AN AWFUL SMASH

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14255, 5 January 1920, Page 5

AN AWFUL SMASH

TRAM OUT OF CONTROL. i THREE MEN KILLED. TEN PERSONS INJURED. ■ (By Teleo-rpih.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The excellent record enjoyed by the tram service for a long period was broken on Saturday evening, when a car returning to the city from Lyall Bay got out of control, resulting in the death of three persons, and ten others being more or less injured. The Killed. The names of the killed are:— Joseph Small, motorman, who was driving the car. James Alfred McEwan, aged 44 years, a carpenter, who recently came from Pahiatua. James Evans, clerk at Base Records. The Injured. The names of the injured are: — J|rica Evans, daughter of Mr J. Evans, t who was killed; cuts on scalp and bruised on leg. F. E. Quayle, conductor; cut on back, contusion of left kidney, and injury to face. His condition is not considered serious. Mrs Honoria Evans, widow of Mr J. Evans, who was killed; suffering from shock. Annie Hannigan. aged 12 years. Her narent': reside in AshbUTton. Cut on back. Edna Hnigh, ag°d 12 years; cut on risrht eye, elbow, and arm; suffering from shock. R. W. Range, fire brigade man, sprained ankle, bruised. A. McSDay, Hre brigade man, sprained " ankle. Frank Neil, injuries to both knees an ! M. Howard, slight injuries. A. Wade, purser on fie Mararoa. So far as the facts can be elicited, it -™rrs thpt. fie car. containing 24 people, had just come through the 'unnel. md when ab"'it, 50 or 60 ynrds from the entrance the motorman was seen to '• ,l ' limnly forward over the , *rnnt no^'o' 1 of tin opt. Evidently he had turned off the current preparatory M going down the gradient before this nTannened, but the brakes were not applied, and as the car ran on by virtue of its own weight it gradually gathered such momentum that the handbrakes werf of io service when the conductor applied them. The first intimation the conductor had that, something was wrong was seeing the motorman's hat blow off and noticing a commotion amongst the passengers. Ow'nsr to '''•" , failure of the han'l brakes to c'-ieck the spe p d of the far. instead of stopping at the usual place on the ''."i, nn.ont. 50 vards from Brouarhtnn pf" n <jt. the car rushed on, and approaching the actual bend about ten feet from the corner, it left the rails at a tremendous pace, and, taking the tracks on an angle, smashed through the stout fence of the residence of Miss Collins, and thrust its way about Ave feet into a wooden motor shed with a tremendous impact. It then turned over on its side. A scene of indescribable confusion followed the crash of the impact, and the cries and shrieks of the imprisoned passengers could be heard for a considerable distance. Very soon assistance was forthcoming from all round the neighbourhood. /poctors were speedily on the scene, ' flfEwl every assistance was rendered the Injured. The motorman Small, was found hanging over the switches with his neck broken. Evans was not dead when lifted out, but he died on the way to the hospital. McEwan was found under the car in i a terribly mangled condition. j The motorman, who was an old and tried servant of the corporation, was supposed to be in the best of health, but the theory is that he collapsed under a heart attack, and lost control of the switches. fir :"""'- THE INQUEST. ADJOURNED TILL MONDAY NEXT. .. MOTORMAN IN GOOD HEALTH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The inquest on the bodies of the three victims of the tramway fatality was opened to-day. After formal evidence had been taken it was adjourned till Monday next. It was stated that motorman Small was in good health at the time of the accident.