DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR WELLINGTON.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 3, Issue 210, 15 September 1880, Page 2

DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR WELLINGTON.

Information was received m Wellington on Saturday shortly before noon of a most dreadful railway accident on the Wellington-Grey town. line. The train left Grey town for Wellington at 8.30 on Saturday morning, and reached Cross Creek without mishap. Here one of the Fell engines was put on to push tho train up the incline. All went well until reaching a poiut about half way up the incline named Siberia, when it was found that a stormy' N.W. gale was blowing accompanied by terrific gusts. The two pas--euger carriages and the luggage-van were blown o-f the line and hurled over the precipice with a fearful crash. The couplings gave way and liberated the falling train, or the engine aud breakvan must have followed down the embankment. The engine driver and stoker rendered what assistance they could to the unfortunate passengers, while the guard returned to Cross Creek to obtain a-distance. Telegrams were immediately sent to- Wellington, when Mr Ashcroft, the station master, with commendable promptitude, made arrangements for a special train to proceed to tho scene of the disaster. A special accordingly left Wellington at noon, taking Drs. Gilloo, Diver, Tripe, and Kesteven. The special train returned from the

railway accident late on Saturday night. From the account received by it, it appear* . that the train to which ilte accident occurred left Featherston as usual in the morning with tv*o carriages coupl d in front of the undine, and two loaded goods waggons and a break van behind it. Tho train reached half way up the Rimutaka line safely, but immediately after gainiug the deep cutting, a terrific gust caught the first carriage, containing first ami secondI class pus-sangers, and threw it over the embankment. The secoud carriage followed, and the weight of the two drew the van over. Fortunately, the coupling of the carriages and van held, and this prevented the train from going to tho bottom of the embankment, which is stated to be nearly 200 ft. iu depth. luimedlately the accident was noticed, the break van in the rear of the train was run dowu the incline by its own momentum to Cross Creek for assistance. Almost instantaneously after the first carriage left the line, its bo«iy was carried away from the bed and literally smashed, the passengers being thrown to the bottom among the debris. It was at first feared that the whole of the passengers, about fifteen iu number, were killed. Assistance being at hund, the work of rescuing the passengers was commenced. In the"second carriage, which had been thrown over on its aide, it was found that out of twelve occupants, oue lad named Quinn, aged three years, the son of a publican, at Grey town, was killed, and it is supposed through suffocation. The other passengers, some of whom were rather severely injured, were got out of the wrecked carriage as soon as possible, and placed ia safety. Among those who were thrown from the first carriage. Miss Ida Pharazyn, aged II years, daughter of Mr C. Pharazyn, the wellknown station holder at Featherston, was killed instantaneously. It is thought, as she bore no marks of injury, that her neck

was broken. A lad named Nicholas, aged seven years, was also killed, he having the back part of his head torn uway and the brain exposed. The remaining passengers were more or less injured. Those not seriously injured were deing all in. their power to alleviate the sufferings of the others. The injured were removed on the line, where a train was waiting to briug them on *o Kaitoke. About an hour after this medical assistance from Wellington arrived, and the wounds of the injured were attended to, after whi.b three—two named Hare and Jackson, and one a man unknown—were sent to the Grey town Hospital, their injuries being more serious thun. those of the others. The rest came on to Wellington. The force of the wind may be imagined when, it is statod that the two loaded waggons in the rear of the engine were capsized, but fortunately not thrown over the embankment. The line was clear again at a late hour in the night. Those killed are—Miss Ida Pharazyn,. aged 11 ; Master John Quinn, aged 3; Master Nicholas, aged 7. The injured, as far as ascertained, are—Mr Phillips, dislocated- wrist and internal injuries;. Mesdames Hodge and Quinn, slightly bruised ; Miss Pharazyn, injured about the head, but not seriously ; M’Kenzie (a drover), left shoulder dislocated, right hand injured, besides injuries to head ; James Crouch, badly cut on the head and legs ; Mr Q'liun (puolican art Greytown)-, bruised about tho body ; Walter Dunn, is said to havo two or three ribs broken ; Madden (blacksmith), bruised about the head ; Mr Hare (runholder, Mast<-rton), large wound on tho forehead, and it is feared erysipelas will set in ; Mr Jackson, (saddler, Grcytown), concussion of the spine and partly paralysed ; a man, name unknown, and Mr Donald of Featnerston, severely injured about the head ; A. Blucksley (clerk, of Wellington) cor tmoos about the head and hips ; Mr Riddick (of Feu therston), injured about the head, but not seriously ; Mr li&ckson (of Wellington), injured about tbe shoulder, but not seriously ; Mrs Pye, aged 60, besides being shaken, internally injured ; four of Mr Quinn’s children slightly injured. The s port that the Hon/ Mi* Rollestoo’s dangliter had been killed by the accident is incorrect, as site was not in the train. Bishop, a carpenter, was one of those injured iu the railway accident, having hia ear cut off and his head badly bruised.. Mr Lawson, the Commissioner of railways, held a private enquiry iuto thoaccideut on Sunday for the purpose of submitting a report to the Minister of Public Works. It is understood that Mr Lawson bus issued instructions that when there is auy wind blowing at ail, trains going up the incline must have an engiuo in front and one behind. Young Nicholls, who was injured in the train, was delirious on Sunday night, and. it is doubtful if he will recover. Jackson is still in- a critical condition. The inquest oo the bodies of Ido. Pharazyn, John Nicholas, and John Quinn, who were killed in tho railway accident on Saturday, W'as; commenced on Monday, at Featherston, before Dr Spratt, coroner. Ylt 11. Bunny, M.H.R., was chosen foreman of the jury. The early portion of tho day was occupied with the medical evidence as to the cause of death. The jury haviug viewed the bodies, were taken to the eccno of the disaster by special train from Featherston, and on their return, the inquiry was adjourned to enable the jnrors to attend the funeral of Mr C. Pharazyn’s daughter and Master Nicholls There was a very large number of sympathisers present from all parts of the province. On the inquest resuming, Mr Quinn, hotelkeeper, stated that he was a passenger in the triiin, with his wife and five children. He noticed nothing particular until the truiu had reached about three chains from tbe second tunnel, i'here was then gTavel blown against the side of the carriage from the front. He noticed the two firat carriages leave the rails, and be was then thrown dowu inside the carriage, which was thrown over about 50 feet down thfr embankment. The carriage was on its side. Iu his opinion the wind was not tho cause of the accident on this occasion. He had frequently experienced a heavier > wind. In reply to the foreman, Mr Quinn p* ;ted that he attributed the disaeftf to the carriages not being properly and averred that he saw them uncoupled, though on that point he was very undoe'd.jd. lie added that he was tokl by * man named Montgomery that there were two new hands on the engine, that they had a bottle -of brandy from Featherston, and that the driver aDd tbe fireman were the worse for liquor. Montgomery will be subpoenaed tomorrow, and examined as to Mr Quinn’s statement. Tb© inquest was then adjourned.