THE SALISBURY RAILWAY DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8202, 4 August 1906, Page 7

THE SALISBURY RAILWAY DISASTER.

Driving over the Londou South Western railway, an express oarrying 43 of the steamer New York's passengera from Plymouth to London plunged from the track just after passing the station at Salisbury at 1.57 o'clock on the morning of July Ist, and mangled to death in its -wreckage 23 passengers, who sailed from I>iw York on June 23rd, and four of the train men. Besides those to whom death came speedily, a dozen pas9engerd were injured, some of them seriously. Ihe late hour •of the New York's arrival at Plymouth saved many lives. She oarried more than 60 travellers for London, but many of them elected to travel on 'comfortably to Southampton in preference to the late lauding in Plymouth and the long night ride across the country. If the New York had made a faster passage the sombre roster of the dead aod injured would have been larger. The big American line steamer reached Plymouth at :9.45 p.m. on Saturday, and half an hour later ther* was a tender alongI side to receive the passenger for 'England. Several who had-planned to debark, and had packed their baggage, decided at the last moment to remain aboard. It was a fateful decision, though not dictated by any fear. The train ran on safely and without incident until it entered the long railway yard at Salisbury, when the passengers noted that the coaches began {swaying from side to side. Suddenly at the end of the long platform, when the track began to curve towards the bridge spanning Fisherton Street, the miin avenue of the city, the engine seeni6d i fairly to leap from the traok. It swung across the adjoining traok with i terrific force, and destroyed the guard's van of a milk train that was slowly steaming in the opposite direction, killing a guard. The bridge withstood the impact, and, rebounding, the engine crashed into another engine which was standing on a siding and overturned. The wreckage of the two engines interlocked in a great broken mass of twisted steel and iron. Throughout the wild plunging of the engine the driver, whether- alive or dead, remained in bis cabiD. afterwards his oharred body wdl found lying over the firebox. The first coach shot over the engine aud careered onward until it was hurled againßt the parapet of ithe bridge, and smashed into fragments, killing or maiming almost every oocupant. One was was shot through the window, cleared the parapet, and fell to his death in the str et below. The second coaoh lurohed forward and rolled [towards a stationary train, and practically destroyed ?tseif before its wild flight was ended. The third coach dashed forward with the rest, left the rails, and encountered som« obstructions, overturned, and collapsed. The guard's van and buffet, the rearmost car of the train, was saved Ly, the courage -and quickness of Riohardson, the #uard. With the first shook Ricbtdson jumped forward and set the jorakes, and saved himself and comrades. The van ploughed forward, injuring some of its occupants, but practically maintained its equilibrium. The surviving passengers and trainsmen describe the sound of the wreck as like tbe discharge of heavy guns of varied calibre, and when the crashing of the wreck was past there came calls for help, some shrieking with pain and fear and others moaning, as if bewildered by the shock. Belief came quickly, although it was an hour before the last body was dragged from the wreck. The police, attracted by the noise," sent surgeons and ambulances. The railway yard quickly filled with police, dootore, nurses, trainmen, and volunteers. The darkness and incredible destruction made the work of rescue exceedingly difficult. Lamps and torches were brought to light the desolate saene. The station was converted into a surgery and the platform was made a mortuary. Several of the dead and injured were imprisoned in compartments, and it was necessary to saw away the partitions in order to effect their release. Others were the heavy wreckage. Several of the bodies were badly mangled, aud one woman was decapitated. The relatives of Walter Barwick, who went to Salisbury on July Ist upon learning of the accident, and who returned to London that night, say the scene at Salisbury upon their arrival there was one of indescribable confusion. Their greatest difficulty was in identifying the dead, as the bodies bad been frightfully mangled. Berwick's body was scarcely recognisable, being covered with wounds. "I have been accustomed," said Sir George Straohan, of Boston, who, with his aunt, Mrs J. H. Whitton, was on the wrecked special, "on the broad-guage railway lines uf America to speedy travelling, and know what is a good speed, but it>eemed as we sped along last night that the Old Country could go us one better after all. I cannot reniurabar having b6en carried along at °auch a rate before. The vibration was very noticeable. I remarked that it be good rolling stock and a first rate permanent way that could stand the strain. Just then the smash came. Mrs Whitton and I we in a corner of the carriage, aDd then the cai went over and we were'penned in quite a long time. Through the window which was above us we saw the reflection of the flame, and feared the carriage was afire, and we were cornered, but as wo waited relief came." The death of Frederick B. Cossitt, of New York, was perhaps the tnosl pathetic feature of the disaster. Be and his bride , who is the daughter of former judge, Mr Dugro, of New York, were on their wedding tour, and after visiting the principal points of interest in Europe expected to return to New York in October. Thoy travelled in company with friends, who, on the arrival of the New York at Plymouth, did their best to persuade the,young couplt not to leave the ship at suoh a late hour, but to proceed to Soutbamp tan. Cossitt insisted on landing.