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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