THE BEAUFORT DISASTER.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12769, 10 February 1910, Page 3

THE BEAUFORT DISASTER.

A DEFECTIVE BRAKE. STATEMENT BY GRONN. [Pbess Association— Copyright.] "Melbourne, Feb 9. Gronn, tho survivor from the railway collision, states that ho found a leak in the brake of his tram before he set out from Ballarat. A fitter patched up the hole with spun yarn, but it was not effective, He tried to get repairs at various points, but several stations were not furnished with proper appliances. When he reached Ararat he reported the state of the engine but as there was no other available lie had to go on. At Stawell the fitter had not sufficient material to j complete repairs. Gronn had taken the train back to Ballarat. He consulted with Coward, and asked him, though contrary to regulations, to take charge of the train from Coward's engine, owing to the defective condition of Gronn' s engines. After leaving Ararat the defect in the brake increased, and his engine was practically with i o brake. On reaching Beaufort the hrnals were all right, but approaching the station the train got out of ontrol and dashed into the dead end.