On the evening of March 11 1899, two excursion trains carrying employees of the Islington Freezing Works in Christchurch were returning from their works picnic. The first train of 30 carriages was required to wait at the Rakaia station for the scheduled train to Ashburton to pass. The second train, with 14 carriages, was trying to make up time, having left 20 minutes late. Its brakes were applied too late on wet rails and it crashed into the waiting train. Although the first train had begun to move forward, which lessened the impact, the guard's van was pushed 14 feet into the last passenger carriage. Four people were killed and 22 injured.
The body of the young lady who was killed in the railway accident at Rakaia, and named yesterday as Miss Catherine Jones, was identified this morning as Miss Rose Florence Harwood, the daughter of a labourer living at Yaldhurst. Miss Jones has been in the hospital since March 7, and did not go to the picnic at all. -Star, 13/3/1899.
THE RAILWAY CATASTROPHE.
THE INQUEST.
AN ADJOURNMENT.
A MISTAKE IN IDENTIFICATION.
MISS CATHERINE JONES IN THE HOSPITAL.
The inquest on the victims of the Rakaia railway accident was opened at 10 a.m. today at the Terminus Hotel, before Mr R. Beetham, coroner. The jury were Messrs E. C. Brown (foreman), Thomas Lascelles, George Palmer, Thomas H. Williams, F. G. Odell and Edward Smith.
Inspector Broham conducted the inquiry. Mr Stringer appeared for the Railway Department, and Mr Russell for the Christchurch Meat Company and the relatives of Miss Franks.
After the jury had been sworn, the Coroner said that it would be impossible to go on with the inquest that day. He proposed that the jury should view the bodies, and then he would adjourn the inquest till Friday next, at 10 a.m., in the Magistrate's Court.
There were a large number of people present as witnesses to the proceedings. When the bodies were uncovered, a sensation was caused by Mr and Mrs Harwood identifying the body supposed to be that of Miss Catherine Jones, as that of their daughter, Miss Rose Florence Harwood. The mistake in the previous identification had apparently arisen through the great likeness which existed between the two girls, and Miss Jones's brother, who had named the body as that of his sister on the preceding day, and who was now present, admitted his error. He had, without doubt, quite made up his mind before identification, that the body was that of his sister, and the heartbroken and almost dazed condition in which he was, was sufficient excuse for the mistake which he made.
The Coroner here said that it would not be necessary to hold a post-mortem examination. The bodies would be medically examined, and he would then give a certificate for burial.
Inquiries were then instituted for the whereabouts of Miss Catherine Jones, whom it had been supposed had been killed. In a short time Detective Fitzgerald brought intelligence that it had been discovered that Miss Jones was in the Christchurch Hospital, and had been there for about a week, under treatment for some complaint. Much surprise was expressed that — in view of the numberless and repeated inquiries which had been made at the Hospital for Miss Jones by the police, the reporters and the general public, and to all of which had been returned the same answer, that she was not there — it had now been found that she had been an inmate of the institution for several days. Inspector Broham immediately rang up the Hospital from the Terminus Hotel, and inquired for the House Surgeon, that the information might be verified. After the lapse of about ten minutes, an answering ring was heard, and it was then definitely learned that Miss Jones was now, and had been since March 7, a patient in the Hospital.
Mr Franks gave our representative an account of Miss Jones's movements prior to her admission to the Hospital, of which he had known nothing. She had left her home last Sunday week to go to a situation, and had been attacked by illness, and admitted into the Hospital. It was supposed that she had been at the picnic, because she had expressed her intention of going.
Everything regarding the identity of the body having now been satisfactorily cleared up, those present quickly dispersed.
The jury proceeded to Rakaia. by a special train, starting at 2.30 this afternoon, to view the scene of the accident. -Star, 13/3/1899.
MISS HARWOOD'S FUNERAL.
The funeral of Miss Rose Florence Harwood, the fourth victim of Saturday's accident, took place yesterday, and was largely attended. Shortly after one o'clock the sad cortege left Mr W. Calder's Dearsley street, Linwood, and proceeded via Tuam street and the Riccarton road to the Riccarton Cemetery. The body was met at the gate by the Rev. H. T. P. Winter, who read the service for the dead in the church. At the conclusion, the hymn "Thy will be done" was sung, and the "Dead March from "Saul" was played. On the way to the cemetery the procession was augmented by friends of the deceased from Yaldhurst and neighbourhood. There were a large number of traps, and on reaching the Riccarton road about one hundred of the employees from the Islington Work, joined the cortege. The coffin was almost covered with the numerous and pretty wreaths, sent by relatives and friends, including one from the late Miss Harwood's school-fellows at the Aylesbury School, from the Christchurch Meat Company, and from the Picnic Committee. Amongst those who followed Miss Harwood's remains to their last resting place were: — Messrs J. G. Mitchinson and J. Leslie (representing the Christchurch Meat Company), B. Pilkington (stationmaster at Christchurch), and J. Ashley (railway goods agent, representing the Railway Department), D. Jarman, T. Gibson, W. Dabnett (Catlins River), Wootten (of Yaldhurst), W. Caw (Hanmer Plains). W. Rue, W. Calder, Q. Townsend, Martin, R. J. Mason, J. Jarman, and Captain Kirk. There were also present a large number of those who attended the funeral at Yaldhurst the day previous.
