Second Edition A Remarkable Scene.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 30, 27 May 1914, Page 6

Second Edition A Remarkable Scene.

THE RAILWAY COLLISION.

ACCOUNTS OF THE DISASTER.

ITS STARTLING SUDDENNESS.

|Pi» Pres* Association. 1

Auckland, May 27

The passengers who have arrived at Aucklaijd state that the collision occurred without any warning. The goods train was getting off the main line at the siding, and the porter was at the points. It was almost clear when the express ran into it, the engine striking it diagonally. Two cattle trucks in the goods train were kntocked off the lines and the sheep trucks were smashed to matchwood.

The engine of the express was knocked over sideways,ebing badly smashed in front, and fell over the bank almost into a swamp.

The rear of the postal car immediately behind the engine apparently rose and ran right over the sleeper-car behind it, penetrating to within about a yard of the floor of the sleeper. The passengers were pushed by the force of the collision into a small space at the end of the sleeper. One side of the sleeper was smashed clean out. f v

The steward of the sleeper was extricated from between the roof of the postal van and the floor of the sleeper.

The smoking carriage immediately behind the postal van kept the rails uitiamaged.

MR STEVENS’ COMPANION.

Mr G‘. E". Howard, who was travelling with Mr’ Stevens, states that he saw him thrown from his berth and hurled to the floor several feet away. The sleeper came down and pinned Stevens, who was lying face downwards, to the floor. : “I awoke from my berth and heard a fearful crash,” /said Mr Howard. “I was hurled right out of the berth.. Then a shocking sight met my eyes. r The wlidle car was apparently.smashed aip. The passengers were thrown in all directions. It was impossible for me to say exactly how the accident occurred- A£l, ,1. know was' ■ that. the smash came without warning.”

THE FORTUNAE REAR.

SIGNALS AT CLEAR FOR THE EXPRESS. Passengers iit the rear of the train were scarcely aware that anything had happened until the express came to a standstill. It is stated that the signals at Whangamarino flag station, which is in charge of a tablet porter, were clear for the Wellington train. As the express was flying by, the lights of a locomotive were seen on the siding. Two short blasts on the whistle were sounded as the signal for imminent danger. The urgent signal was from the engine drawing the 400 tons goods train, which had left Auckland at midnight bound for Waikato. The brakes were applied, but the goods train had not quite cleared the main line;, in fact, Porter, Dpnaldson was sitting, pn thei leyer keeping the points open. Nothing could avert Collision, and the express' dashed into the trucks still on the line, and the engine, after travelling some distance, was thrown over into a creek with several of the freight-train trucks on top of it. The mail van took the impact of the rest of the express train. The sleeping car, which was next the. mail van, was telescoped for more than two thirds of its length. The main van evidently had a cant upward and struck the sleeper in a slanting direction. How the three mail men— Bristol, Scott and Clark, of .Auckland, escaped is a miracle. When they heard the urgent danger signal they ran to the forward end of the van. This saved their lives.

The confining of the smash to the sleeping car can only be attributed to the immediate application of the brakes and the fact that the mail van struck a glancing blow. The driver and fireman were thrown clear. ' Porter Donaldson, who stuck to his lever, had his arm broken. No naked lights were taken near the sleeper until time had been given for all the illuminating gas to escape. The Unlucky Thirteen, There were thirteen men in the sleeper and, no ladies. Revised List of Killed. Mr Orton Stevens, general manager New Zealand National Mutual Life. Mr Cuthbert F. Petersen, of Melbourne, representing James McKenzie Proprietary, Limited. Seriously Injured. John Swinson, of Wellington, manager of Chandler Co., Broken thigh and injuries to head. Geo. Grimshaw, Native Lands Department, Wellington, grave internal injuries and injuries to head. Tablet Porter Donaldson, broken arm. H. A. Fox, accountant, Wellington, scratches and bruises. Mr Goldingham, Palmerston North, scratches and bruises. H. Scott arid W. J. Hill, of Auckland, bruised foot. G. E. Howard, Wellington, cut on the head. H. 6. Mackay, Melbourne, inspector Commercial Bank, Australia, severe shock.