FATAL FALL FROM A TRAIN
MAN LIES 12 HOURS IN TUNNEL.
(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, November 29.
After 12 hours in the Mihiwaka tunnel, with his left leg nearly severed, Mr Robert Munro, a single man, aged 29, residing at Warrington, was found by Mr Andrew O'Brien, surfaceman, yesterday morning shortly after 8 o'clock. Although conscious, the injured man was very weak front loss of blood and-shock. He was admitted to the hospital at 11.30 but died about two hours later. Mr Munro was a passenger by the 8 p.m. train from Dunedin on Saturday, and when found was lying in the tunnel clear of the rails. Having apparently fallen, off the train, he had had the presence of mind to crawl clear of the line. Other trains passed through the tunnel before he was discovered. -Ashburton Guardian, 30/11/1925.
TUNNEL ACCIDENT
YOUNG MAN'S DEATH
INQUEST FURTHER ADJOURNED.
The inquest on the body of Robert Munro, who died in the Dunedin Hospital on Sunday, November 29, from injuries received through being run over by a train in the Mihiwaka tunnel the previous night, was continued this morning before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. (acting as coroner). Deceased, who was twenty-seven years of age, and resided with his parents at Warrington, lay in the tunnel all night, and was found there next morning by a railway surfaceman.
Sergeant Gilligan represented the police.
Dr C. MT. Marshall, senior house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, said deceased was admitted about 11.15 on Sunday morning, November 29. He was suffering from severe shock, and examination showed that his left leg was charred and pulped. He was in a very low condition, and an effort was made to treat him for shock. Gradually he became worse, and died about 1.30 p.m. The cause of death was shock from injuries and exposure.
To Sergeant Gilligan: Witness said deceased was conscious when in the hospital, but his answers to questions were mostly inaudible. Deceased did say that he had lain in the tunnel all night.
Frederick Barltrop, guard, said he was on duty on the 6.30 p.m. train from Dunedin on Saturday, November 28. There were five passenger carriages, and about eighty-nine passengers. Witness was in the guard’s van when the train passed through the tunnel at Mihiwaka. and noticed nothing unusual. There was no mention by any of the passengers of anyone being missing from the train. Witness was positive that no one boarded the train at the Upper Port Chalmers station.
The Coroner adjourned the inquest till 11.30 to-morrow morning at Port Chalmers to take evidence of witnesses there. -Evening Star, 8/12/1925.
TUNNEL FATALITY.
DEATH OF ROBERT MUNRO
INQUEST FURTHER ADJOURNED
The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Munro, aged 27 years, who resided with his parents at Warrington and who died in the Dunedin Hospital, on November 29. was advanced a stage further in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. (sitting as Coroner). After spending about 12 hours in the tunnel with his left leg nearly severed the deceased was found shortly after 8 a.m. on November 29. Although he was conscious he was very weak from exposure and loss of blood. He was removed to the hospital as quickly as possible, but died there about two hours after he was admitted. When the inquest was resumed yesterday Dr Charles McIntosh Marshall, senior house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted at 11.15 a.m. on November 29. He was suffering severely from shock. A hurried examination showed that his left leg was charred and pulped over the lower three-quarters. He was very low, and an effort was made to maintain his strength. The deceased gradually became worse and died about 1.30 p.m. The cause of death was shock from injuries and exposure. Witness thought the latter played a very large part in causing his death. The deceased was conscious when he was admitted to the hospital. He was asked a few questions, but some of his replies were inaudible, and some were of a rambling nature. He said he had lain in the tunnel all night, but witness was not sure if he stated how he got there.
Frederick Bartrop, who was guard on the train on which the deceased travelled on November 28, stated that there were about 89 passengers on the train, which left Dunedin at 6.30 p.m. Witness was in the guard's van when the train went through the Mihiwaka tunnel, and noticed nothing unusual. No reference was made at Mihiwaka to anyone being missing from the train. There were several passengers for Warrington, but no one made any reference to a passenger being missing. Witness was positive that no male passenger joined the train at Port Chalmers.
To the Coroner: If the train had run over anyone it was probable that a bump would have been felt by somebody.
At this stage the inquest was further adjourned. It will be resumed at Port Chalmers at 11.30 a.m. today, when several witnesses will be called. -Otago Daily Times, 9/12/1925.
KILLED IN TUNNEL.
INQUEST ON VICTIM.
The inquest into the circumstances of the death of Robert Munro, who succumbed in hospital to injuries received through being run over by a train in the Mihiwaka tunnel on November 28, which was opened on Tuesday, was concluded before the Coroner (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.), yesterday afternoon.
Sergeant Gilligan represented the police, and Mr K. G. Roy was present on behalf of deceased’s relatives.
The evidence showed that Munro missed the evening train at Upper Port Chalmers, was walking home along the railway line, and was knocked down by a train in the tunnel.
Peter Mulder, railway cadet, Port Chalmers, said that Munro bought a second-class railway ticket at the Upper Port station a little after 5 p.m. on November 28. The next train for Warrington was due at 6.55 p.m. and witness was sure Munro did not get on that train. Witness was also satisfied deceased did not leave lower Port Chalmers by the 5.15 p.m. train and join the 6.30 p.m. train from Dunedin for Warrington.
John Ellis, moulder, Careys Bay said he saw a man walking along the railway line from Port Chalmers about 6 o’clock. He fell clown, but got up immediately and walked on. This man’s clothes were similar to those worn by Munro when he bought the ticket at Port Chalmers.
Eric Rouse, fisherman, Carey Bay, said he was walking along the railway line towards Carey Bay from the direction of Mihiwaka at 7.40 p.m., and when about 150 yards from the tunnel he met a young man similarly dressed to Munro, and the latter asked how far it was to Waitati. Witness warned the man about the risk of going through the tunnel, but the stranger said that would be all right. The place where this conversation took place was less than a mile from where the previous witness saw the man fall on the line. A misty rain was failing, but the man’s clothes did not indicate that he had been sitting or lying down.
Andrew O’Brien, railway surfaceman, said he was inspecting his “length" on Sunday morning, November 29, when he found Munro in the tunnel about 20 chains from the south end. Munro said he had fallen off the 6.30 train from Dunedin the previous evening. The police were communicated with and medical aid was promptly obtained from Port Chalmers. Constable S. Edwards, accompanied by Dr Roy went to the tunnel and brought Munro to Port Chalmers, whence he was sent by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital. About a chain from where Monro was found his pipe and other articles were discovered alongside the line. The tunnel was too narrow there for anyone to escape a passing train. There were marks on the side of the tunnel where soot had been brushed off, evidently by Munro. Munro said that he had fallen off a train, but the marks rather seemed to indicate that he had been walking on the line and had been knocked down by a train.
The Coroner said the evidence went to show that deceased had been in the tunnel and he had been knocked down by a passing train, probably the train that passed there about 7.30 p.m. Having missed his train, deceased had walked along the line and met a train in the tunnel. The verdict would be that deceased had died in Dunedin Hospital from shock and injuries sustained by being knocked down by a railway train. No blame was attachable to the Railway Department. -Otago Daily Times, 10/2/1925.
Robert Munro was buried in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery. Grave photo to come.
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