Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5872060

3 corrections, most recently by anonymous - Show corrections

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCI-

DENT.

(From the Goulburn Chronicle Sept. 20.)

On Wednesday last, at about 2 o'clock in   the afternoon, an accident occurred at the ballast pits of Messis Styles, Mulray, and Co , whereby a man named John Livesey was literally cut to pieces while in the act of per- forming his accustomed duties on the engine named the Avenel The scene of this ter- rible occurrence is situate about three miles from Sey mour, and is know n to the public as the Gravel pits, Mangalore, fiom whence the contractois for the second section of the Noith-Enstern Railway constructed a branch leading to the main line some l8 months ago for the purpose of piocurmg grav el b illast foi their contract w oik, which commences at Sey- mour and terminates at Ben illa On this branch line the Avenel, with its string of ballast trucks, is in constant woik, and it was in the capacity of fireman that John Livesey had woiked on the locomotive just named for some considerable time prior to Wednesday last-the day on which ho lost Ins life, undei the following heart- rending circumstances The Avenel, m charge of the engineer and a guard, was stationed at tho shoots, wlulo the trucks were receiving their ballast loading, on Wednesday afternoon last It vi as about 2 o'clock when the work of filling the trucks from the shoots was completed, and the vi ord was given that all was ready and fair for a start. At this time the unfortunate man Livesey was engaged m tho work of cleaning and oiling the engine-a task it would appear which he was as well able to pcrfoim during the run to and fro as when stationaiy on the line The signal to move on was given, and the Avenel with its tram of hallaBt trucks left the shoots-Livesey being at that moment observed to be standing on the outer rail which runs fore and aft on the side of the engine As the tram mov ed slow ly dow n the line, the fireman was Seen to shift from the right hand Bide of the engine on to the fiont, foi the purpose, it is supposed, of attending to the cleaning and oiling pioccss on the other side. But this was his last appeaiance in life, and the honiblo sequel has now to bo related Ab the tram was pioceeding along the line at slow speed, something undei 200 yaids distant fiom the startiug point, and having cleared the nairow road through tho cutting, wherein a large stump protrudes to such an extent ns to afford but au inch or two of space between it and the engine, the guaid, who was nding on the last truck, discovered blood stains and pieces of flesh on the wheels of the tiucks, and at onco called out to the di iver to stop the engine. This was dono as quickly as possible, and it was then found that poor LivcBey's body liad been torn to fragments no few er than seven trucks, representing 11 wheels on the right band side, having passed

over him, as proved by the stains of blood

ond pieces of mangled flesh which adhered to them. To describe the scene presented to the beholders, including the mother of de- ceased, would he utterly impossible, except by saying that the skull was severed and picked up in two different places, legs and arms torn from their sockets, the trunk divided into fragments and scattered hither and thither, whilst the heart and intestineB lay about the ground for the space of about 150 yards like so much carrion. As touching the cause of the accident, it may be said to be a matter of conjecture, but one of two things may be counted as certain, viz., that the unfortunate man's foot came in contact with the stump just referred to, and he was thereby dragged from his position on the side rail, or that ho missed his footing while coming through the cutting, and was forced back by the embankment on to the rails. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, an inquest was held on the body by Dr. Heeley, and after hearing the evidence of the guard and engine-driver, as also that of another, witness who was on the engine at the time1 of the accident, a verdict of accidental death 1 was returned. The deceased was an active and competent engine-driver, although lately ยก employed in the more humble capacity as I

fireman, for it is said that he drove the first engine that ever ran on a Victorian line. He was 35 ycaTB of ago and unmarried, but for many years had been the comfort and sup- port oi his aged mother, who kept house for him, and had accompanied him through India, California, and other British colonies, and for whom the deepest sympathy is felt on account of her sudden bereavement,

Zoom

plus
thumb
minus
left
thumb
right
up
thumb
down