Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-04-29
Fatal Accident on the Eastern
Railroad.

About halt-past Saturday morning the
engine "Sllein, from Portsmouth for Bos-
ton. with a freight train of about twenty
cars loaded with lumber. went through the
draw bridge over Parker River, between
Newburypprt and Rowley. with six lumber
cars and one milk car. The fireman, John
Page. finding the bridge giving way, jumped
INTO the water and swan ashore. Inc en-
gIneer, George Perkins. after directing the
fireman to jump. also leaped into the water
IN the other side OF the bridge. lie as not
been found, and it is inferred that he was
buried beneath the ruins uf the train.
The bridge had caught FIRE from, as it is
supposed, the steamboat train OF Friday even
ing. and the timhers were So weakened
thereby as to be unable to support the weight
OF the train. The bridge is about six hund.
red feet Ling, and sixteen feet from the
water.
Intelligence Of the disaster was sent Il
Salem, and from thence forwarded to Boston
IN season to intercept the morning tram east
ward. at Somrr,l lie. The passengers and
mails on that train were ace nriinsly trans
ierred 70 the cars OF the Boston and Maine
road, and procef ded without delay. Until
the bridge is repaired through travel will be
anplr accommodated by the Newburyror,
and Georgetown road
Sup rIntendent Prescott returned on Satur-
day from the scene Of the accident. When
he lett, the body of the engineer had not
teen recovered. The extent of the damage
to the bridge, engine and cars will not,
probably, extend 5000. The bridge will
be prepared and travel resumed at an early
cay oi tAis week.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
since the above was written. We have re-
celyed the following account Of the accident
from our Ncwburyport correspondent
serious and fatal accident occurred on
the Eastern Railroad about two o clock this
morning. A freight train was passing over
Parker River Bridge. about four miles from
this city, and had got abou. half wav across
when tue bridge broke, and the engine and
i've cars were precipitated into the river
The engineer, Mr.. George Perk ms, belonging
IN East Boston. aged twenty FIVE, was carried
down, and is buried beneath the wreck. He
leaves wife to mourn his un,imely death.
The fireman, Mr.. Page. saved his life by
jumping from the engine and clinging to the
wreck. The engine is entirely out Of sight.
Four OF the cars were loaded with ship-plank,
and the fifth was the milk car. Abou, forty
ieet OF the bridge is carried away. The
accident was caused by the burning of the
stringers supposed to have caught fire from
the last train Of cars which passed over the
bridge last night. From appearance. the
strngcrs, which are about eighteen inches
through, were burnt nearly TO charcoal, and
had been smould. ring a number of hours.
This accident will cause detention in the
running Of trains probably two days. A
large gang OF men are at work repairing and
until in good order the mails and baggage
will he conveyed across the river on rats
The water at low tide is ten feet deep, and at
the time of the accident was about fuI flood
The river is strewed with the floating wrecks
Of the cars.
Mr. Perkins is supposed to have got en-
tangled in trying 10 make his cscape. His
body has not been found at the time write,
lie Was not the regular engineer of the train.
but acted as spare engineer.
lBoston Journal.