THE INJURED.
At the Hospital the injured continue to make favourable progress, and as far as can be ascertained the others who were injured are doing well. In the cases of those who have received serious fractures it will be at least six weeks before they will be able to leave their beds — a serious matter to many who have their livelihood to earn.
Speaking at the Cathedral last night, the Rev. Dr. Abbott said that America could tell New Zealand that a Westinghouse brake, no matter how thoroughly equipped and fitted to a locomotive engine, was not worth the snap of the fingers unless connected with all the carriages of the train behind it.
His Worship the Mayor yesterday received a telegram from Lady Ranfurly, expressing her deep sympathy with the relatives of the victims by the recent railway disaster, and all those who had suffered.
Mr Ronayne, the General Manager of railways, who arrived from Wellington yesterday, has received a telegram from the Commissioners of Railways for New South Wales, expressing their sympathy on the occasion of the Rakaia disaster.
His Worship the Mayor has received a telegram from the Congregationalists of Dunedin, expressing sympathy with the sufferers in the late accident. The telegram is signed by Mr F. Craig, District Secretary.
It is improbable that the Hon. Mr Cadman, Minister for Railways, will visit Christchurch in connection with the enquiry into the Rakaia accident.
Owing to some break in the telegraphic communication between the North and South Islands on Saturday night, the General Manager did not receive news of the Rakaia accident until about six o'clock on Sunday evening.
It is understood that the picnic committee intend donating the prizes to the fund for assisting the injured. -Press, 16/3/1899.
THE RAKAIA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
PROCEEDINGS AT THE INQUEST.
IMPARTIAL EVIDENCE.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE GUARD'S VAN.
A PASSENGER IN CHARGE OF THE BRAKES.
UNUSUAL SPEED OF YH& TRAIN
[BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, This Day.
The adjourned inquest on the victims of the railway accident was resumed this morning before Mr. R. Beetham, Coroner. Mr. Stringer appeared for the Railway Department, Mr. T. G. Russell for the Islington Freezing Committee and Mr. Franks, father of one of the killed; Mr. J. B. Fisher for the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Inspector Broham represented the police; and Messrs. Gaw, Beattie, and Burnett, of the local railway office, were also in attendance. Mr. Stringer conducted the examination-in-chief.
The first evidence called was that of A. T. Harwood, father of Rose Florence Harwood (killed), John Franks, father of Mary Ann Franks, and whose adopted daughter, Frances Evelyn Jones, was killed, and H. K. Bowden, father of the child killed, all of whom stated as to when they last saw the respective deceased alive.
Dr. Symes, who examined the bodies on Monday, stated that they bore very little external marks of violence, except bruises on the heads. In the case of the child its head was a great deal swollen, but none of the bones were broken. Death was probably due to shock. Miss Harwood's face was swollen and very dark, and death occurred from concussion of the brain.
The deaths of the Misses Jones and Franks were due to fracture of the skull.
C E. Fisher, Secretary of the Picnic Committee, stated that shortly after leaving Ashburton he was informed that the guard in charge had been left behind. He understood he was the guard in charge because he was senior of the two on the train. On his advice the second guard stayed in the van to attend to the signals. At the time the train was travelling too fast to his liking, and he pointed this out to the guard, and impressed strongly on the guard the necessity for the exercise of care. In order that the guard should devote himself entirely to the conduct of the train two committeemen collected the tickets. The guard consulted a paper containing the times when the train was due at the respective stations, and witness stationed one of the Islington employees, Vincent Fitzpatrick, in the van to help with the brakes. The train appeared to him to be going very fast. The oscillation was greater than on the up journey. Approaching Rakaia witness saw a man with a light on the right hand side of the railway line. Witness had his back to Rakaia, but knew there was a light from the glimmer in the atmosphere. The man with the light must have been in a hollow, for his head was on a level with the car platform. Shortly after passing the signal witness saw sparks coming from the wheels of the van, and concluded that the brake had been applied when passing the signal. Though the train slowed down it was going fairly fast. Had not noticed the train being slowed down — not even just prior to the collision. Half way between Ashburton and Rakaia had noticed that the speed was unusual.
