THE BERE FERRERS TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1917, Page 6

THE BERE FERRERS TRAGEDY

m , EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST, London, (?ct. 8, When Hie twenty-eighth Xcw reiiitorccineiiU were on their way from Plymouth to Salisbury Plain a distressing accident' occurred at the "tsniali .station of Bere Eerrers, not far from Tavistock. The train had stopped at the station to allow, an express to pass, and a number of spjdiera, not knowing that the express was .due, jumped out of the carriages on the wrong side, on to the permanent way. At that moment t.ie express came along and dashed into them, killing nine outright and injuring three, of whom one died a few hour* later at Tavistock Hospital. ( The funeral of the victims took place at the Corporation cemetery at Egg' Buck, near the Stoke Military Hospital/ at Plymouth, and was one of the most impressive events witnessed there during the war. Thousands of persons gathered in the vicinity,/and at the.«emeteiy the crowd was so dense that the gate* had to 1)0 closed. Each man was buried in a separate grave, and there were three religious ceremonies; four of the victim* belonged to the Church of England, four to the Presbyterian Church, and two to the Roman Catholic Church. On the plate of each coffin were engraved the. name of the man, his regimental number and the date of his death. Over eaeh grave three volleys were fired, followed by the sounding of the "J.ast Post" bv buglers of the Devons. Evidence was given at the inquest, conducted by Mr. Robinson Keid, coroner lor Devon, that breakfast had been served to the men at 0 a.m., they were entrained at 1.30 p.m., tho train left at « p.m., and some food was to be served at the first stopping place, presumably Exeter. The accident occurred a few' minutes beforj 4 p.m. ' > Private A. (I. Porteous gave evidence Hi-it the men were informed that rations would be served at the first stop. The Coroner: Did they tell you where' the first stop Would be?—Xo, sir. Two men had been instructed to leave the carriage at the first stopping place, to get some food, and Jackson and West got out of the compartment in which witness was seated, immediately the train pulled up. . ( Mr. P. It. Johns, representing the London and Sonth-AVcstcrn Pailwav Com-i pany. explained that the train was one 1 of IS coachos. and was too long for the' platform. The men got ont of compartments which were not near the platform. i

The Coroner! That would not'prevent men getting out on the right sidei Sergeant'S. E, Doaeon said the order lie received was that on* or two men were to bo detailed to hiold themselves in readiness to pefe out of the train at th» first stopping place for tne purpose of obtaining food for the remainder of tha men in the carriage," ■■•■ Was that a final order, or was there to he a further order?—So far a.* I know thorp were no further orders.

Was there.any comprint among th« men ahont. not boih provided with food?—T think they weri> : '"ksfcing when tliey were going to be fed.' ■ ' Tlie Coroner: We; mar take it ther were lmnpry? '■-."•

, Witness* They probablr were, if they felt as I have felt. '••-•■

General Tl. T. Fulton, commanding the \*.Z. Infantry -Reserve «ronp, said that' no men had the rfeht jo -get out of the carriage. . : ■. i----'. \ Asked if (lie men were Informed that, they were to he fed..** the -first stop, Captain J. A. Cusheri' said the -first stop was not mentioned; Exeter -was named. The signalman at. ~Md;-Ferrers said the train had hardly stopped' when the express went through. The driver of the express was whistling 'More this train stopped. I Major C. 11. Collings, who cntrainedl the men, said the instructions he gave! to th? officer in command- wero to issue the rations at Exeter, telling off a man' to draw them.: ....

Charles 11. Thome, fireman on the express, said that when approaching Bcre Ferrer* station he saw a-train on the iip-road. Tt was only !W yards or 40 yards distant. He noticed-men o'n the line and told the driver.

The Cormier: Tint it was too late to pull up?— Yes, sir.

Mr. Johns: What was-vtmrspeed'afc the time?—l should say' 35 miles an hour. Ho you think the poldiers heard the whistle?— They seemed to, and they made a scuffle to get out of the wav.' The train was pulled up in 300 yards." The coroner,, in summing up, remarked that it was clear tlio men left the train without order* and got on to the per-, mnnent way. In ro doing they exposed' themselves to danger, notwithstanding the fact that tin- signals were giving warning of the approach of a train. The foreman of the jury, the Rev. .T. Rharpe, in announcing a verdict of accidental death, said he was glad the question of feeding the m»n had been dealt with, for it was well to know the facts. The people of Here Ferrers sincerely regretted tho fatality, and they did' the only thing that lav in their 'power 'by holding a memorial service in the two churches in the parish. Mr. Johnson said the directors of the railway company deeply deplored the occurrence, which was the more regrettable because (he men had come from across the sea.