THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Tragic railway accident near Donaghadee leaves father and son dead

From the News Letter, August 13, 1919
An old postcard showing Donaghadee harbourAn old postcard showing Donaghadee harbour
An old postcard showing Donaghadee harbour

It was reported in the News Letter on this day in 1919 that the town of Donaghadee was in mourning after a tragic railway accident near the small Co Down town had left two dead.

The dead men were named as farmer Isaac Boal, who was aged 65, and his son Isaac Jnr, who was aged just 25.

As the News Letter reported, the pair had left their home to borrow a hay-stack shifter from Mr John Campbell, a large farmer who resided at Furzefield, Cottown, and “a short distance from the scene of the tragedy”.

As they crossed the across the railway line which split the land of Mr Campbell they had left the crossing gates open for their convenience. Having collected the hay-stack shifter the two men left the Campbell’s “in the best of spirits”.

Mrs Campbell had warned them to be wary of the danger of a train which was expected to pass down the railway line.

But it appeared from the report given by the train driver that when he was between 60 and 70 yards from the crossing he had been horrified to see the horse and the two “hapless” proceed to cross the line.

He instantly shut off the steam and applied the vacuum brakes but it was to be in vain.

As he looked up he saw that only the horse had cleared the railway line and then the engine hit the hay-stack shifter with the two men being killed instantly.

The News Letter concluded its report on the tragedy by stating that an inquest into the two deaths were to be held in the residence of the two men on that day at 4.30pm.

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