FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 30

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A FIREMAN NAMED EDWARD SERPLESS KILLED.

A fireman named Edward Serpless, alxnrfl 22 years of age. whose parents reside aft Glenore, on the Lawrence line, met with a painfully sudden death on Thursday evening as he was travelling between Clinton and Balclutha. From particulars of the occurence, it appears that as the 655 p.m. goeds train from Clinton was crossing the Kaihiku bridge Serpless either fell or was knocked off the engine, and was killed instantaneously. At the time of the accident the engine-okiver (A. Noble) was occupied in looking out at the sid© of the engine, and it was not until the train had proceeded over 100 yards that the absence of the fireman was noted. The train wa» then brought to a standstill, and slowly backed along the line to the vicinity of the bridge, where the guard (P. Games) found? the body of the fireman hanging over a. beam near the centre of the bridge. Life was quite extinct, and an examination! showed that the back of the skull had been? smashed in. How the awident occurred is not known, but it is 6upposed that Serpiess was either leaning out of the train* and looking badk, and his head thus camein contact with one of the uprights of the bridge, or that he fell off and sustained the injuries during the fall, or when he landed on the bridge. Deceased's father ia a surfaceman on the line, and the unfortunate young fellow only recently took up the duties of fireman. The body was placed on board the train and conveyed to Balclutha.

An inquest was held at Balclutha on, Saturday morning. After' evidence had been Taken tbo jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame attaching to anyone.