LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN TASMANIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7113, 10 July 1886, Page 3

LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN TASMANIA.

LIST OP KILLED AND INJURED. A serious railway accident happened on June 29th on tho main line in Tußmania. Hitherto the line has been free from accidents. This is somewhat remarkable, becauso it is well known that the line is one of tho worst in Australasia, and was practically condemned boforo it waa brought into oporation. The loss of life is not groat, but a number of. persons have been injured. Amongst these are one or two Ministers of the Crown, and several civic dignitaries. The accident was caused through the train being taken too rapidly round one of tho curves. Tho train was an excursion one, and it had on board several Cabinet Ministers who were rej turning from an official ceremony in which ; they had taken part. In that colony, it j appears, trains which convey members of the Government when on duty are usually run considerably faster than the ordinary express trains ; and the excessive speed at which the Tasmanian train was run, was due to the fact that the driver was desirous o£ returning the ministers to their homes as rapidly as possible. The Sydney Morning Herald gays : — Travellers upon our railways have frequently noticed that some of the sharp curves are taken by the trains at the same speed that is run on the straight portions of the lines. This is a dangerous practice, and if it ia persisted in it may bo predicted with confidence that it will some day end in trouble. Recently we have had several railway accidents, nearly all of which have been caused by negligence; and these, together with the accident that has occurred in Tasmania, are warnings which Bhould not be ignored. The public are naturally impatient of slow travelling on the railways, but thoy would prefer slow travelling with an assurance of safety to rapid travelling with the risk of accidents. LIST OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. The following is a complete list of those on the train at time of the accident, and the particulars of the accident : — Hon. J. S. Doods, who received a severe shaking, and was badly cut about the head, went to the hospital and had his wounds dressed by Dr. Perkins, He afterwards proceeded home, accompanied by several friends, and will probably be unable to attend to public business for some days. Hon. W. H. Burgess was seriously hurt on one of his arms and his back and legs. | He had to be carried from the railway carriage to the cab, which conveyed him to his residence at Battery Point. He seemed to be in great pain while being carried across the platform. C. H. Grant, slightly scratched. Alderman Hiddlestone, injured ahoulder, bruises about the body. Alderman Crouch, injured collar-bone and hip ; unable to move. Alderman Harbottle, internal injuries and cut head. Remains in the hospital in a dangerous condition. F. H. Wiße, ribs broken, scalded face, injuries to arm and back. Taken to his residence, where he remains in a critical state. : F. A. Packer, slight scratches and bruises. , W. Cundy, uninjured. W. Binns, Falmouth, internal injuries, rather severe; spitting blood ; lying at the hospital. J. M'Donald, Falmouth, dangerously injured internally, but the extent unknown. A. Crisp, not hurt. John Bradshaw, driver, killed. Joseph Rogers, guard, slight injuries on face and back; left leg severed judt above tbe ankle . Alderman Boxn l^ unhurt. Hon. Dr. Agaew, serious shaking, injury to head, and ribs broken. Was at hospital, and taken to his residence by Dr. Smart. H. H. Gill, unhurt. J. F. Beattie, uninjured. Rev. J. W. Simmons, stunned from wound in head, which bled a good deal; otherwise seriously shaken. C. J. Fox, Tasmanian Mail, splinter through ear and wound on temple, not serious. F. J. Moore, Daily Telegraph, bruised on leg; will be practically disabled for some days. George El wards, Mercury, unhurt. J. Johnson, Mercury, slightly crushed and shaken. J. G. C. Davies, bruised about the ribß and back, not severely. H. R. Nicholls, Mercury, severely shaken and bruised. A. St. Leger, uninjured. H. Bryce, guard, uninjured. Father Welsh, uninjured. Alderman W. Belbin, injury to log, requiring assistance to walk. Alderman Amott, uninjured.