A FEARFUL SMASH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13966, 26 July 1909, Page 3

A FEARFUL SMASH.

QUEENSLAND MAIL TRAIN WRECKED. TWO KILLED: 11 INJURED. By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. BRISBANE, July 25. The mail tram from Roma met with a ti rrible fate 170 miles lrom Brisbane yestcrdaj . The train was rushing over ii small* bridge when the bridge collapsed, wrecking the engine and three carnages. A mail man named Reeves anil a commercial traveller named .Mackie were killed outiight aud eleven injured. There are but meagre details. The bridge was under repair «t the time it collapsed. Luckily it was a low structure, tho overturned carriage dropping only five feet. The engine rvmaiucd on the line. Several chains of the permanent way were torn up. A special tram with doctors aboard was quickly on the scene. There were eighteen injured, the majority slightly. The most serious are Souter, Morgan, G. Lassou, Scanlon, Nagen and Thorn. They are suffering either from broken arms or severe bruises and shock. MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. (Roceived July 26, 10.10 a.m.) BRISBANE. July 25. The cause of the accident has not been solved. Investigation shows that the carriage following the engine left the rails three chains before reaching the biidge. The engine and tender crossed saiely, but the carriages toppled over. The driver showed great presence of mind in pulling up smartly. The overturned carriages and the bridge were completely wrecked. Eighty passengers were aboard the train. They included members of Her Majesty's moving theatre, whose property came in useful for rescuing imprisoned passengers and accommodating wounded. Reeves ' and Mackie were killed by being partly projected through the windows and then dragged along. Many miraculous escapes are reported. A man and a little girl wen» thrown through one of the windows and escaped uninjured. Several persons had to be- chopped! from among the debris and others hauled through the windows. The injured are doing well. —— —^— — — — — — — —