NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES - RAKAIA RAILWAY ACCIDENT - 1899

NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
RAKAIA RAILWAY ACCIDENT
SATURDAY 11 MARCH 1899

On the evening of Saturday, 11 March 1899, two excursion trains which were travelling from Ashburton to Christchurch in the same direction, collided at the Rakaia Railway Station.

The trains which were though to be carrying anything from 3000 to 5000 people, employees of the Christchurch Meat Co., Islington and their families, had been on their annual picnic to Ashburton. Four of the passengers were killed and 22 were injured.

The engine of the second train ploughed into the back of the guard's van of the first train, causing it to cut 14 feett into the next carriage while the third carriage mounted the second carriage to a distance of about 8 feet.

Because it was raining heavily at the time of the collision, the Commission of Inquiry reported that the enginedriver on the second train had been negligent in not observing the regulations governing an approach to a station.

For further information see THE (CHRISTCHURCH) STAR of the 13 March 1899 on Papers Past.

KILLED

BOWDEN Richard de Renzi Knight (S/o William & Annie Bowden) 6 mnths
FRANKS Mary Ann (Annie) Miss -
HARWOOD Rose Florence * 16 1/2 yrs
JONES Frances Evelyn (Emily) (Fanny) 25 yrs

* - Orignally identified as Miss Catherine Jones, sister of Fanny Jones. However it was found that she had been in hospital since the 7 March and in fact was not on the excursion train.

INJURED

BOWDEN W Mrs of Lincoln Rd
BUSCHELL George 21 years of St Albans
EVANS Mr of 7 George Street
FRANKS H Mrs D/o Mr J E Hanson of Upper Riccarton
HANSON J E Upper Riccarton
HARDING E R B S/o W R Harding of Opawa
HARDING Miss of Opawa
HARDING Mrs of Opawa
HARDING Nellie Miss of Opawa
HARTLEY R -
HASKETT Robert S/o Mr R Haskett of Yaldhurst
HUNTER Leonard aged 14 of Windmill Rd, Sydenham
JONES Joseph R of Weedons
M'DOWELL Mr of Weedons
M'DOWELL Mrs of Weedons
SEABOURN Mrs W/o J A Seabourn of Sydenham
SMITH - D/o Mrs G E Smith
SMITH G E Mrs -
SPRATT Mrs -
SUTHERLAND F Mrs -
SUTHERLAND Mrs 22 years old of Islington
WOOTTEN William aged 20 S/o Henry Wootten of Yaldhurst


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