Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928), Tuesday 9 November 1920, page 3


DISASTROUS RAILWAY SMASH.

TIMBER TRAIN DERAILED AT WOKALUP. NINE MEN KILLED.

One of the most disastrous railway accidents which has ever occurred in Western Australia took place late on Saturday night on Millars' Timber line from Mornington to Wokalup, near Bunbury. The train, left Mornington at 8 p.m. on its six-mile journey to Wokalup. It carried 600 tons of sleep-ers, was made up of 26 bogey and three

small trucks, and was drawn by the "Jubilee" Baldwin engine. It was usual, says the "Daily News" in its ac-count of the accident, for the train to come to a standstill just before the Knob, when the guard and fireman alighted and put down the brakes on each truck. As far as can be gathered this was not done on Saturday evening,

as the fireman was found mangled un-der his engine, it having apparently too much way on when it reached the sum-mit of the Knob to pull up. At a big curve the engine evidently jumped the rails, travelling, it is estimated at a speed of between 70 and 80 miles an hour. The engine swung almost across the line, and behind it the trucks closed up like a concertina, piling themselves one on another to height of at least 25ft. 30 yards up the slope and 50 yards down the gully. Scattered over the whole mass of wreckage were the sleep-ers.

The driver, Clarence Cook, was shot ahead of the engine for a distance of half a chain, and behind him came the front wheels of the tender's bogie, stopping short just before they reached where he lay. In the middle of the train, riding on the top of a truck load of sleepers, were eight men from the mills, who were going into Wokalup. They were apparently sitting at both ends of the track. The truck must have been at the bottom of the pile, judg-ing from the position in which the

bodies were recovered. Riding on the footplate was the truck foreman of the mill, Mr. Christopher Wilton, whose son, Thomas, was fireman on the engine. As the train gained momentum Mr. Wilton could see what was coming. He said to the others, "She gone; follow me." He then jumped off the footplates and escaped with only a slight scratch on the chest. The others remained with their engine, perhaps to try even then to arrest the headlong rush of the train which was in their charge.

When the smash took place a man named Joe Flynn was in the last truck. It remained on the rails, and it appears that when he got to his feet he went round the train to see if anyone had es-caped death. He found the driver with a broken leg, but could not see anyone else. It was pitch dark, and he had no light, so he left for Wokalup. On ar-rival he went to the hotel and told the news. The following were killed:— Denis Leatch, single; relatives reside at Victoria Park, Perth. Ellis S. Lake, single; brother-in-law named Hyde, resides in Perth. James P. McNamara, returned soldier, relatives not known. William Mulcaria, single, parents re-side at Spearwood. Frank V. Winfield, single.

Edward P. Delaney, returned soldier, single. Thomas Wilton, single; son of mill traffic manager. John Godfred Paulson, guard of train (died from injuries). The following were injured:— Clarence Robert Cook, enginedriver. Lloyd Morey. The bodies were removed to Bunbury, where the funerals took place yester-day afternoon at South Bunbury Ceme-tery.

Early Days of Australia.—Amongst the writers who are able to deal in an informative and at the same time inter-esting manner with early days in Aus-traJia, is J. H. M. Abbott, and his latest book, "Castle Vane," which is published by Angus and Robertson, and of which we have received a copy from Mr. E. Snell, is an acceptable ad-dition to this class of literature. The story tells of the conditions of Sydney and the neighborhood eighty years ago, of the evils of the bond system, and the bushranging adventures of those who broke their bonds. The author treats of his subject in an attractive and capable manner, and the volume is one which will be warmly welcomed by all interested in the history of this young country.