RAILCAR SMASH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 8 October 1936, Page 6

RAILCAR SMASH

WAIRARAPA MISHAP LIST OF THE VICTIMS THREE HURT SERIOUSLY SCENE OF FORMER WRECK .'Fit Press Association.) WELLING TON, this day. Caught by a violent gust of wind shortly after leaving Featherston this morning, the new rail car Mamari was hurled from the rails to the side of the track. Two women passengers and a railway employee wore seriously injured by Hying glass, and several 'others received cuts and bruises. •Those seriously injured are; Miss G. Knott, aged 2G years, of Kuripuni street, Mastodon, fractured ribs and right arm. Mrs. Hume, of Short street, Masterton, fractured right arm and ribs. Mr. Iv. Colleti, New Zealand railways. Marlon, fractured ribs. Others loss seriously hart are: A. S. Ifumber, of South road, Masterton, cuts on the left leg. Miss Biela Phillips, of 103 Bcntley street. Maslei'loii. right hand middle finger injured. Mrs. A. 11. Bull, of Greytown, cuts to the face. Mrs. M. -Moss, of '2O Walton avenue, Masterton, cuts to the neck and face. Miss Medley, of Gordon street, Lausdowne. cut nose.

Most of the remainder of the passengers continued the journey to Wellington in a steam I rain. The rail car left -Masterton for Wellington at 7.50 a.m. and reached Featherston at 8,23. Three minutes later, just as the Mamari was on a straight stretch of line half a mile front I'igcon Bush, the gale, which readied a maximum velocity of over 80 miles an hour, struck the rail ear with a. particularly strong gust The point was' about 30yds from a breabwind which extends for it quarter of a mile towards Pigeon Bush. POI.H SHORN OFF Tiie front of the car narrowly missed hitting a telegraph pole which, however, Was shorn off by 'he side of the vehicle. Every window on the left hand side of the car was shattered, wdiile damage was also sustained to the undercarriage and body. The passengers were thrown about in wild confusion.

The guard, named Seager, assisted the injured and then went to ;i nearby phone. A doctor was soon on the scene. There were 24 passengers, including several children, in the railcar a.t the lime of the smash, but all remained calm throughout the trying experience. The passengers had to be extricated from the damaged car through the driver's entrance, and they were taken to Featherstou by ears.

The driver of the railcar. V. Schroder, suffered a few cuts from flying glass when his compartment struck an iron pole. The scene .of the accident is iiear the spot, where a steam train with several carriages was blown off the rails some years ago.

Mr. G. 11. Mackley, the general manager of railways, considers it a- great tribute to the construction of the enr that it sustained so little real damage.

Mr. Q. T. Wilson, tiro transportation superintendent, was also on the scene. The injured were conveyed to Dr. Sharp's private hospital at Featherston, whence those least injured were returned to their homes.

The gale was still raging to-day at Foatherston. though conditions were calm at Carterton.