SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF, THE PATIENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13393, 29 May 1914, Page 3

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF, THE PATIENTS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Satisfactory progress was reported tonight m regard to aU the passengers who were injured m the railway disaster at Whangamarino. . The nervous shock caused by their terrible experience m the wrecked sleeping car was modified for some hours by their excitement, but the four passengers who suffered most had all developed symptoms of severe shock to-day. Xhose who escaped physical injury were also virtually prostrated. > The condition of Mr Goldingham was slightly improved. He was able to sleep for about three hours during the night, but -he is suffering from severe nervous shock, and will be confined to his bed for some time. HU phyaieM injuries include a deep wound below the left eye and extensive bruises on the shoulders. . Satisfactory ■ progress is being made by Mr John Swinsori, of Wellington, who i& a patient m the Waikato hos*\ pital. His right thigh is fractured.) Mr Swinson had a fairly good night. Mr H. A. Fox, of Wellington, is a patient m the Mount Pleasant hdspital. He is suffering from shock and bruises, and had one too dislocated. To-night he was reported to be progressing favor. akty* . ... . , , » The physical injuries received by Mr H. G. Mackay, of Melbourne, were not serious. . ■ The* porter who was m charge at Whangamarino, William Donaldson, was m the city' to-day, carrying his frac tured arm m a sling. He is suffering also from very general bruising, as he was thTown off the points lever as though from a catapult. The collection and disposal of the wreckage was continued to-day. The main line had been cleared on Wednesday afternoon, but the siding will not be available for use before to-mqrrow * A^ul^estimate of the damage to rollitur stock was made to-day. The locomotive of the express tram remained

on its side m the swampy land on th» ' eastern side of the embankment just as it fell. An examination showed that only a few steam pipes have been, broken, and when these and some minor damage have been repaired, the engine will be available for use again. Eight waggons of the goods trains were destroyed by the collision. There were two cattle and four sheep waggons, one covered goods van and one open goods truck. All of these will have to be rebuilt, as only various parts are of any practical value. .Repairs will be required m the. ease of several other waggons. .The sleeper car and postal van will also require reconstruction, as both the under- frame and bodies were greatly damaged by telescoping. Both vehicles have been repaired, so that they can be hauled to the repair shop. Twenty-four men were employed at Whangamarino to-day, the Huntly correspondent of the New Zealand Herald telegraphs, m clearing away the wreckage. All that is useful m the way of wheels, iron, and other material is being loaded into trucks to be removed to the Newmarket railway workshops, while the woodwork that was shattered beyond further usefulness is being burned. The direction of the work was undertaken by the chief mechanical engineer (Mr H. H. Jackson), who arrived m Auckland from Wellington by the lirst express train and returned to Whangamarino by the noon train. The difficult' operation of restoring the overturned locomotive to the line will be undertaken on Sunday, as the railway will then be clear of traffic. The powerful plant required to lift it will be assembled m position on Friday and Saturday-