ACCIDENT AT KAIWARRA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1627, 7 March 1884, Page 2

ACCIDENT AT KAIWARRA.

A terrible accident, which will probajbly be attended with fatal results, occurred at Kaiwnrra on Wednesday afternoon, The unfortunate victim was an elderly man named Thomas Madigan, keeper of the ICaiwarra toll-gate. From what we have been able to learn of the casualty, it appears that at about ten minutes past 5 yest«rday afternoon, Madigan went out on the railway line to empty a rat-trap, and stood, after having done so, a few inches from the outer rail, Just at that time, the 5.5 up train to the Hntt appeared, and Madigan was several times cautioned by a warning whistle to get off the line. Unfortunately, however, Madigan, under the impression that he was quite safe, did not move, but stood still quite unconcernedly. The enginedriver was, of course, quite unable to stop the train, or even to reduce its speed, and the consequence was that the cowcatcher struck Madigon with terrible force, throwing him a considerable distance in the air, and the unfortunate man fell on the gravel below, head downwards, at a distance of fully, six feet from the place where he had stood, His'appearance at that time is said-to ha've'been terrible, He lay in a huddled heap, to all appearance dead j;in fact, when picked up his breathing' wps so slight as to bo scarcely perceptible. Several men employed near the spot at once conveyed him into the tollhouse, and Mr Cameron,- who happened to be pas-sing at the time, despatched a man to town for medical' aid. Dr Grace, upon whom the messenger called, immediately sat out for the scene of the accident, and it is worthy of note that, in less than a quarter of an hour after the despatch of tlie messenger, the doctor had arrived at Kaiwarra and was ministering to the sufierer. The medical examination showed that Madigan was in a terrible state, His thigh bone down to the knee joint was literally crushed'to a pulp; his temple was one mass of bruises and gashes, and both eyes were blacked and badly cut. In addition to these lie lias received very -bad abdominal injuries, and the shock, of course, would be very great, Having"sustained such serious internal and external injuries it can hardly be anticipated that Madiqan will recover, and it is said that he has J made every preparation, in view of his hurts resulting fatally. He is a married man, but lias no children, and he has borne for many years the very best of characters. It is stated, as a remarkable coincidence, that Madigan's brother met his death some years ago in England from a similar cause. Mr Charles Glover informs us that the unfortunate man, Mr Madigan, died at about 9 o'clock last nieht,— N.Z. Times. '