Terrible Tram Accident.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue I, 2 January 1904, Page 48

Terrible Tram Accident.

JWO ( AR** IN COLLISION. THREE PAsMCNGKK* KILLED. MANY INH'REI). A ira incur accident <>!’ a terrible description occurred near Kingsland. Auckland, on Christinas Eve. in which three people were killed, and a large number possibly a hundred—received injuries more or less severe. The cans in piestion were No. 39. a double decker, in charge of Frederick Humphrey, mot or man. of .lervois-road, I'on son by t and Cuthbert (‘arson and Hans I lan -<-n. conductors, and a combination ear in charge of Ernest. Thompuwa, motor!.tan. of Codrington-street, Arch Hill, and Colin Stichbury, conductor. Tlir double decker wax going up Eden Terrace, and passed into a loop to await another car. The ciirren! wax shut oft' and the brake applied. The brake, how ever, refused to net. and the ear began to go back. Kinding the. car unmanageable the niotorinan called to the conductor to apply the rear brakes anil ran himself to the back of the ear. but the brake failed to stop the ear. which gathered an awful speed down the incline. The car was almost full of passengers on both decks. Soon the trolley pole doubled back and loft rhe wire, and frequently as it. struck against a cross wire or some other obstacle it lashed down with great force, striking the passengers sitting near. Some, with walking sticks, tried to steady ii or guide it on io the wire, but did not succeed. A great fear then appears to have possessed the passengers, and some cried out aloud. As the car rounded a bend near George-street another car was seen to be coming up from Kingsland. not more than 100 yards away. The <loublo-d'‘cker was almost in darknss, as only the oil lamps were burning. The motorman on the second car had barvlx time to reverse the current, when, with a deafening crash, the two cars telescoped. Several passengers were hurled down from the lop deck. Others, struck oy the swinging trolley pole, lay insensible. Several had jumped from the ear during its mad career before, the impact. When all was over it was found that the combination car had penetrated the double decker quarter of its length, crushing the passengers in an awful manner. Children were passionately thrust •through the windows by brave but hysterical Alon clambered out and helped the women, and a stream )f people Inn-ried down the main road to give the aid which they knew was bound to he needed. When all who could be released were free it was found that 4wo persons remained pinned between the cars. They were Miss ( issie Hill and Mr Benjamin Lindsay. Every able man on the spot heaved on the heavy cars to pull them apart, but they remained rigid. For feu minutes the crowd waited helplessly till another tram-ear arrived, and then, with ropex attached to this, the two wrecked cars were parted. Stretchers and vehicles were hastily procured, and doctors hurried to the scene in great numbers to give relief. News of the appalling disaster was received in town with the utmost consternation, and large erow.ls Instantly Hocked to Kingsland to inquire aftei tin' safet\ of friends. Ii will be noticed that nearly the whole of the passengers were residents or visitors in the neighbouring districtof Mount Eden, Mount Buskill oi Kingsland, this bring, of ronrs.*, due io I he fact that, the cars had jttst loaded up in ilm-c districts and had not got beyond them. The occurrence struk a thrill of horror throughout the districts mentioned, and a feeling of deep mutual sympathy aro-e, for. as one person remarked, there was scarcely a household in the neighbourhood that had Hot a repre --ntal ivc or a friend on one of I he ears. All day on ( hri-tmas Day persons visited the scene of the disaster, evidently expecting that, the cars would be allow«*<l to remain on the spot foi ollicial inspection. But the cars had been removed during the nigh!. and nothing but a buckled Irani apron and a large patch of broken glass remained to mark the spot.