ENGLISHMEN DEAD IN TRAIN WRECK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 10

ENGLISHMEN DEAD IN TRAIN WRECK.

WELL-KNOWN BREEDER AND TWO ASSISTANTS. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, May 1. Captain William Richard Lidington, a well-known breeder of bloodstock, of Thame, Oxon, and two of his assistants at the stud farm there —Mr Garnett Bull and Mr 11. Endersley—were killed in the Canadian goods train disaster in Northern Ontario on Tuesday, which was reported in yesterday’s “Daily Chronicle.” Early accounts said two rail way men and four cattlemen had been killed. Later messages made it clear that the train involved was that in which Captain Lidington was conveying forty of his horses for delivery to Canadian patrons. The engine and several horse boxes left the rails and capsized, and all the horses were killed. Reuter’s Toronto correspondent yesterday wired:— An official statement issued by the Canadian Railways regarding the disaster to a goods train fifty-six miles west of Hornepay-ne, in Northern Ontaria, yesterday, give the number of killed as seven. It includes among those killed the names of two Englishmen—Mr Garnett Bull, from Thame, and Mr 11. Endersley. It was later ascertained that one of the persons killed was Captain Lidington, from England, who was in charge of cars containing forty racehorses. which he had brought out from England for purchasers in Winnipeg and Vancouver. All the horses but two were killed when the cars were overturned. A Central News message says the train was derailed by a “washout,” and the engine and fifteen cars plunged down a fortyd'oot embankment. Stocked Prince’s Ranch. Both Captain William Richard Lklington and his father. Major B. W. Lidington, held commissions in the Royal Marines during the \var, the former being mentioned in dispatches in November, 3£flß. Together they Established a stud farm at Thame, Oxon, and within a comparatively short period had built up a considerable business. When the Prince of Wales acquired his ranch at Alberta, the bloodstock was supplied by Captain Lidington and exported under his personal supervision. A few years ago he himself owned a ranch in Canada. With his father, Mr Garnett Bull, an amateur jockey, who acted as trainer at the farm, and Mr Herbert Henry Endersley', a groom in their employ-, Captain Lidington left London on March 26 in the s.s. Minnewaske with a consignment of thoroughbreds, many of which had been purchased at the Newmarket bloodstock sales. Among them, the “Daily Chronicle” understands. was the racehorse Dinkie, which created a sensation in 1924 by* winning the Royal Hunt Cup at 50 to 1, beating the King’s horse, Weathervane. Aged seven, Dinkie won several races of minor importance. When greatly fancied for the Liverpool Spring Cup in 1925 he broke down half a furlong from the winning post and finished second. Captain Lidington bought him privately last month. Three foals were born after the departure of the consignment, purchasers for which had been found in Canada. The party' arrived in New York on April 4 and proceeded by' rail to Ottawa. whence they entered on the last phase of their journey which has ended so disastrously. Relatives, Captain Lidington, who was twentyeight, leaves a young widow and a boy aged two. Mr Bull was travelling to Canada to take up an appointment which Captain Lidington had secured for him; he was married, with a son aged four, and lived at East Street, Thame. Mr Endersley, who lived at Maklop House; was also married. News of the disaster has cast a gloom over the village, where the dead men were well known. “Captain • Dick Lidington was verypopular." said a resident, “and will be greatly missed.” The family formerly owned the Spreadeagle Hotel. Relatives are very anxious as to the

fate of Major Lidington. “We have heard nothing from him as yet,” said one to a “Daily Chronicle” representative last night,, “and we have no details of the disaster beyond those we have seen published. After the partyreached New York Captain Lidington wrote to his wife, informing her of their safe arrival; but that is the only communication so far received. “The stud farm was very successful, and during the spring and summer season Captain Lidington usually made about three trips across the Atlantic with thoroughbreds. He has sold hundreds of horses in America and Canada. Major Lidingtort accompanied him on each occasion, principally for the pleasure of the trip.” The Central News says that Major Lidington is lying seriously' ill in hospital at Ottawa, and news of the disaster has not been broken to him.