the Stuart street railway crossing a few minutes after 11 p.m. Three parsons named Daniel Mackintosh, John Hunter, and Charlotte Gnlleu bad come along from the railway station platform with the intention of turning into Stuart street to reach the city, and their attention being attracted to an engine that was shunting on the line furthest from tha bay, tbey did nob notice, fche approach of the Port Chalmers train on the line nearest the bay, which is not more than three feet from the fence, around the corner of which fchey had turned. Henderson, the shunter, who was within about fifteen yards of them, noticing them on the rails, and seeing thafc they were evidently unaware of the close proximity of the Port Chalmers train, shouted to them to look out, and it was fortunate he did so, for had ha nofcthe man Hunter aver 3 that fche whole three

would certainly have been killed. On hearing Henderson's shoufc, Hunter jumped back jusfc.ih-time to escape, seizing as he did so the shoulder of Mackintosh, who was caught by the cowcatcher of fche engine and knocked away from the line in the direction of fche bay. The injuries he sustained were of a very, painful nature. In addition to receiving a severe blow on the leg, where it is presumed the cowcatcher struck him,,his head must, in his fall, have come into violent contact with the ground—a subsequent examination showing that he had gob a fracture of the skull. The girl must apparently have got farther across the rails, for when she was picked up she* was on the opposite side from Mackintosh. She had hor left leg completely severed below the knee by the wheel of the engine. The man and woman were picked up and put into a carriage and taken to the railway, station,' where -first aid was given to the girl by n medical student named Mr . Bowie, and to the man by Shunter Henderson. Dr C.ughtrey, who had been sent for afc the outset, arrived shortly afterwards, and, haviog examined the sufferers, ordered their removal to the hospital, where they were taken—the girl in a hand ambulance and the man in a cab. , It appears from the position of the girl when she was picked up that sho must have been dragged a distance of about 30ft. When she was taken out of the carriage at the railway sbatiohahe fainted with pain, lb was not thought' afc first that Mackintosh's injuries were so severe, as he was able to stand when picked up, though he, like the girl, was in a dazed, condition; but the subsequent examination at the hospital, ss before mentioned, revealed thai; his hurts were of a very grave character. He is a man about 40 years of age,-unmarried, and is a butcher at the Burnside.Refrigerating Works.: The girl is .young,/not; being more*than'2l years.of age..' Both are progressingfayou.ably, and ifc is anfcici-; pated* they* will 'recover, notwithstanding the severity, of their injuries. ■ It;may be recollected that rather more, than<four months ago a man vfas killed just about the same spot. The hospital authorities state that there was Ano -indication- that; the injured persons were under the influence of liquor at the time. The young woman admifcs, however, that she had had three drinks during the evening. -"..' ',- ' -■'" ■' ■'■''.' ; ■"-.