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BOY KILLED BY TRAIN
ON SOUTH ROAD.
WHEN he collided with a N.S.W. Railways train at a railway crossing in Crystal
Street shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday, a seven-year-old boy riding a bicycle suf-
fered shocking injuries and died instantly.
Victim of the fatality was Hercules Jack Page, residing with his widowed
mother and two brothers---Desmond (5) and Brian (3) at 7 Gossan Street.
Details of the accident given,
tb the police by the train crew,
and others reveal that the un-
fortunate boy had gone to the
residence of Mr. and Mrs. L. F.
Gibbons, of 1 Crystal Street,
south of the railway crossing, to
borrow a bicycle pump.
As Mr. Gibbons was not at
home, he was unable to secure the
pump and jumped on his bicycle.
He apparently saw other
cyclists pass over the crossing
before the train, which was bring-
ing ore from the Zinc Corpora-
tion, entered the roadway and is
believed to have tried to follow
them.
Members of the train crew,
which comprised David Wheatley
(38), driver; Dudley John
Poidevan, fireman; and Frank
Barton, chief shunter, saw the.
lad falter as if stopping to allow
the train to pass.
When a water tank which was
attached to the front of the
engine was just on the bitumen
the lad moved forward again and
was caught by the water tender.
Page's bicycle was badly
smashed and he was dragged
under the wheels of the train,
his body being badly mutilated.
The crossing bells were ring-
ing loudly as the train approach-
ed the crossing and the red sig-
nal lights were also showing.
Dr. Quinn was summoned and
on arrival pronounced life ex-
tinct. Police and the Citizens'
Ambulance were also called and
the body conveyed to the morgue.
The fatality occurred at a busy
period, much traffic passing to
and from South Broken Hill.
There was a hold-up for some
time.
MOTHER HEARS NEWS.
Drawn to the scene by the
large crowd which gathered, the
boy's mother, who lives about
100 yards from the scene, arrived
just after the body had been
placed in the ambulance.
Although efforts were made to
keep news of the tragic happen-
ing from her, she soon realised
that it was her) son and collapsed.
Mrs. Page was attended by a
doctor and friends and taken to
her home.
By the irony of fate the lad
was killed not far from the spot
where his father, Hercules Jack
Page, met his death on V.P.
night last year.
Victim of yesterday's fatality
was a passenger in the utility
which overturned and killed his
father.
INQUEST ADJOURNED.
The fatality was reported to
the Coroner, Mr. J. B. Hodgson,
who opened the inquest late yes-
terday. After evidence of identi-
fication had been given by
Leonard Frank Gibbons, the
inquiry was adjourned until
November 26.
FUNERAL TOMORROW.
The funeral will take place
tomorrow, leaving the residence
of his grandfather (Mr. J. J.
Davis), 19 Gossan Street, at 3.30
p.m. for the Methodist portion
of the Cemetery. The burial will
take place in the same grave as
his father. Norman Woodman
has charge of the arrangements.
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