Further Details.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7444, 27 April 1903, Page 2

Further Details.

{Special From Our Cross Creek Corrcs pondent.)

The horse, the cause of the disaster, • it seems, was not straying on the fine in ; the usual sense, but was in the act of . passing at the ordinary road crossing. The engine appears to have pushed the animal along to the cattle-stop; where, as its legs went through the open-work, 1 it immediately became an obstruction, and caused the engine to capsize, two or [ threo trucks immediately following being : derailed, and tho whole forming a sort of semi-circle across tho line. Fortunately, several railway men belonging ' to Cross Creek were in the van, | among them being one of the 1 engine-drivers; and, they being uniu- ', jured, immediately went to the assistance of the disabled driver and fireman. The former had been hurled into the adjoin- ; ing ditch, receiving a terrible shock; but \ the fireman lay under tho front of the , engine, aud, a steam pipe having burst, ' he was shockingly scalded. It was difficult at first to get at tho unfortunate man, owing to tho escaping steam which enveloped everything and defied the rescuers. Presently, however the men (guided by another driver who was among tho passengers in the van, and whose technical knowledge enabled him to render invaluable assist--1 ance) reached tho sufferer and withdrew him from tho steam. Dr. I)earner had, in the meantime, been summoued to the scene, and ho made such provisional arrangements for the comfort of the injured men as wore possible at the moment. At the same time, by means of the portablo telephone, tho officials at Cross Creek were notified of the occurrence, and a special train was at once got in readiness to convey the victims of tho accident to Masterton. A number of men also proceeded to the scene to commence the work of clearing the line. Word was then sent to headquarters, and early on Sunday morning a-special train came up from Pctone, conveying several officials and a gang of men from the fitting-shops, with cranes, jacks, and other necessary implements for the removal of the disabled railway stock from the lino. The injured driver and iteai. fireman were most reliable and efficient, and tho wholo affair was simply an unavoidable accident. The promptitude with which all hands came to the re.cuo afforded a good illustration of the excellent material and organisation prevailing iv the railway service. It is a matter for thankfulness that the accident did not happon to a crowded train. The news received gf tfio death of fireman Fee. in Alastcrton, caused extreme sorrow in tho community. A number of people went out from hero on Sunday to look at the wreckage. Tho engine was turned completely round, the front being towards Featherston. The gang of men working under direction of tho various foremen soon had tho lino clear. The damaged engine will ba taken to Petone. In the courso of conversation with a foreman' fitter, I learned that iv the upset one of the steampipes was broken, tho cock at tho end of it was torn off and some glass tubing smashed, causing the steam to escape with great violence, The deceased fireman seems to have uZCII pinned under this pipe, which was discharging furiously upon him. It is be- ; lieved that at tho moment of tho final : collapse, 'the cngino was being slowed > down. i The most intense indignation is ex- ! pressed here c.t a difficulty experienced ' by the rescuers in obtaining from a ' licensed house a supply of blankets for the injured men. Fortunately, the , I'tatiomuaster at Featherston was about, J and ho and his assistants promptly ( brought a full supply. Tho delay or un- t willingness in the other case, however, ( ] may form the subject of enquiry, as it i

has already been the subject of veryjife dignant comment. Tho sad affair 1 Wa cast a great gloom over the community here, and tbe deepest sorrow is expressed on all hands. The exertions of the men engaged throughout have been marvellous, and great credit is accorded, particularly to tho gang who happened to be travelling in tho van when the accident occurred.