THE MACHAVIE DISASTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2515, 28 May 1902, Page 28

THE MACHAVIE DISASTER

The Southland Times has received from Mr Brebner, stationmaster, the following interesting account of the railway collision at Machavie, in the Transvaal, in which many members of the Eighth New Zealand Contingent were killed or injured, written by his son, Lieutenant O. W. Brebner, now serving with General W. Kitchener's column in South Africa : —

On the morning of the 12th I went over to the New Zealand lines to see some of the Otago. and Southland boys, but learned that they had not arrived. I then went down to the station to meet them, when I was told that a- collision had occurred between Machavie and Potchefstroom, where a goods train had collided with the troop train bringing the New Zealanders. A light engine was just leaving, taking the railway inspector to the scene of the disaster, and he kindly allowed me to accompany him. The ride of about 20 miles was not very pleasant, sitting on the water ta<ak with steam and smoke blowing over me. We did not stop until we reached Macha\ie, the station where the fatal mistake was made. It appears that the acting-stationmaster, a young and inexperienced man, confused the numbers of

his trains, doubtless through the extra rush of traffic. A goods train from Klerksdorp to Johannesburg was to cross both troop trains at Machavie. One of the troop trains had arrived, and the stationmaster, mistaking a ration train which was standing in tho yard for the other troop train, despatched the " goods "' before the second train had arrived. He soon after discovered his mistake and telephoned to the next blockhouse to try to stop the goods, but was too late to avert the catastrophe. When the drivers of the approaching trains saw each other, they applied the brakes, but it was too late, and they dashed into each - other at a speed of from 12 to 15 miles an; hour. The first truck, containing troopers, was smashed to pieces ; the .next, containing15 men, turned completely over, and landed right side up several yards away, with only one man slighly hurt. The wu>. truck mounted the first, and the fourth, containing; horses, was thrown, sideways upon the first, and, strange to say, not a single horse was seriously injured. The horses in the next trucks were not so fortunate, nine being killed. Corporal Hunter, of Invercargill, was in the second waggon which, turned over, and had a wonderful escape. As soon, as he pulled himself together he mounted a .horse and rode to Potchefstroom for assistance. As he passed the blockhouses he was mistaken for a Boer and was fired on, but escaped unhurt-, and succeeded in getting an ambulance* train to come out. As soon, as possible the dead were separated from the injured, and some dreadful sights were seen. Nine were killed outright and four died: shortly afterwards, while 13 were injured.. One poor fellow prayed to his comrades to; shoot him, as he was suffering so much. The injured were taken to Potchefsfcroom. Hospital, and tho dead were placed in blankets and taken on to Klerksdorp. The accident occurred at 8 a.m., and) it was S p.m. before the line was cleared. I returned to klerksdorp with the first train .to get through, reaching there at 2 a.m. next day. When the stationmaster found what had; j happened he tnied to shoot himself, but was I prevented from doing so and placed under I arrest. The funeral was a most impressive sight. First came the firing paTty, with reversed arms, the band following, playing a funeral march; then the 13 bodies, each, carried on a stretcher by four of their comj rades, and covered with nags and wreaths.' I Then followed men from the various regij ment?. On reaching the cemete-ry the burial' j service was read by the Now Zealand chapI Jain in presence of several thousand soldiera I and civilian?. Tho last post was then sounded on the side-drums, the whole battalion stand--ing at '■ the present." The regiments them marched off to their respective units, leaving a fow still lingering by the graves of their late comrades. THE DEATH ROLL. Tho War Office returns shows that tha deaths from all causes from the beginning o| the year to the end o? March r-w^^red 21,536, distributed as f " — ' >.• .<>.'* awl ;ven« Killed in act-..-. ?'J2 ... 5.1!'Died of wounds ]T6 ... 1,77- ■ Died of sickness 313 ... 12.405 Died in captivity 5 ... 9" Accidentally killed ... 24 ... 613 Invalids sent homo who . have died 7 ... 478 ' 1.827 20,509 Total, 21.536. An Auckland message stales that tha Auckland section of the Sixth Contingent was welcomed by the Mayor and a large "number of friends at the railway station. . At Government House the Governor welcomed the troopers, and congratulated them, on their safe return. ' ! A hearty reception awaited the returnee! troopers W. Mitchell (Balclutha) and M'Kinley (Owaka) when they arrived in Balclutha on the 19fch. The local band turned out, and after the official " welcome home " tha troopers and their friends were ariven to tho residence of Mr and Mrs G. F. Mit» chcll, where they were further entertained. An Invercargill telegram states that tha Southland members of the Sixth Contingent came home in vory bad weather, but ai considerable number of citizens and friends, together with the Battalion Band, were present to welcome them. They were briefly addressed by the Mayor, and the band played into town, but of 12 troopera only two followed, the rest having been taken possession of by friends. | A Wellington telegram states that the Secretary of Education lias received a cablegram from Albany from Miss 'Webb, who isf in charge of tho teachers now en route for' South Africa concentration camps, earing;) " Splendid passage ; all well." Mr Albert Evans lias received a wire from the Acting-Premier to the effect that hia. son, Trooper Fred. Evans, of the Seventh I New Zealand Contingent, is lying danger- ! ouslv ill with enteric at Vrybarg. Lieutenant R. Wilkinson, brother of Mr> J. Wilkinson, of this city, recently cabled that he was leaving South Africa with the Seventh Contingent on the 22nd inst., and would arrive here about the middle of June.

A meeting of the General Committee of fclie Society for the Promotion of Bibla Teaching in State Schools was held on the 21st, and attended by ministers of Anglocan and Protestant denominations. It was resolved that the society should be composed of both ministers and laymen, and that laymen should be eligible for election on the Executive Committee ; that each congregation be invited to elect one layman to eervs on the General Committee. Sunday, 15tlt June, was appointed a day on which all ministers should bring the objects of the* society before the congregations. It waa decided that public meetings should be hekl in all centres of population to advance tha objects of the society.