THE DEVONSHIRE RAILWAY TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 27

THE DEVONSHIRE RAILWAY TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON TEN NEW ZEALANDERS. "ACCIDENTAL DEATH." TEN HOURS WITHOUT FOOD. (From Our Own Correspondent / LONDON; October 5. At the inquest at Bere Ferrers on 10 men of the New Zealand Force who had been killed as the result of an accident on the line, it was stated thai breakfast had been served- at 6 a.m., the men were entrained at 1.30 p.m., the train left at 3 p.m., and sortie food was to be served at the first stopping 1 place, presumably Exoier. The train came to a standstill at Bere Ferrers at 3.52£; certain men at once got out—but on to the line and not on to the platform; at 3.53 an express passed on the line where the men, were, and the consequence was disaster. Mr Robinson RoddT coroner for Devon, conducted the inquiry, and the Rev. J. Sharpe was foreman of the jury. Private A. G-. Porteous gave the time of breakfasting and entraining, and was informed that rations would be served at the first stop. The Coroner: Did they tell you where the first stop would be?—No, sir. The train left Plymouth about 3 p.m., and another train was ahead of it. The train in which he and the deceased were travelling was pulled up at Bere Ferrers station. Two men had previously been instructed to leave ihe carriage at the first stopping place to have some food', and Jackson (No. 55753) and West immediately got out of the compartment in which witness was seated. OBEYING ORDERS.

The Coroner: Would that be the correct way of carrying out the order?—Yes, eir. They obeyed the order they received. Would not some futher command be given on the train stopping, or would it be expected) of the men immediately to get out without any further order? —As I understood the order, two men were to go back to the guard's van and get the food at the first stop. Why do ycu think these two men selected the wrong side of the carriage to get out rather than the platform side? —That was the side they entrained. They could see it was not the platform in getting down. Do you think it was thoughtlessness? —Before we got to the stopping place those two men arranged), to get out, and they were sitting next to the door. It must have been thoughtlessness. If they wero exposing themselves to danger in getting on the permanent way, they, really would have got out on the platform. Were there many others getting down on this side? —I don't know, sir. There must have been if there were so many killed. Mv R v B. Johns (representing the London and South-western Railway Company) explained that the train was one of 16 coaches, and was too long for the platform. The men got out of compartments which were not near the platform. The Coroner: That would not prevent men getting out on the right side. How long after the men left the carriage did the express come through the station? —About a quarter of a minute. So there was no time for anyone to warn them?—l don't think so. I heard a whistle go, and that was all.

THE RATIONS ORDER.

Sergeant S. R. Deacon said the order he received was that one or two men were to be detailed to hold themselves in readiness to get out of the train at the first stopping place for the purpose of obtaining food for the remainder of the men in the carriage. Was that a final order, or was there to be a further order? —So far as I know there were no further orders. You gave an order, and how would you expect ft to be obeyed? Without any further order? —The quartermaster was to see about that, and he went and told the men that they were not to get out of the train until further called upon. Was there any complaint among the men about not being provided with food?—I think they were asking when they were going to be fed. You are not so easily pacified os our men are. Was there a general complaint that they were not. getting their food? —I don't remember, sir.. An Officer: I have, never heard a .New Zealander complain. He has always taken it as a matter of course.

The Coroner: We may take it they were hungry. Witness: They probably were, if Ihey felt as I hf-.ve felt. The Foreman of the Jury: From whom did you get your order?—Captain Cushen. General Fulton pointed cut that no iaan had the right to get cut of the carriage until an order was given.

The Coroner agree a that the rnon got out on their own responsibih'y.

NO TIME FOR WARNING. Asked if the men were informed that they were to be fed at the first stop, Captain J. A. Cuohen said the first stop was not. mentioned ; Exeter was named.

That, was to have* been the first stop. Do you agree that the express was so quickly on the spot that there was no time to warn the men ? —They had no right to be out. I know; but being out or not, there was no time to warn them?—No.' The signalman at Bere Ferrera said the train reached the station T.t and the express passed through at 3.53. The Coroner: So that the train had hardiy stopped before the express went through?— The train had hardly stopped. The driver of the express was whistling before this train stopped. OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS. Major C. B. Colliugs, who entrained the men, said the instructions he gave to the officer in command were to issue the rations at Exeter, telling off a man to draw them. The military authorities did not in any way depend upon the generosity of the people of Exeter, who provided the men with' a bun and a cup of tea. Ample rations were drawn Charles H. Thome, fireman on the express, said that when approaching Bere Ferrers station he saw a train on the up road. It was only 30 or 40 yards distant. The Coroner: Did yc-u notice men on the line?—When we entered the station I noticed men on the line. Mr Johns: What did you do?—I aaldi to my mate: "Whoa! there are men or. the line." The Coroner: But it was too late to pull up?—Yes, sir. Mr Johns: What was your speed at the time?—l should say 35 miles an hour. Do you think the soldiers heard. the whistle? —They seemed to, and they made a scuffle to get out of the way. The train was pulled up in 300 yards. The Coroner, in summing up, remarked that it was clear the deceased men left the train without orders and got on to the permanent way. In so doing they exposed themselves to danger, notwithstanding the fact that the signals were giving warning of the approach of a train, which turned out to bo an express.

The foreman of the jury, in announcing a. verdict of " accidental death," said he was glad the question of feeding these men had been dealt with, for it wa« -well to know the facts. He was also pleased that no blame couleS possibly attach to the local railway officials. Th» people, of Bere Ferrers sinoerely regretted the fatality, and they d:d the only thing that lay in their power by holding' a memorial service in the two churches in the parish. Mr Johns said the directors of tn« railway company deeply deplored the occurrence, which was the more regrettable because the men had come from across the sea. The Board of Trade was not represented at the inquiry.