Miriam Hannah "Killed in Broadway"

The epitaph "Killed in Broadway" was an intriguing one to find in the Picton Cemetery.  Did it refer to Broadway in New York?  Well, no, it didn't.  It was a local accident, involving local people.  And a train.



THE DEADLY CROSSING.

CAR WRECKED BY TRAIN.

WOMAN KILLED INSTANTLY.

OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

SMASH NEAR PICTON STATION. 

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] BLENHEIM. Friday. A railway crossing accident, resulting in the death of Mrs. J. K Hannah, wife of the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Picton, occurred at 11 o'clock this morning at the spot known as the Broadway Crossing, when the morning train from Blenheim to Picton crashed into a motor-car driven by Miss B. E. Chaytor, of Picton.

Miss Chaytor, who was accompanied by Mrs. Hannah, Mrs. Mark Latter, of Waikawa Road, Picton, and Miss K. Hursthouse, of Wellington, was proceeding from Picton to Marshlands, near Blenheim, at the time of the accident. At the Broadway Crossing two streets intersect in the rough form of an X. They are Broadway Street and Auckland Street, but at the crossing Auckland Street changes its name and becomes Wairau Road. The usual route from Picton to Blenheim is along Broadway Street to the crossing, where one switches into Wairau Road. Miss Chaytor was following this route. The engine caught the car near the cattle stop, flinging it completely over with such force that witnesses declare that it somersaulted twice in the air. Mrs. Hannah was killed instantly. Mrs. Latter was flung right over the train on to a grassy bank on the far side, and Miss Chaytor and Miss Hursthouse were thrown clear many feet away.

Miss Chaytor suffered severe leg injuries, necessitating the insertion of 24 stitches, and is also suffering severely from shock. Her condition is somewhat serious. Miss Hursthouse suffered severe bruises and shock and is also in the hospital. Mrs. Latter, an elderly widow, although suffering severely from shock and abrasions, insisted on being taken home, where she lives alone. Later in the day she was discovered by friends to be suffering from the effects of a blow on the head and from shock, and she was taken charge of by neighbours.

Those who witnessed the accident state that it was marvellous that the whole party were not killed and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the car, which is wrecked.

Miss Hursthouse, who is a cousin of the Chaytor family, was spending a holiday with Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Stace, at Marshlands, and had been on a visit to Miss Chaytor at Picton. Miss Chaytor was motoring her back to Marshlands at the time of the accident and the other ladies went along for the ride.

The accident threw quite a gloom over Picton this morning, and much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Hannah and Miss Joyce Hannah. Mrs. Hannah was very popular in social circles and her loss will be greatly as she has taken a prominent part in affairs during the three years she had been resident in Picton. Her son is in the employ of the Bank of New Zealand at Woodville. The family came here from Pahiatua.