FOUR LIVES LOST

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 451, 3 January 1934, Page 5

FOUR LIVES LOST

SEVERE FOGS IN ENGLAND PROLONGED NEW YEAR Press Association. —Copyright. London, Jan. 1. New Year's Day in half of England proved a prolonged New Year's .Night owing to one ot the most serious and most widespread fogs in recent memory. Four lives were lost in accidents and a thousand motorists lost their way. In some districts cars were obliged to move in convoys. Air services to and from the Continent of Europe were cancelled, except one machine from Paris, which landed at Lympne. Home-going business people in London were delayed in some cases for hours owing to the reduced traffic facilities. Flares were used to direct traffic hi some London streets, the occupants of cars often dismounting and walking ahead to show the way. There were many minor railway and road accidents. A number of handbag snatchers easily escaped in the fog.

An electric train on the Midland line left the rails between Chalk Farm and Euston, telescoping two coaches. Twenty were injured. The first known of the accident was a sudden crash, followed by a blinding flash from the line. Rescuers without lights to guide them carried the injured from the wrecked cars. Men and women were shouting and screaming. The driver, seriously injured, was found under the wreckage. At Hyde Park Corner, the busiest spot in London, the electric traffic signals could not be seen and carbide flares were substituted. Bus traffic was practically brought to a standstill in many suburbs, and in others buses were guided by pedestrians with flares and torches.

A man with a white handkerchief pinned to his back led a long column of traffic in Highgate.