EXPRESSES COLLIDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19156, 26 April 1924, Page 9

EXPRESSES COLLIDE

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY

21 BODIES RECOVERED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. - BERNE, April 24. Two express trains collided on the 6t. Gothard line near Bellinzona. Une waggon burst into llames. So far 21 bodies have been recovered. A number were badly charred. It is stgted that a majority of the victims were German tourists bound for Italy. A whole Berlin family, consisting oi lather, mother, and three children, were among those killed. Both trains had two locomotives. It is alleged that the driver of cue ot the expresses failed to obey the signal at the entrance to the Bellinzona station A later message, giving fuller deta’ls, says that the St. Gothard express, which was drawn by two locomotives, was descending the mountain towards Italy when it crashed full speed into an express coming slowly from Italy. The driver ot the Italian train apparently neglected the warning signal, but the details may never be 'known as lie and seven other drivers " and firemen are all dead.. The St. Gothard express was little damaged except the engines, but four coaches ot the other train were smashed to* fragments and immediately burst into flames, owing to the explosion of the gas tanks. The passengers were asleep. The, bodies in the first couch were completely carbonised in a few minutes. The flames spread to the second coach before it was possible to attempt to rescue the victims pinned' under the debris. Apart from the dead many will have to undergo amputations. •—Reuter. HERR HELFFERICH’S DEATH. BERNE, April 24. (Received April 25, at 5.5 p.m.) - Herr Helffer.ch, the Burgomaster ot Mumchwelen (who, it was reported in a message fiom tSpeyer, had been assassinated by an unknown man in a motor-rari was among the victims of the disaster. His mother was also killed.—Reuter.