The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-11-08
ST. 10 HNsBvRY,
SATURDAY., NOVEMBER q, 1891,
THE Fatal ACCIDENT ON THE
PAsSUMPBIC ~. n.

PAssUMPsIC H.. n.
The most deeply 10 be regretted tssult Of
the storm, last week, was the Joss Of .Wo Ewes
by the accident upon the Passumpsie Rail
road, a. North Thehord. on Thursday night.
Tbs trcigbt train o. IS long cars vNs passing
uI, at about a O'Clock ia ihs evening, amidst
ibe darkness and storm, when il reached q
chAsm made by the washing out,At that place,
ola covered stdne culycri-7tbe Engine leap
my on oysrit the distance ofAbout four rods,
into the opposite enbankmeni, followed by
the tender aud eight cars, the forward ones
contnining 81 hogshead, Of sltnnd the Others,
-four nud light goods and buying 10 the
v'rcek the engineer, Mr. Horace BulterGcld,
Of CharLestown, n, H., aud the fireman, Mr.
benjamin Thomas, Of Cornish. N. H. The
only other persons accompanying the train
Mr. G.. W. Boyee, conductor, and Mr. Samuel
BAily. brakeman upon the top OF tho
ears NJ about the middle Of the train. who
were thrown down by the shock, and mar.
-T6W1y CTTEped VIII -Tr5iFHvcS,=6S IEey pass
ed OF the hind part Of the car upon which
they fell, the fore part Of Il WAS pitching into
the chasn.
M ButtG fold was found IN be alive, hut
deeply covctcd by wood. salt, aud other hea-
W nrtiplrsy Ils conyerssd nationally, and
gave directions how to let OF steam, &C., bat
the water continuing to wear away tho earth,
tho wreck gradually sunk and bearing upon
him 10 heavily that ho died IN about hour
aher the catastrophe. When ipquired Of
where Thomas was. IlutierGeld replied that
he wns upon the other side OF tho boiler and
dead. Their bodies were found one each
side the boiler, with their legs hanging over
the end .jAmmed mp aEpins, tho boiler by the
tender and car, ThdmAs' body WAS very
much bruised, his legs broken and burned;
Buuerfcld also whs badly burned The door
the FIRE box was found open. aud u Is sup
posed they were airing up az the timS of the
accident -
Although help was speedily obtained, and
every effort made TO cxtricato the unfortu-
nate sufferers, their bodics were not taken out
until about / o'clock the next day. Il was
only by beginning at the rear Of the wreck,
tho cars being piled one upon another 90 as
to make it neecssAg that they could be reach
ell. --@rs.--
Those Acqp6ia1ea with Mc-srs. Buiter6old
and fbB6Tass SpvaiE Of tirrru NJ EtrHriy, r--Fcr-
table men, and their sad aud sudden end is
deeply deplorcd. As an engineer, Mr. But
terield was cool and fearless hut Car from be-
ing reckless. lie was unmarried, aud aged
30 years. Thomas was Young man, and
leaves a wife and one child. Their bodies
were conveyed 10 their respective homes and
Inferred last Sabbath.
The question arises, IN regard 10 this dis
ss'eF Why WAS the opening uus seen ny the
engineer? II is quite probable that the earth
had not been 10 much broken ut tho top. at
the timo, ~ 10 let down the rails out Of sight.
The fact that the engine passed 40 FAR over
the chasm rather strengthens this conclusion.
The dump was doubtless considerably washed
out underneath, and the great weight which
so suddeply passed upon Il, aided by the rush
Of waters, probably crushed il immediately.
large stump with other rubbish, had
been washed into or against the month OF the
eIvort The water being thus impcded.
sought vent through one side of il, leaving
the stone work scarcely disturbed. The pres
ent depth Of the wash out sabout Is feet
1t continued to deepen Gner the accident I'LL
the water abated.