FATAL ACCIDENT AT ABBOTSFORD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11956, 1 February 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ABBOTSFORD.

A lad eight years of age, named William Graham, son of Mr John Graham, of Abbots-' ford, met his death on January 10 by being run over by a passing train. He was, with his brothers and sonic other boys, bathing at Abbotsford, and had got on to the viaduct over which the train parses. A strong wind lvas blowing at the time, and none of the boys appears to have heard the whistle of the approaching engine. Some of them, however, saw the train approaching, and called out to (iraham, but the boy appeared to become paralysed, and was unable to move. The driver of the engine rounded the whistle, and both'lie and the guard applied the braken. They wero unable, however, to pull up the train in so short a distance, and the eiißine knocked the boy down and passed over him. The train went on to Abbotsford, and some persons wero despatched to tlio rcene of the accident. When picked up the boy was quite dead, one log being nearly severed from the body, while his head was crushed very badly. THE INQUEST. An inquest touching the death of William. Goodrich Graham, aged 8 years, who was killed on the railway line near Abbotsford on Saturday afternoon, was held at Abbotsford on January 21, before Jlr C. C. Graham, S.M., and a jury of six, of whom Mr Lindsay Miller was chosm foreman. John Graham, labourer, residing at Abbotsford, gave evidence thnt deceased was his son, and was aged eight years and one month. Donald Graham, brother of tile deceased, said that the latter came down with some other boys to tile creel; under the railway bridge near Abbotsford to see some boys, bathing. He afterwards left to go to a picnic. Ho crossed over the line, and witness did not see him any more. Five minutes after a train came along the line. Witness heard no whistle; the wind was blowing pretty hard across the rails at the time. The train may have whistled. Witness did not know that an accident occurrcd till he and a boy named Ensor went across the bridge. They then saw marks of Wood, and a little further on they found the body. Jjife was quite extinct. Edwin Knsor, about 13 years of age, stated thnt hi" was with Donald Graham 011 Saturday last, lie heard the evidence the latter had given. It was quite correct. There was nothing else he could add. He did not hear the whistle blow. Thero was a strong wind blowing at the time. Henry Berry, platelayer, said that he saw the little boy coming up the hank 011 the south side of the bridge. Ho got 011 to the centre of tlio line, and walked along the plank on the centre of the bridge. When ho reached tlio middle of the bridge he stopped to look down into the river. He then retraced his steps, and lingered about on the bridge. All this timo witness knew that a train was due, and tried to attract his attention. Witness was too far off, and could not get him to notice his signals. The boy sat down in the middle of the bridge, and witness commenced to run to him. Hie smoke of the approaching engine could then be discerned. When witness was 300 yards away the train came round the curve, and witness knew it was a hopeless case. The deceased appeared to notice the train when it got near tho bridge. Ho got up on 011 c knee, and then lay flat on his face. The train then passed over him. To Constable Leece: Tho grade leading to the viaduct was 1 in 50. A person on the bridge could not see a train approaching down the grade till it got round the curve, 184 yards away. Witness had seized every opportunity of warning boys to keop oft the liue and this bridge. The driver of the train did his utmost to pull the train up. It was a fine piece of workmanship to bring it up in the space he did. It was a heavy goods train. Henry Banks, engine-driver, said he was in charge of the engine of the train in question. It was due in Abbotsford station from the south at 3.52 p.m. Witness first saw the boy on the bridgo-when the train rounded (he last curve. The boy was on his hands and knees. Witness immediately whistled for brakes, and applied his own, which was a Westinghouse brake. The train was brought up within 300 and 400 yards, but too late to save tho boy. Tho other brakes were put 011 when ho whistled. Witness had 29 heavily loaded waggons on and a van. They came down the hill about 12 miles an hour. To Constable Leece: The boy appeared confused, and made no effort at all to get off the bridge. He could have got off if he had tried. Dr Will, residing at Green Island, gave evidence as to the nature of the injuries. He saw the body at 10 minutes to B o'clock on the same afternoon. Life was quite extinct. The principal injury and the cause of death was that the top of the skull was completely removed. Death was instantaneous. Witness thought that tho water should he emptied out of the

dam. It wag of no use to anyone, and it -was only an inducement to boys to trespass on tho line to get to tlie pool of water. A verdict of "Accidental death; no blame attachable to anybody" was returned.