SCOTCH EXPRESS WRECKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15063, 9 February 1911, Page 4

SCOTCH EXPRESS WRECKED

TERRIBLE CHRISTMAS. DISASTER.

PASSENGERS BURNED TO DEATH.

HORRORS OF IDENTIFICATION.

(FItOJI Orjli OWS L'OURESrOXDEXT.)

LONDON, December 30. The most terriblo railway disaster which lias bad to bo recorded in this country for many yoairs past occurred ccrly oil Saturday morning when the Scotch express, which loin St. Pancras Station, London, for Glasgow just before midnight, ran into two liglit engir.es which were travelling along the same lines, and was wrecked.

Tho disaster tool; place at one of the most lonely spots of the lino between Hawcfi Junction and Kirkby Stephen, and it was rendered the more appalling uy the fact that the train caught lire. At least 12 persons lost their lives, and one agency puts tho number at 20, but in most cases the identification of the bodies is impossible for nothing iromains but charred and blackened fragments. The express was' filled with Christmas travellers, and tho scenes on the lonely Westmoreland dalesido were distressing in the extreme. . THE ACCIDENT. Drawn by two powerful engines, tho doomed express reached Hawos Junction in safety, and speeding through the bleak, desolate countryside at a epeed of 65 miles an hour, had swung round tho curve a few hundred yards outsido flio station. It was then on the highest point of any railway system in the country and was bsginning the downhill run to' Carlisle.

Suddenly the fireman on tho first of tho two express engines caught tho glimmer of a red lamp on the lino a few yards ahead. "We'e in far something, Dick." ho cried, and the driver, Richard Oldcorn—who had also eeen tho light, mado a frantic offot to apply the bhakoa. Almost at the same instant the driver of tho second of two light engines on the line ahead—it was tho light on one of these engines that the fireman saw—heard the roar of the oncoming express, and with a short, oharp whistle warned the driver of the engine ahead to put on full steam. The light engines darted off at a tremendous pace, but the despairing effort had come too late, and tho express, crashing into them, carried them along the line for about 150 yards, tearing up the permanent way.

A 'terrible scene unsuod. All four engines wero overturned, and the first two carriages were telescoped. All the passengers killed travelled in the second carriage, tho firat being full of luggage and parcels, and most of them met their death by slow burning-. Tho gas in the cylinder under tho first carriage became ignitod, and tho flames spread rapidly. The crios pf the wntrappod men and women wero heartrending, and though railwayman, shepherds, and uninjured passongers worked frantically, their toil was in vain. Tho fire \va6 allowed to die, and then such fragments of bodies as could be rccovorod wero carefully removed by the searchers.

TRAGEDY OF A CHILD.

Of the many pathetic incidents of tho tragedy nothing could bo more poignant than the death of the baby daughter of Mr and Mrs James Gray, of Eastlcigh, Hampshire. Both Mr and Mrs Gray wore pinned beneath tho wreckage, but they were among the first, rescued. While Mrs Gray was being removed from the. train she cried out for heir baby, aged six months, declaring that it was* in the wrecked carriage. Her husband at once commenced a search, and at last discovered the child pinned beneath some ironwork. Mr Gray made frantic efforts to exfc-ioate the child, wheso pitiful cries wero heard by some of tho passengers, but tho flames soon enveloped that portion of the wreck, and Mr Gray had to be dragped away bv his follow paescn«ers, while Mrs Gray was carried away in a state of collapse.

PAINFUL SCENES. Tho inquest was opened on Boxing Day, and in no case were tho witnesses able to identify tho remains. A saal, a charred lettor, a golf club, and a button were about all that the sorrowing- witnesses had to guido them in coming to their mournful decisions. Mr 'Robert Highet, cf Glasgow, said ho identified a chain and a seal found on some charred remains as those of his brother, John Highet, Muswell Hill, London. Ho wc6 coming by an earliest' train, but wired to his fatter that ho would come by tho later one.

There were two Seotsmon of the name of Mackay in tho train, Donald and Hugh. So far no relatives of Hugh Mackay havo appeared, but Mr Archibald Mackay, of Gerrard's Crcas, Bucks, was asked as to tho identity of tho remains supposed to bo thoso of Donald Mackay. "If I could sec anything," he said, "I might be sure, but ns yet il see nothing." "I have something here," said tho coroner's officer, producing a portion of a charred letter. "That is quite enough for mc," said Mr Mackay, when ho had read all that was legible.and this was considered sufficient proof that Donald Mackay, _ aged 30, of Harberton, Highgatc, perished in the train.

