THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT MATAMAU.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIX, 9 May 1896, Page 519

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT MATAMAU.

ANOTHER chapter was very nearly added to the history of New Zealand disasters on the 15th of last month, when the special sports train from Danevirke to Napier was thrown off the line by collision with some cattle which had strayed on to the track. At the time of the accident there were a considerable number of passengers on the train, many of them having just spent the day at the Danevirke Caledonian sports. When the first news of the mishap reached Napier grave fears were entertained for the safety of the travellers, but later information showed that most fortunately there was no loss of life. We are indebted to the Napier Evening News for our account of the accident. It appears that ‘ a quarter of a mile south of Matamau, when the train was moving at about 20 miles an hour, the engine run into a bullock (which suddenly made its appearance on the line), cutting the beast in two. Two other animals met a similar fate, and the engine left the rails, followed by four empty trucks which separated it from the passenger carriages. At the time of the accident darkness was setting in. As the engine left the line it fell some twelve feet on to a ledge below and then turned completely over. The driver (G. G. Flynn) and Fireman Hood had a miraculous escape. They remained on the engine and were covered with coal from the tender. Had they fallen from the engine they would certainly have been killed, and it was by sheer good luck they escaped the live coals from the engine fire. Four out of seven trucks, which were attached to the train by the Danevirke station-master, were smashed splinters, and their presence certainly saved the passenger carriages. The concussion was not felt badly by the passengers, but a number endangered their limbs by jumping from the train before the engine pulled up. The 1.35 train from Napier which should have passed thedo wn train at Ormond ville pulled up at the scene of the accident and. transhipping her own passengers to a train sent to Matamau from Danevirke, took the Northern passengers aboard and returned with them to Napier and intermediate stations. Guard Stone was left in charge of the derailed train, which completely blocked the traffic. A gang of workmen was despatched from Makotuku to clear away the debris.'