DISASTROUS TRAIN ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3383, 25 November 1911, Page 7

DISASTROUS TRAIN ACCIDENT.

A BRIDGE COLLAPSES. AND TRAIN ENGULFED. (United Press Association—Copvright.') PARIS. Nov. 23. As a train was crossing Tlioust river, the whole of it except three carriages was engulfed in the violent torrent. Ten pasengers took refuge on the top of the carriages. Desperate efforts to rescue them continue. A flood weakened the buttresses of the railway bridge, which collapsed, and the Saumaur train fell into the river. It is reported that sixty to eighiv persons were drowned, including the driver and fireman.

CRASHES THROUGH A BRIDGE

TWENTY-TWO PERSONS DROWNED

(Received Nov. 24. 11.45 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 24. The bridge at Saumur collapsed while the train was crossing. Of the fifty persons in the train twerty-two were drowned, including sove i railway officials. Crowds stood helplessly watching the survivors’ efforts to maintain a precarious hold of wreckage, the flood sweeping away one after another. Meanwhile heroic rescuers renewedly attempted to save M. Bouillat, a wine marchant, who perished. His wife was among the drowned. The train driver was saved by holding on to the tail of a pig and swimming ashore. Ultimately the military engineers secured half the dead from the roof of the train. A similar accident occured on the same in 1910, when 27 were drowned.