Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-10-22

The recent railroad accident at Ho1sick
/ Falls, by which Dr. Fowler and wife Of
! that place and Mr. Aiken Of Sandlake lost
their lives, and other parties were seriously
injured. was a tragic and heart-rending
/ affair. When the train arrived at Eagle
/ bridge. Conductor Clark was informed that
/ a bridge near the station had been under
minded and could not be crossed hv cars
I lie informed the passengers Of this fact. and
| suggested to them the p0Ipriety of remaining
over night at Eagle Bridge. Before, how
ever. any Of item had left the cars. be re-
membered that his brother. Robert Clark
was On the opposite side Of the bridge with
the engine George Gould, and be proposed
that they should walk over the bridge and
take conveyance upon the engine to the
Falls
This was gladly assented to by all the
passengers-0nly fifteen in number-and as
soon as possible the engine was loaded with
it precious freight Of humanity. and started
on its way to the Falls, backing up to the
village. The baggage master of the Train,
Frank Lewis, and the express messenger, II.
W. Benson, sat upon the rear end-n0w the
iront-ot the tender, each. To avoid accidents
/ holding a lantern, which threw a pickering
light upon the track. Mr.. Clark the en-
gneer, ran the engine very slowly, and had
reached a point within a mile Of the Falls.
when Lewis and Benson simultaneously call
ed upon him TO stop. 1t was the work of a
second to reverse tie lever, but almost be-
fore it was done the engine began TO settle
upon the track, and in another moment it
was topping over and plunging down the
embarkment, fifty feet or more, into the
dancing, boiling, i0aming water Of the Hoo
sick river.
The roar Of the water was deafening. No
lights were at hand. The screams Of the in
iured, and Of those struggling in the water
we're appalling. " save me l' e. save me 80
were the cries that even above the roar Of
the waves and the fury OF the storm pierced
all ears. Mr.. Clark found himself pinioned
by a rail Of the track which lay across his
body. Aiken lay dead by his side With
superhuman exertiOn he removed the rail
and struggled TO the river bank. Ofau
that load Of persons upon the engine every
one went down save Benson, the express
messenger. The engine appears to have
made a complete somersault in its descent Of |
Of the embarkment, and plunged down into F..
eight feet Of water
Ryan. the fireman. was fastened in the /
ca b, released himself and swan long dis |
lance. until finally be reached the trunk Of |
a tree and gained the shore. A student Of |
Williams College also swan to the shore /
Dr. Fowler and wife were both drowned. /
but Young Aiken was killed outright bv the |
fall. /. NJ. Cooley, Of Hoosick, was scalded /
and bruised. His face was so badly injured |
as to be unrecognizeable. These, with the
Rev. DR.. Dryer Of New York, were the only
ones thrown in the water, the others being
on the upper side of the engine. The dead
and wounded were carried up the embark
ment and laid upon the track. After the
extent of the calamity was known, Con-
ductor Clark, overcome with excitement and
the pain OF his Injuries, as well as others of
the party, were saved from fainting only by
lying down upon the track and permitting
the generous rainfall to descend upon their
faces. Messrs. Benson and Webster then
walked up TO HOosick Falls, and, securing
hand car, the bodies Of the dead and wound
ed were removed to the village Troy Times