Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 18 August 1904, page 7


WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

THE RECENT FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

PERTH, Wednesday.

At the continuation to-day of the inquest in connection with the deaths of Engine-driver Geer and Fireman Lyons, who were killed in consequence of their engine crashing into a washed out culvert at Poison Gully, near the Midland Junction, on the Upper Canning Rail-way, William Watts, an engine-driver at Mid- land Junction, stated that he was kept on duty on the night before the accident on the distinct understanding that he might have to pilot an engine on the Upper Canning line, as the line was known to be damaged. He was told in the yard by the night station- master, Mr. Veitch, that the Canning line was very bad. Mr. Veitch also told him that he had had a message from Stathams Station that the line was under water at Poison Gully, and was in a very bad state. Witness advised Mr.

Veitch not to send any train over the line that night. Mr. Veitch replied that he would not do so, and said he would send a permanent-way man over the track.

Albert Brown, fireman on Watts's engine, corroborated the statement regarding in-formation being given to Watts to the effect that the Canning line waa in a bad state.

Later.

The inquest in connection with the death of the enginedriver Geer and the Fireman Lyons, who were Killed in the railway accident on Upper Canning line on August 1, was con-

cluded to-day. The jury added a rider cen- suring Ganger Anderson and the night station master, Veitch, of Midland Junction for not having taken precautions to ascertain the condition of the line after the heavy rainfall

that occurred on July 31.