IDENTIFIED BY GOLF CLUBS.

David M'Jexrow, town clerk at Lockerbie, sa,id he identified a picco of golf jacket on some charred remains as that of his brother, Chrictophcr M'Jerrow, chief- assistant in tho architect's department, City Hall, Westminster. Ho was certain his brother was in this train, and they were waiting for him at Lockerbie. Tho Rev. Archibald Lamont's evidence was peculiarly distressing. Ho was positive that hifi young_ son war, a passenger by tho ill-fated train, but had no proof that ho died in the disaster except that he identified a matchbox, a ciga-rcttD case, and a bunch of keys afi belonging to the lad. As they were not found on any particular remains, he could not identify any- of tho charred fragments as being those of his son.

David Mair, of Walworth, then identified tho metal fragments of somo golf clubs as belonging to his brother, who was on tho train. Mr and Mrs Riddell. of Ayr, said their son, William Bell Riddle, of Larkhall Rise, Clapham, was on the train.' They identified some keys, a box lid, and some trinkets ns belonging to him, but could not possibly identify any of tho remains.

Colonel Maxwell, of New Galloway, said a button found on one of, tho bodies bore tho name of his son's tailor. His son's name wac Archibald Basil Henry, aged 22, and he was a student member of the Institute of Civil F.ngine.irs.

John Ferguson, of Kilmarnock, said ho was expecting his brother from Swanagc. His lugage had, however, roaehod them by the train which conveyed tho 'injured passengers. There was n!«i accompanying him a man. Robert Allison, aged 50. lie was alfo missing. SIGNALMAN'S GRIEF. Signalman Sutton, of Hawes Junction, whose error caused the accident, was particularly distressed. He snirl it was his first mistake in 25 years, of which number he iiad spent 21 in that signal box.

" From 5 o'clock I had be?n engaged in clearing tho turntable at Hawes Junction. There were seven engines waiting to turn on tho table for Leeds, Hollifield, and Beaton Mersey. I suspended this work while I passed through an excursion train going north at 5.23. The two engines for Carlisle were standing on a branch line. In order to enable mo to marshal the others miickly, I put the. two Carlisle engines on the main line, 60 as to give mo more room to work the turntable, as the drivers were desirous of getting away cjuiekly; and in !he hurry of attending to the seven engine* I olean forgot all about tho two engines for Carlisle standing on the main lino waiting for me to signal them off. There was a heavy storm raging and fog about, otherwise I should hav© seen {hem, but I forgot thorn, and on receiving tho call from

* the next ecetion signalled tho Scotch express through in thu usual way. The two engine-driven, it appears, took this sigmd to bo for them, and went on. I did not hoar tho collision, and the first I knew about it was when an engine-driver camo to my cabin. I. eaid to him: ' What a'ro you doing here? Why don't you get away, /on hurry n>o and bother me, but you don't go.' 110 looked at me, and tho way ho looked mac." mo think something was wrong, and then I remembered the two engines standing on tho line waiting for me to signal them away. I rushed to tho telegraph and callod Aisgill, and asked if tho two engines for Carlisle had gone through. I was told they had. not. I then knew the worst, but it was too late." When the inquest was resumed yesterday on the 12 known victims some technical, but no less dramatic, evidence was given. The most interesting statement was that of Signalman Sutton, who frankly admitted his oversight in letting two lignt engines remain on tho down main line when the express was due. Sutton has worked for the Midland Company for 27 years, and ho bears an unstained character. He declined to attribute his lapse of memory to overwork. H<s said at 5.20 a.m. "ho passed through an express passenger excursion, and at that time two light engines were waiting to return to Carlisle. Replying to Major Pringle, who represented the Board of Trade and acted as assessor to tho coroner, Sutton said that ho subsequently moved the two engines on to the down, (toward Scotland) main'line. "My intention was to put. the light engines on tho blcck to Aisgill" (i.e., to warn the adjacent signal box to the north of their presence).

