RAILWAY COLLISION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1581, 14 May 1887, Page 3

RAILWAY COLLISION.

Mhlboubnb, May 12 The 4.50 p.m. express from Melbourne to Brighton collided oa Wednesday night with the preoeding train between Prahran and Windior stations, at a short diitanoe from the latter. Five persons were killed and over fitiy injured. The killed were: -The driver and »Sokor of fcbe expras (Frederick Muskell »Bd James MoNub) and three pmsengers, Williami, a printer, the wife of Dr Foster, tfocth Yarra, and Mr Partes, superintendent ■t the Bank of Auitralaiia (who had both his logs broken,and died while under amputation) The following passengers were also seriouily injured s—William Lemariere, laoeration of iLe brain, condition hopeless; William Turner, St. Kilda, paralysis, condition hopeleis; William Cosmo, Newberry, fracture of the collarbone and injury to spine ; Brown, Government Geologist, South Australia, shaking and severe scaly wound. Thecauße of the accident was that the first train was disabled by an aooidont to the Weitinghouie brake. The express following got the signal "all right" from Prahan. Oa turning a sharp curve on entering Windsor they saw the lights of thej first train. The impact of the two trains was tremendous The engine of the expreis was smashed to atoms and the driver and fireman killed instantaneously. Intense exoitement prevailed in town when the news of the accident became known, ai the train whioh leaves Flinders street at 5.40 is always filled with business men living in the suburbs. Later. There is little further to add to the railway aooidentthan is already telegraphed. The passengers who were killed and injured were all in the rear of the first train. The passengers in the express escaped without injury. Among the latter were Meeirs Green and Speight, Bailway Commissioners, who were in the foremost van. The driver and stoker of the express were both burned to death. It has not yet been ascertained who ij responsible for the aooident, but it was found that the two trains had been admitted on one blook section. The driver who was killed had arranged to commence his annual holiday to-day. Latest. The persons injured are progressing favorably. The Herald states the number injured is 89, many of them being only slightly hurt. The official reports of the railway aooident throw little light on the subject. Generally they point to the faot tout a mistake occurred at Prahran, where the telegraph operator is a boy of 15, who had only been in the Bailway Department a fortnight. Tte guard of the first train is blamed for not going back to warn the express when he knew his own train oould not prooeed. The Board of Enquiry meet to-morrow,when alio an inquest ii to be hold on the bodias of those killed in the accident.