Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-02-25
Fearful Railroad Accident.
NARROW ESCAPE - NAMES OF TUE II
IJ1REn

One OF those fearful railroad accidents
from which passengers seem to have al
most miraculous escapes, occurred in
Putney on Saturday morning last at
about s o'clock. The early Montreal or !,
night express train down, at about hun
dred rods above Putney depot, ran into
a washed out culvert, the engine going
off the bank just about its length on the
left of the track next TO the river, while
the tender, baggage, one passenger and
one sleeping car all went down the bank
on the other side, some thirty-fve or for.
~ feet. The baggage car Immediately
took fire and was entirely destroyed with
its contents, except small portion which
remained il. the water The two passen-
ger cars struck in the water and we're in
stantly more than half submerged. The
sleeping car turned, rested ON its side,
and the passengers found egress through
the windows. The other car remained
upright, but hole in the top at one end
had been smashed in some way in the
descent. This hole was Immediately cut
larger by the railroad men outside. and
out of il were taken the eleven passen-
gers inside, and strangest of all no one
in either car was killed or dangerously
injured, though several were severely
bruised and lamed. Their greatest es-
cape was from instant drowning while
cooped up inside the passenger car, one
end of which headed round directly in
to the entrance of the culvert, but caught
by one corner and there held as by a
thread. Afterwards it was almost en-
tirely submerged. Had it fioated through
it would have been in the river at once
and every passenger in it must have been
drowned.
The railroad men having the train in
charge all seem to have behaved in "a
cool and highly creditable manner. We
believe this was conductor Marstop's
train, but Charles L. Wheeler of this viii
lage was conductor pro TEN at this time,
and was standing between the cars CIV
ing directions to the brakeman when the
accident occurred He and the brake
man both jumped from the train and es-
capped harm. The engineer, Geo. God
dard and his fireman both stood at their
post till the last of tie tumble, and es-
capped with slight bruises. They all gave
their first and immediate attention to the
passenger cars, the first noise or signs of
/ life from which being from q little child
which was on a seat asleep, and which
set up good lusty and at that time
thrilling cry. Its father ard mother
were also in the car, and all three escap-
ed without even the usual number o.
! bruises found on most of the other pas
sengers. OF course they and all the 9th.
er passengers were thoroughly drenched
in water, but we never saw more thank.
Iul SCI tndI NSiS lhoSC paSSeaSSiS sAsa'
morning after they saw how narrow had
been their escape. After the passenger:
had all been got out, (there were four II
the sleeping car and eleven in the othe',,
there was still one missing, and Wheeler
and Goddard both went back into tht
passenger car and there waded round il
the water, expecting to fish out the only
life lost, when, much to their joy, Mr.
Parker, who lived near the scene of thu
; disaster, arrived and reported the miss
, ing passenger at his house This pas
!, seneer, Mr.. Brigham, received TIL
J most serious injuries of any, and unabl,
, to help on the wreck, he had crawled VI
the bank to Mr.. Parker'shouse and CAV
! the alarm of the trouble.
The names of those mi ured most were
l S P. Bowen, Plattsburg, N. T.; bruis
4 es numerous but not severe. At first hi
! head and face presented bloody an'
battered appearance.
Rev. r. j. Sullivan, ST. Peters Church
Hartford, CT, bruised. His clothing be
low his knees, black pants and re-
drawers, was torn in manner that CAV
. him rather fancy appearance. lie los
SO worth of books burnt in the baggag
car.
i, Wilbur F. Brigham, of the firm Of /
Brigham & Co, Hudson, Mass, severe
4 ly injured in one leg, limb which b
said had been broken twice on forme
occasion. He was very lame, and mos
= injured of any passenger. He was di
. posed to make the best of it, howeve
y and put in good temperance lectul
: while on the freight car to Brattleooro
; Breault, of New York cit.
slightly injured. Lost some clothing
e gold watch, chain, &c, some OF whic
:, was afterwards fshed from the wrec
and restored to the owner.
> James Mcintyre, Waterbury, CT, OF
10 foot cut, supposed by glass, and whie
bled considerably, but the wound w
not severe. He claimed to have lost Sc
], eral hundred dollars in the baggage ca
,6 ,..o~, :,