Walking with my camera through Waitahuna Cemtery recently I saw a collapsed grave, filled with water, into which the stone had fallen. The inscription was partially readable and seemed to have an unusual name - McGookin. With nothing to lose in photographing it I did so, thinking that if I had read the name correctly it shouldn't be too difficult to find when I researched it and the others I'd found that day.
As it happens, there are two people buried in the grave. They died nearby in the same accident.
Deaths
HAMILTON. —On December 26, at Waltahuna, Joseph Given Hamilton, only son of Mr and Mrs Hamilton, Maguire’s Bridge, County Fernanagh, Ireland (as result of railway crossing accident); aged 25 years. — John Auld, undertaker, Waltahuna.
LONG. —On December 19, 1927, at Melbourne, John Alfred, dearly beloved and only son of Lawrence and Anderina Kerr Long, late of Clyde street, Dunedin, and youngest grandson of Mr and Mrs F. McNeill, 7 Regent road, Dunedin, also Mr and Mrs Long, of Wedderburn (Victoria); aged three years eight months.
McGOOKIN. —On December 26, at Waitahuna, Arthur McAlister McGookin, son of Mrs A McGookin, Rashee, Ballyclalr, County Antrim Ireland (as result of railway crossing accident); aged 30 years. — John Auld, undertaker, Waitahuna. -Otago Daily Times, 28/12/1927.
TWO MEN KILLED
LEVEL CROSSING SMASH
FAILURE TO SEE TRAIN
(Per Association) Dunedin, Dec. 28. A shocking fatality occurred at Waitahuna on Boxing Day, when two young men who were travelling in a three-seater car lost their lives. They were Arthur McGookin of Dunedin, aged 30 years, and Joseph Hamilton, of Christchurch, aged 25.
It seems that the two men had been spending the weekend with Ernest Samuel Blair, and along with some other men were that morning contemplating a fishing trip to Waipori. McGookin and Hamilton set off in a small car from Blair’s residence, which was only a few chains from the crossing where the smash took place. Before their comrades had time to follow all was over.
It is conjectured that there was something wrong with the oil feed of the car, because as it approached the crossing both men appeared to have their heads down, as though trying to adjust something. Thus the men apparently failed to see the oncoming train until too late. The engine as it neared the crossing gave two or three blasts of its whistle, nnd just before the crash the whistle blew still more loudly. It was only then that the two occupants of the car appeared to realise their terrible position, for they made an effort to jump clear. The engine, however, came upon them as they rose to their feet. The car was carried on to the cattle stop and smasned to pieces. When the men were picked up both were dead. Hamilton had been carried on to the cattle stop and had to be extricated from the wreckage. McGookin was found under the second truck of the train.
The general opinion is that they must have been having some trouble with the engine, the noise of which probably drowned that of the approaching train. Motorists in that locality have a fairly clear view of the line, and for that reason the crossing is not generally regarded as being dangerous. -Feilding Star, 29/12/1927.
RAILWAY CROSSING FATALITY
INQUEST CONCLUDED
The inquest in connection with the deaths of Arthur McAlister McGookin and Joseph Given Hamilton was resumed at the Lawrence Courthouse yesterday afternoon before Mr W. Cameron, J.P., acting-coroner, and a jury of four, of whom Mr W. McKenzie was chosen foreman.
Constable C. Ross, of Waitabuna, conducted the inquiry, and Mr E. Carter was present, representing the Railway Department.
Frederick W. Jones, engine-driver, deposed that he was driving the engine of the morning train from Lawrence to Milton on the 26th inst. When about 30yds on the Lawrence side of the crossing, near Waitabuna he saw a motor car about 10yds or 12yds from the crossing. He immediately applied his brakes, and then blew his whistle. Prior to this he had sounded his whistle twice — first about 300yds from the crossing and then about 50yds away. The train was travelling about fifteen miles per hour. The car was travelling very slowly, and the driver was looking straight ahead. He (witness) did not think the driver saw the train till it was practically on top of him; only then he looked up and appeared to get out of his seat. The engine struck the car about the driver’s seat. He could not say whether the car was thrown over or not, as he had lost sight of it. The car was pushed about 20yds along the railway line and then thrown clear. The train was brought to a standstill, and he went back to the car. One body was lying across the rails between the second and third carriage, and the other was among the wreckage of the motor car. The driver of the car had time to pull up after he (witness) blew the second whistle, and he could have swerved on to the road leading to the railway yard. Witness had been driving on the railway for two and a-half years, and he considered the pull-up a good one, taking the size of the train and the down grade into consideration.
James H. Johnston, fireman, deposed that he was on the morning train from Lawrence on the 26th inst. When approaching the crossing into Waitahuna railway yard at about 14 minutes to 7 he heard the driver sound his whistle when about 100yds away, and again when about 50yds from the crossing. He was not aware of anything unusual happening until he heard the driver apply his emergency brake. He had a full view of the crossing when about 400yds awav, and there was no car in sight then. After the driver had thrown his lever into reverse he knew something was wrong, and applied the hand brake. By this time the car had been pushed over to his side of the engine. It was rolled over twice by the engine, and carried about 20yds along the railway line, and then thrown clear. He considered the train, which consisted of three carriages, guard’s van, and two loaded wagons, made a good pull-up. He assisted to remove the bodv from between the carriages.
Robert Louis Blair, school teacher, deposed that he was standing on the road opposite his mother’s residence (about two chains from the railway crossing) when the car containing the deceased started for the Waipori dam, where they and others were going on a fishing expedition. He had just turned to go inside when he heard a crash, and, looking in the direction of the railway, saw what looked like a black cloud in front of the engine. When the train stopped he went up. Prior to the crash he heard the engine whistle twice. He could not say how far the train was from the crossing when he heard the whistle. The motor car was between where he was standing and the railway crossing when he first heard the whistle. At the second whistle the car was close up to the line. He could not say whether the occupants of the car saw the train or heard the whistles. The engine of the car had given some trouble the previous day, and was inclined to stall. When they left she was making a considerable amount of noise, which, he thought, would prevent the occupants from hearing the train. Hamilton was a cousin of witness’s, and both the deceased had stayed at his mother’s the previous night.
Robert Walker, guard, corroborated the evidence of Driver Jones and Fireman Johnston as to the warning whistles given when approaching the crossing and the result of the collision.
After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased were accidentally killed through a motor car in which they were driving coming into collision with the train, and that no blame was attachable to the driver of the train. -Evening Star, 31/12/1927.
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