Salt River Station
Many years ago whilst tracing my family history I met a cousin who kindly photocopied this newspaper article of the Salt River accident which struck me as a terrible tragedy for my family. Not only did Richard Evans lose his wife, but his wife had lost her first husband and her daughter.
Today 11th June 1890 was a very sad day as the residents of Woodstock and Salt River heard of the tragic passing of a father and daughter killed at Salt River Station. Frederick Smith, his wife Alice, son Frederick and daughter Katie were taking a short cut along the main line to Cape Town. They were going in the direction of Woodstock. Frederick turned round to speak to Katie as she gleefully bobbed up and down balancing along the railway tracks, whilst Alice was holding her son’s hand. Katie then walked over to the next set of rails when her father heard the steam whistle of the train. By now she had already slipped and the engine was almost upon her.
The train driver shut off the steam and applied his brakes. Katie slipped back wards toward the moving engine, then it struck her. Frederick rushed to save her and his head was within inches of hers when the train struck him as well; he was also unable to stop himself and fell under the engine as well, but was still alive. The following morning an emergency operation was performed upon the unfortunate Frederick Smith, who as fate goes, was an engine driver himself who attempted to save his daughter from being killed. From the outset it was felt that there would be no hope of the sufferer’s recovery, but whatever faint chance there was of such an event lay in the amputation of both legs above the injured parts. After the operation however, the patient sank rapidly, and at ten minutes to four in the afternoon he expired.
The funeral was a very moving ceremony. As the bodies and mourners left Salt River on the funeral train, there was a crowd estimated at two hundred people, who filled ten bogie carriages, which were crowded throughout. The coffin of the little girl was carried by her schoolfellows, each girl wearing a simple band of white ribbon round her arm as a sign of mourning, they being dressed in their best clothes. Fredrick’s coffin was borne by drivers and fireman, men with weather beaten faces which told of watching at times through the cold night for the safety of passengers who were sleeping in a sense of security. The service was read by the Rev. W.S. Foggit, and there were few dry eyes round the grave when the coffin of the child was placed on that of the father and lowered together to their last resting place.
The Engine Driver
He stands upon the footplate, His hand upon the wheel, His eagle eye along the line of faultless railway steel.
‘ calm and brave is he and stout of heart and strong and quick to hear and see and judge turn…………..
To watch, tho, all else sleep
To every round incline
And constant outlook keep
For danger on the line
No smile is on his lips now
Tho, jovial he can be
When seated at his……..
With children round his knee
The little ones he kissed
Before he came away
Then wife and home he missed
For duties of the day
One thought nor is there more
Now fills his precious mind
The fault that lay before
The living freight behind.
in memoriam of the Tay Bridge Accident.
On that train was a young man of Welsh descent who felt quite taken and shaken by the whole procedure, and his heart went out to the grieving widow and son. Richard Evans on the 4th December 1891 by special licence in Johannesburg married Alice Smith, nee Drummer.
He adopted her young son Frederick. Two years later she gave birth to Cecil Fitzhenry Evans. Richard her husband decided that Alice needed holiday, she also desperately needed to go back to her roots in England, so she went to Christchurch in Hants where she met her husband’s family and from there she sent her husband this letter.
“My Dear Husband, You have no doubt been thinking about us. We arrived safe but had to change bus. Not one of the passengers troubled to help me so I had to look about for someone to assist me as it was so dark. I gave one of the workmen 2 shillings to carry my things over the other side, then in the morning I found I had to change again. When I got here Lenia, was waiting but I did not know her. I was troubled about the……..so I had to go to the hotel. Tom did not know I had arrived -he came and found Lenia and all there but I had already left for the hotel. I have kept Lenia with me.
We are eating so very little. Tom came in the evening and took me for a walk. Lenia helped with the little ones. He said if he had arrived before I had engaged the Hotel he would have taken us. I bailed out at once. Well, my old Darling, how are you getting on? I feel sad without you and wish I had not left. I am not one for going about. Lenia went with me to enquire for the post, then I wired to you …….your reply. You had better keep it.
No doubt I shall be out before the end of the year. Don’t think I can do without you so long as it is. I miss you so much I feel lost. We are well. Cecil talks so much of daddy will ….you say you are sick. How are you? … is he bright ? Darling, well, write all ….with a long letter. The first chance went ….Emma she wanted me to come here and I spent the night with them but then I found they would charge all most as much for one day as till eleven today. So did not like to trouble them. I knew Tom at once, as he is so like your dear old face. I will write to you soon. Love and kisses from the little one and much love from me
Your loving wife Alice”
Another letter then came in reply not from his wife but from the Captain of the ship.
MOOC 6/9/350 ref. 517 Cape Town Archives
Union Line Royal Mail Service Tenerife 14 April 1895
“Dear Sir
It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your wife Mrs Alice Evans which took place on board this ship on Sunday 7th April at 6.pm.
Mrs Evans embarked with her two children at Cape Town on Friday March 29th and all seemed well with her till morning of April 6th when the Doctor attended her for convulsions brought on by acute Uraemia, which resulted in a miscarriage, and Mrs Evans became insensible till her death on the following morning.
She was constantly attended by the doctor and nursed by the stewardess, and everything that could be done, was done to save her life. The funeral took place at sea at midnight Sunday 7th April and the burial service was read by myself. The two children have been looked after by a lady on board, and are quite well. Her handbag with money and two watches have been carefully secured, and with her luggage will be handed over to the steamship company at Southampton or who ever may come to take charge of the children. I can assure your sir, of my most sincere sympathy with you and your children in your bereavement of Mrs Evans.
I remain yours very faithfully
Morton Commander”
Richard s reply to the commander s letter is dated 11 months later.
“I Richard Johnathan Evans of Johannesburg South Africa do solemnly and sincerely declare that the annexed letter dated 24th April 1895 from Commander of the SS Geulph was addressed to me as the husband of Alice Georgina Evans, who was a passenger of that steamer on 7th April 1895.
Declared and signed by me at Cape Town 7th Day March 1896.”
