If you know the date, and its significance, you recognise it in the little cemeteries of the small towns of Central Otago and the Maniototo district. The stones bearing the date of the railway accident near Hyde in 1943 show that a disaster is an event but also a series of tragedies, each one a little different for each family that is struck by the death of a loved one.
Rotorua's Link With Tragic Railway Accident
General sympathy will be felt with Mr. G. H. Frater, officer in charge of the Social Security Department, Rotorua, whose father, Mr. John Frater, aged 70 years, his sister, Mrs. White, and her two sons aged three years and six months, respectively were killed in the railway accident in Central Otago on Friday. Mr. Frater's mother, aged 70 years, also a passenger on the train, was severely injured, suffering a broken leg and severe shock.
Mr. Frater received news of the disaster on Saturday morning, and through the courtesy and co-operation of the Air Force authorities, was able to leave by plane for South Island on Saturday afternoon.
It is understood that his sister had been seriously ill, together with his youngest son, and that Mrs. Frater been attending them at Alexandra. Both had made an excellent recovery and the family Party. on their way back to join Mr. White at Timaru, where Mr. and Mrs. White reside.
A poignant coincident is that many years ago when Mr. Frater was a boy, he and his brother, under the charge of their mother, were in a train on the same line when the engine collided with a rock that had rolled on to the track. The engine was derailed but fortunately no one was injured. -Rotorua Morning Post, 7/6/1943.
HYDE TRAIN CRASH
LINE CLEARED OF WRECKAGE
SCHEDULE RUNNING TO-DAY
Rapid progress was made yesterday with the work of clearing the wrecked carriages and engine from the railway line near Hyde. The tracks were relaid, and this morning the Central Otago express left at its usual time, 7.52 a.m. After the engine had been cut free from the tender it was loaded back on the line by the crane and towed to the Rock and Pillar station, the nearest siding to the scene of the accident, while late in the afternoon the last carriage was removed.
Inquiries this morning show that all the injured victims of the disaster are progressing favourably. The condition of Mrs M. Maskell, in the Ranfurly Hospital, which was regarded as serious yesterday, is much improved. At the request of the Mayor of Alexandra (Mr A. McKellar) business premises in that town were closed this afternoon when the funerals of Mr John Frater, his daughter, Mrs Irene White, and her two young sons were held. Mrs Frater was among the injured, and is now receiving treatment in hospital.
Francis Robert Kinney, the young man of 19, of Hyde, who was killed in the crash, was buried at Hyde on Sunday. -Evening Star, 8/6/1943.
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