To Mr. Russell — The train left Ashburton Station at a more than usually rapid rate, and he had some difficulty in boarding it. The train passed the signalman very quickly, and no whistle was heard. There was an interval between the time of passing the light and the collision, but as to its duration he was not clear. At this point the driver and guard of the train, who had been excluded with other witnesses, were, on the application of counsel for the Railway Servants' Society, permitted to be present.
V. J. Fitzpatrick, a butcher, employed at the Islington Works, stated that the guard left behind at Ashburton signalled with a green light, and witness understood from Guard Burrows that the signal meant "Go slow. Stop at next station." At the request of the guard he put on the brake, but the guard himself had not applied the brake whilst witness was in the van. The guard instructed him as to the manipulation of the brake, and witness put it hard on until it gripped when he held it. It was not till passing Chertsey that he put on the brake. He had continued to hold on to the brake till the collision occurred. Saw a man with a signal, and heard him call out. The guard explained to him that the man had been sent out to stop the train. Was quite certain that the guard had not touched the brake while witness was in the van — not even to show him how to use it. The guard was sober, and did his best to communicate with the driver, but after signalling him for some time said he could not get his attention. The guard was rather excited, but had done all he could.
To Mr. Russell — There seemed no appreciable difference in the speed of the train after he put the brake on.
To Mr. Fisher — There was no apparent effect on the van or train when the brake was put on.
Lachlan McKinnon, an employee at Islington, stated that it was a minute or two after 6.30 when the second train left Ashburton. The train was going faster than ordinary trains run. Witness saw the signalman before reaching Rakaia, but could not tell the pace the train was going at the time. Had seen the guard who was left behind at Ashburton during the day. The last time was two and a-half hours before the train left. He then appeared perfectly sober.
To Mr. Russell — Just before the train started the guard was about three or four yards from the van. He was apparently perfectly sober.
J. T. Parsons, station-master at Ashburton, stated that the first train left for Christchurch at five minutes past six. The second train was timed to leave at 6.15, but when it got clear of the platform it was 6.35 — 20 minutes late. The delay was caused by two wheels of the van going off the line. The chief guard, Climpson, did not manage to get on the train, as he was obstructed by a number of people on the platform, who were intoxicated, and were attempting to board the train. Climpson was perfectly sober. There was nothing to indicate that he was in the slightest way affected by drink. Saw Carter, the engine-driver, before the train left, and he was perfectly sober. The first train was due at Rakaia at 6.47, and was to leave at 6.52. The second was due at 6.57, and was to leave at 7.2. When the guard was left behind witness attempted to communicate with Chertsey and Rakaia, and only succeeded in getting the latter place. The station-master at Chertsey was probably on the station when he tried to get him. Had wired in order to allay any anxiety as to what had become of the guard. Witness had no anxiety with regard to the train. There was a good deal of drunkenness on the train at Ashburton, and consequent disorder. The guard made every possible effort to board the train. He noticed that the train left the station quicker than usual. This was natural, seeing that the train was late, and had crossings to make up.
To Mr. Russell — The driver was allowed forty-six minutes to cover the distance between Ashburton and Rakaia. He was expected to pick up as much time as possible of the twenty minutes lost, otherwise the Christchurch train would be kept waiting. He did not think the guard could nave boarded the train if it had left at the usual rate. The guard had hold of the stanchion oi the van, but not firmly.
To Mr. Fisher — Could only have stopped the train by telegraphing to the next station. The train did not rush out at a high speed, but took on speed than usual.
To a juryman — Five minutes after the train left witness tried to telegraph to Chertsey, and if he had been able to get Chertsey the train could have been stopped there, and have got to Rakaia at 6.53.
Re-examined by Mr. Stringer — The driver was not responsible for the delay at Ashburton. The driver is expected to make up time lost as much as possible, having regard to the maximum rate of speed allowed. If he had been successful in getting Chertsey on the wire he would have informed the stationmaster that the guard was off the train, and left it for him to decide whether or not the train should be stopped.
At 1 o'clock the inquest was adjourned till 2. -Evening Post, 17/3/1899.
The driver of the train in which Rose Harwood, and others, died was charged with manslaughter and found Not Guilty by a jury. Hand-operated brakes were replaced on all trains by the Westinghouse Continuous Air Brake.
IN MEMORIAM.
HARWOOD. — In loving memory of Rose Florence Harwood, who met her death by accident on March 11, 1839.
Our darling gone, but not forgotten;
Never shall her memory fade.
Loving thoughts shall ever linger
Round the spot where she is laid.
Inserted by her loving parents, sisters and brothers. -Lyttelton Times, 11/3/1901.
