The Portland daily press., 1869-05-13
serious Railroad Accident.


As the passenger and mail train that left this
city at S.45 A. M. Wednesday was approach
ing Hayes crossing, about one mile this side
of South Berwick Junction. the engineer, Mr..
Albert Dodge, discovered there was something
wrong in the rails short distance ahead. He
reversed his engine and sounded the alarm
"down brakes which instantly brought the
brakemen to their work. But they had hardly
taken one turn at the brakes before the engine
ran off the track, the baggage car, mail car,
smoking car and two passenger cars following
it. The engine ran along some little distance
until it came to culvert, when it went up and
over, smashing it badly.
The baggage car followed the engine and
was smashed up, as were the postal and smok-
ing cars. Two passenger cars were wrecked,
but not SO badly as the others. They were all
piled up on the track.
Mr.. Freeman Lamphrey, baggage master on
the Eastern railroad, was terribly injured, his
ribs being all crushed in. He lived about one
hour after the accident. His body was taken
to Hampton, N. H., where he resided He was
about 30 years of age, and a favorite with the
travelling public.
W
ed, but hopes are entertained that he will re-
cover. He was brought back to Cape Eliza.
beth in the train.
Joseph Reed, a brakeman, was badly injur-
ed while engaged at his post
Charles Cram, brakeman, received some
slight injuries.
The only passengers seriously injured was
Mrs. e. A. Stevens, of Saco. She was sitting
in car holding a child when the accident oc-
Cured She suffered fracture of both bones
below the knees. The child escaped unhurt.
A gentleman whose name we could not as
certain, had one leg broken, and young girl
suffered some severe Commissions.
Mr.. York, who was in the postal car, suffer-
ed some bruises He found himself very sud-
denly mixed up with the mails, his Car broken
all in pieces.
Mr.. Brunei, the Eastern Express messenger,
received as thorough shaking as ever he did
in his life, and had his clothing almost stripped
from his body. He was in the express car at
the time, and his packages we're sadly demon
allied.
In the smoking car there we're six gentle
men, all Of whom received bruises and
wrenches. Among them was Mr. Chas. Coe,
OF this city, who sustained bruises on the head
and had one of his wrists badly wrenched. Mr..
G. says it is wonder how any one escaped be-
ing killed, SO sudden was the accident and so
thorough was the smashup.
| As soon "a intelligence was received by
telegraph in this city of the accident, Mr..
Chase, the Superintendent, fitted out wreck
ing train and went out to the place where it
occcured. All the attention it was possible to
pay the injured persons was freely bestowed,
both by the passengers who were not injured
as well as by the officers of the road. Mr.. Pay
son Tucker, the conductor, was indefatigable
in his exertions for their relief, and Mr.. Chase,
after he arrived there, seconded Mr.. fuckers
exertions.
The cause Of the accident is attributed by
the engineer to some persons tampering with
the rails. The spikes in the chairs of two of
the rails were found drawn and thrown aside,
and the rails appeared to have been moved
We can hardly believe any one could be SO
wicked as thus to endanger the lives of the pas
sengers of train in this manner. If the rails
were tempered with it must have been done
after O clock in the morning, as the train that
left here at 6.15 A. M. passed over the same
place safely. Another theory is that the ex-
treme heat of yesterday warped the rails and
threw them out of line.
In consequence Of this accident no trains
left this city for Boston until after the arrival
of the morning trian from that place, which ar
rived here at 7.30 P. NJ, bringing with it the IL
NJ train from Boston. A mixed train was made
up to leave here for Boston Immediately after
the arrival of the morning train. This train
was composed of the and P M. trains.
This is the most serious accident that has
ever occurred on the Portland, Saco g. Ports
mouth Railroad. The excitement here yester-
day, after intelligence of the accident had
reached this city was very great, until it was
announced that no serious injury been suffer
ed by any of the Portland passengers.
PORTLAND AND NASHUA RAMRoAD.-The
editor of the Nashua Telegraph, in nearly ev-
cry issue of that enterprising paper, writes
vigorously and at length on the importance of
the above railroad, and is very unwilling to
yield to the combination of opposing influ-
ences, which seem however probably to have
secured but temporary victory. The paper
speaks confidently of the ultimate success of
the enterprise, partially on account of the
change of sentiment which is daily taking
place. Our Nashua friends deserve great
credit for the manly and generous part which
they have taken in this matter They feel that
the true interests of the city have been thwart-
ed by powerful outside influences and the ed
itor continues to handle these parties without
gloves. The Despatch of yesterday, after re-
| citing some important facts, declares that "an
official investigation of the whole affair is due
to the outraged sentiment Of majority of the
| legal voters of the city"
| The policy of the friends of the road in meet
| ing unauthorized and untrue statements of the
opposition, by candid and well digested argu-
ments and facts, is doing good business
We notice in Boston paper that there was
an important Railroad meeting at Concord on
| Saturday, in the interest of the proposed new
railroad from Concord to Rochester, to be the
connecting link in grand railroad chain from
| Portland to the West. The Telegraph re-
marks, that Mayor Stevens, Nathaniel White.
and other leading citizens were present, and
assurances were given that Concord was deep
| ly interested in the enterprise and would con-
tribute literally to its success. 1t was decided
| at this meeting to call public meetings in all
the towns interested in the matter. Has not
| the Portland Rochester Railroad rested long
enough to take fresh and vigorous start, in
order to encourage, and then secure the impor-
tant fruits of these offers, which come from
every direction for new connections with the
city of Portland?
STEAMER LEwIsToN.-Next week this favor