Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-12-20
The Mortified Calamity.

road at Harlow Bridge, near Mortified, on
Wednesday, last week. We extract as
follows:
Among the injured was Mr.. Stephen
llorner, who died at two o'clock the next
morning. He had charge Of the workmen
and work of rebuilding the railroad bridge
at Rouses Point, which was suspended on
his going TO Mortified. He formerly re-
sided at West Alburgh. and has been for
long time in the.employ of the railroad
company. lie leaves wife and children
at Farnham, Canada.
Almon Wetherbee, foreman, killed, re-
sides at Mortified, and leaves wife and
daughter. There was an accident insur-
ance on his life of $4,000. ,5
OF the severely injured Asher Cray,
foreman, resides at St. Armand, Canada.
MIR. Cray had charge of the work upon
the new depot at St. Adams. ali
Charles III. Clark, foreman, injured, re-
sides at St. Adams. ...
BY this accident the railroad company
loose in killed and wounded every foreman
and master Workman on bridges, except
Major Tenney, master.in-chief. Elf
Every care is being taken of the wound
ed. The village of Mortified seems al
most like a hospital. Little or no business
is doing. The women are busy making
bandages or preparing " comforts for the
SICK" Engine House No. is used as a
I" dead house," and is under tie care of DIR.
George Nichols, who bas spent every mo-
ment of his time since the accident in pro-
viding everything necessary for the relief
of the sufferers.
Every room with fire in the North
field House is devoted TO the sufferers.
Seven of the severest cases are in the
BARRIERS shop, and FIVE others, almost as
severe, in the reading room
Quite force of medical men are in
constant attendance. The physicians of
Mortified, Dr,'s Bradford, Nichols, Keith,
Porter, MrClearn and Bates, are unwea-
ried in their exertions, DR.. Bradford re-
naming in the hotel and exercising con-
slant supervision over the sufferers.
Dr.'s Stewart of Randolph and White
of Roxbury, in addition to the Montpelier
physicians, are also in attendance.
DR.. Thayer of this city spent Wednes-
day night and a good portion of yesterday
at Mortified, and has made arrangements
for the removal to-day to their homes of
all who can endure transportation. The
doctor is efficiently assisted by six Of his
medical class, who make an excellent
corps of nurses, viz Messrs. Tenney,
Peck, Leach, Graves, Nichols and Camp.
The managers of the Vermont Central
are unremitting in their exertions to care
fully care for all. Honorable Joseph Clark
of the trustees, Supt Merrill, Asst Supt.
Loeklin, j. w. Hobart, master Of trans
portation, T.. G. Babcock, wood agent, and
Mr.. Putnam, chief clerk Of the trustees,
were on the ground throughout yesterday.
Five of the workmen threw themselves
out of the windows as the car was about
to make the fatal plunge, four safely and
the other was instantly killed.
Among those who made their escape
through the windows Of the canvas Mr..
A. Dennison of Mortified, who occupied
a seat in the south end of the car with
Almon Wetherbee who was among the
killed. Mr.. Dennison jumped out oil the
window and landed about three feet from
the edge Of the abutment.
Mr.. Quimby of Woodstock, made a
similar leap, striking about ten feet fiom
the pier.
The blame of this terrible calamity can
be fixed on no other person than the en-
gineer, Mr.. B. Frank Abbott, man about
as years of age, who had been in the en-
E ploy of the company 10 years, and bore
: the reputation of being strictly temperate
and most faithful in the discharge of his
t duties.
a Such was the confidence of the compa-
|. ny in him that he was selected by Mr.
e Locklin to run the " Gen. Sheridan" one
: of the best locomotives of the Central
+ with this construction train. The most
d charitable conclusion that can be made o.
v Mr.. Abbott's conduct on this fatal day i;
r that he was insane. He ran his train a
/ a speed of twenty miles an hour and die
= not reverse his engine until he got to the
r bridge. and the sudden reversion broke the
J. connection between the tender and engine
a The engine came so near following the car
% and the tender that perpendicular lint
dropped from the fiange of the driver
reached four inches hey oud the face of tn,
10 abutment,
A. The grade between the depot and thu
Of Harlow Bridge" was about fifty feet t.
m the miIe-the bulk of it being the las