Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-22

RAILROAD AccIDENT.-Quite A serious ac-
cident occurred Friday morning, on the Port
land, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad. Tie
morning train from Portland left that city with
four passenger cars, two engines and snow
plough. When about four miles out, owing.
it is thought, to the break of a wheel or an
axle attached to the snow plough, the plough
was upset and thrown over the west side of
the track. This immense machine, weighing
six tons, made complete somerset and was
left on the side of the road, facing Portland.
The forward locomotive was thrown off the
track, and after running about a hundred feet
1t was overturned and landed upon an en-
bankment, about six feet above and fifty feet
east of the track, where il was literally brok EN-
INTO fragments. 1t was a complete wreck
The engine nearest the passenger cars was
thrown from the track, but remained upright,
a few feet only out of place. The baggage
cars, and the forward two passenger cars were
displaced from the track. The forward wheels
OF the third car, owing to the spreading of
the track, were run into a culvert, while the
last car only remained unframed. After the
accident to the snow plough, the train ran
distance of about twice its length before it was
brought up.
There were about hundred and fifty pas
sengers, who, as might be supposed, were
greatly alarmed. 1t was ascertained that two
of the hands on the forward engine were miss
ing, and the engineer was found to be some
what bruised. After slight search, the BODY
OF Mr.. Franklin Rogers was found near the
ruins of the wrecked engine. He was much
bruised and was insensble He was taken
into the saloon Of one of the cars, and his in
juries were found to be OF so serious nature
that he could not long survive. He lived but
about twenty minutes. 1t was ascertained
that Mr.. Elbridge g. Leayitt was probably un-
der the wreck. Ropes were at once fixed
about the frame work of the engine, and the
passengers aided in its removal. This was
soon accomplished, and the lifeless body
found. A messenger was sent to Portland
for aid, and in about an hour and a half, an
engine and cars to bring back the passengers,
reached the scene of the disaster. The pas
sengers reached Portland at about half past
II o'clock. Workmen had collected out of
the machine shops, and arrangements made TO
send all needful implements and help to clear
the track
Taken altogether, it was most singular &C.
cident, and when the passengers examined
the condition OF the engine and cars they
thought they had experienced remarkable
escape from very serious injury. Not a pas
senger was hurt in the least, though many of
them evinced by their conduct that they were
much frightened. Mr.. Leavitr the person
killed outright was the Road Master, and is
represented to have been person highly es-
Tened Mr.. Rogers was an engineer, EN-.
poyed about the station house. He was by
trade machinist, and young man of excel
lent character. Both the persons killed were
married and leave families.
a severe snow storm was prevailing at the
time OF the accident, and the wind swept with
nat viz
that it was very difficult to work in replacing
the rails, and clearing the track. Men and
provisions were sent out from Portland and
In about five hours the track was clear, so that
fresh train, with large number of men
with shovels, left for Boston at O'Clock D.
~, and reached the junction at Berwick at 8
o'clock.