Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-08
Railroad Accident.

An accident occurred at Newell's |
Crossing, two miles north of Charlotte
Station, on the Rutland e. Burlington
Railroad on Thursday night last which
came very near being attended with
fatal consequences.
The details of the accident show
most tlendish spirit, actuated by which
demon in human shape attempted to
throw train full of passengers from the
track and down an embankment, which
had he succeeded in his object, must
have resulted in terrible loss of life. 1t
appears that man named Smith, who
has been in the employ Of the Railroad
company for some time past as wood
sawyer st the Vergennes station, was
some days since dismissed from the
company's service by Mr.. G. w. Conant,
and yesterday got on board Conductor
Parkhurst's train, while going north,
at Middlebury and he got off at Char
lotte.
Thus matters rested until the same
train was returning that evening, when
the engineer, upon nearing Newells
crossing, discovered an obstruction in
the shape o: large railroad "tle" upon
the track, when he Immediately whistled
to put down brakes and done all in his
power to stop the train, but too late, the
train was under too much Roadway and
upon striking the obstruction the engine
and tender were thrown from the track
and precipitated down an embankment
of about fifteen feet, rolling over and
resting some forty feet from the rails.
The coupling between the tender and
baggage car was fortunately severed by
the force of the shock, though not until
the baggage car was turned completely
around, in the course of which move
ment the coupling between 1t and the
passengers cars also gave way, and
though the entire train was thrown
from the rails, none except the engine
v and tender went down the embankment
e The engineer and tiremen jumped from
n the engine just as she was leaving the
/ irons and sustained painful though MOI
n serious injuries. A lady passenger was
e also slightly injured. This was, al
n far as we have been able to learn
q the extent of the casualties, though
e all on board had a most providentia
8 and miraculous escape from death.
An examination of the track PROVED
that cites" had been placed across tn
rails in three places, and cattle guar(
lie a few rods south of these, was fillet
with ties placed upon their ends, pre-
i. senting a most formidable obstacle, on
Of which must have succeeded in accom-
plishing the hellish designs Of the male
r factor who placed them there in cas-
e. the others had failed.
r. Roadmaster Horner was at once nc
e, titled of the wreck, and with his meI
IN had succeeded in removing it so as
n allow the noon train to arrive here yes
Da terday on time. While his party WEI
bt so at work the man Smith, whom Gil
cumstances would seem to point to q
!, the perpetrator of the deed, wake
10 down to them, and commenced talkin
g about the affair, when he was at one
- arrested and conveyed to Burlingto
Z Jail, where he is now in confinement.
Altogether the act is one of the mo-
w glazing attempts upon human life whiC
on has ever come to our knowledge; indee
~ we know of nothing which equals Il
" devilish spirit which planned and exec,
~ ted it unless it is the recent Ascutne
- vile horror; and we can only hope thu
the culprit will receive a speedy tris
IT. and merited punishment,