MAIN TRUNK SMASH

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15657, 8 November 1918, Page 7

MAIN TRUNK SMASH

TWO PEOPLE KILLED, FIFTEEN INJURED SOME SERIOUS CASES. HALF THE EXPRESS WRECKED. (By Our Special Reporter.) TAIHAPE, November 8. A most serious accident occurred to the Main Trunk express at 2.30 a.m. to-day, when she ran Into a big slip on the line about two miles north of Mataroa and about seven miles from Taihape. Two men were killed, seven seriously injured, and there were also some 15 or 17 walking cases, bruised and cut about the face and head. The six stretcher cases were pretty serious. One man lost both feet, and another a leg. It is impossible at the time of writing to procure the names of the seriously/injured. The names of the two men killed were Martin and Williams, both of Auckland, and employed in the postal van, in front of the express. STORY OF ACCIDENT. It was raining heavily, and had Been all night. The express was travelling at a tair rate of speed when suddenly and without warning t*he whole side of the hill gave way, and came crashing down. The engine driver promptly applied the brakes but could not hold up t*he train which dashed into the falling earth. Immediately there was a roar like an explosion, and the passengers were thrown about violently in all directions.

There was a mortuary van next the engine, containing the body of the en-gine-driver (Mr Tait), who died of influenza at Ohakune. This acted as a buffer for the impact of the rest of the train. Thefo is nothing left of the mortuary van but the coffin, untouched, Travelling behind the van was the postal car. This has been smashed to matchwood. A second-class smoker which was following, came clean through it, and the death of the postal officials must have been instantaneous. They Were terribly mangled when found. The fourth car, another second-class one, was also telescoped. The forepart of -the engine has left the rails’ but has otherwise sustained little or no damage. Both engine driver and firemen were unhurt. To give some idea of the smash, some of the ironwork and wheels bodies and axles were smashed like wood. Tile forepart of the train is one indescribable mass of confusiop. It is a miracle that there were not more killed. SOME MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. The express was full of passengers, who behaved splendidly ,especially the women and children, and Guard Glasgow assisted by several men passengers (who immediately organised gangs of who immediate! yorganised gangs of helpers, and the wounded were got out as expeditiouly as possible. There were some frightful sights, but the injured bore their injuries with fortitude. A sergeant-major some returned soldiers, and others, including a Mrs May, rendered first aid, whilst three passengers set out to Mataroa to communicate with Taihape. The railway authorities hot# at the latter place and Ohakune acted with commendable promptitude,

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Per United Press TAIHAPE, November 8. The accident occurred at 6.20. The exact situation is nine miles and a half north of Mataroa. The enginedriver and fireman were unhurt. The injured have been brought to Taihape. One mail agent was terribly injured, and was found dead on top of the tele-i-copod mail van. Another mail agent was thrown among the wheels horribly crushed. An'elderly man who had his left thigh broken and right foot a’most severed, died on the way to Taihapo. When he was told by the doctor that lie could not live he imperturbably replied: “Give mo a cigarette, doctor” and with the lighted cigarette he passed away. Among the seriously’ injured were aevera.l who had broken limbs and ribs. One has injured lungs. There are five serious cases and many minor case.i. XI . - ’jewing telegram in reference to the rail .vay accident has been received by the Post Office •—■“ The postmaster at Mataroa. reports at 9.18 o’clock this morning that the Main Trunk express ran into a slip north of here. The postal van was smashed to pieces and correspondence strewn over the ground. Both postal agents are dead. The mail .service is seriously disorganised.” The postmaster at Taihapo reports that a slip occurred about 11| miles iiort.i of Mataroa. A specia,! train has left for the. slip. The postmaster at Taihape reports at 10.16: “Special train has arrived from the slip with two Auckland mail agents killed, and ono passenger died on the way to Taihape. Six others ware injured. No names are yet available.” Auckland reports at 10.10 a.m • “The mail agents who left by last night’s express which ran into a slip were— Messrs J. H, Williams and B. Martin. , 1 1 hams is a married man, Martin is single.”