Major Pringle: Did you do it?—No, sir; I am sorry to say I did not. Two Carlisle and two Leeds engines were working from the turntable. A geeds trains then passed from Aisgill, and then another. I first heard o( tho Scotch expre-s at 5.39 from Dent (signal box to tho south), which asked, "Is the lii:o clear?" I accepted it (i.e., replied in the affirmative), and offered it to Aisgill i.|. 5.43, and they accepted it at once. I lowered tho signal to pass at 5.43.

.Major lYingfe: It had not occurred to you that tbe light engines were standing there, had it?—No, fir.

Supposing that the light engines wcro standing in the down line, what would bo the natural thing for the drivers to do when f hey taw tlit* signal showing the green light?—lt would indicate that tbev were to go on. They would naturally think that the signal was pulled for them. _ _ The lignalm'an answered unflinchingly and without a second's hesitation. Ilia candour gained the sympathy of the court. Replying to further questions, Sutton «iid ho did not hear the light engines whistle before starting off.

"WRECKED THE SCOTCH EXPRESS."

Continuing, he said the express passed at 5.47. Ho did not think there was anything wrong, and had quite forgotten the position of the two engines. A few minutes later an oiijrinedrivcr named Tempest eame to the box and asked what had boon dono with the two Carlisle engines as ho felt concerned. Witness proceeding, said: '' I remarked that I had turned them on to the down main line in order to send, them on after tho special excursion. Then I locked at tho train register, unci I found that I had r.o record of having sent them. I thought that I had sent on tho engines and had not recorded it, and so I telephoned to the signalman at Aisgilj to ask what time I put the Carlisle engines/in block,' and what time 'out of section.' He told me that he had not received a signal for the light engines." For the first time during his evidence the witness paused: " I can't say exactly what my re.r.ly was," he went on, " but I think I said ' I have wrecked the Scotch cxprees.'" Beth the coroner and tho jury cast sympathetic glances at him, Hajor Pringle: What you have told tho jury amounts to this: That the light engines were standing on the down main lino from 20 to 22 minutes. Had you nothing to remind you of their presencenothing? Sutton added that he saw no light en the line when ho signalled thcox-pro-s, neither did ho hear a whistle blow before the light engines started. There was a strong wind at tho time. NO COMPLAINT TO OVERWORK. Sutton was next questioned as 16 the amount of work he,had to do that night. He admitted that it was a busy night, but not more so, he said, than he had known, before. He enjoyed perfect health, and ho had never been reported or -reprimanded. When lie want en duty on Friday night he had perfect confidence in himself to deal with "tho work. Had ho found any difficulty he would have telephoned for assist-

ance. The accident was due to a lapse of memory while doing -ether work.

THE CLAN M'KAY.

A dramatic narrative was told co'ncorning the identification of Hush M'Kay. It war, related by Donald M'Kay, a London civil 'engineer, who is in no way related to the dead man, nor is he related to tho Donald M'Kay who was another, of the vietims. The three men. however, belong to the same clan, and mot at St. Pancras. 'I"ne civil engineer had gone to the station to see the otter Donald M'Kay off, and while waiting; the two men made the 'acquaintance of Hugh M'Kay. Hugh and Donald were in (he same compartment, And yesterday's witness noticed that_ Hugh was wearing a preen and white striped shirt. Hugh also showed his skean (a dagger worn in the- stocking with full Highland dressl. A piece of green and white shirting which had been found in tho debris alone with

a skcan was, witness thought, similar to that worn by Hugh M'Kay. '

A LADY'S ARM.

That the full extent of the death-roll is not known is proved by tho following pathetic letter sent by Lieutenant F. A. H. Russell, E.N., to the coroner:—" As a passenger travelling in the second carriage of the train damaged'at Hawes Hill on Saturday, 24th, and also as one of tho persons who got into the aforesaid carriage to render assistance, I 6hould like to point out a fact of which no mention was inado at the coroner's inquest—namely, that there was a woman imprisoned between tho two sides of' the compartment which were pressed together. Only tho arm was visible, and this was waving, with tho of attracting attention. The arm. which appeared to belong to a youthful person, was clothed in some black material such as silk or abaca. I held the hand for a few seconds, and as far as I could judsjp it was •nt a hand accustomed to hard manual labour." ' .