The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-21
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad
Accident.

The morning train from Boston over
the Vermont and Massachusetts, Railroad,
on Thursday, met with q most unfortun-
ate accident about half-past 10 o'clock at
Long Bridge" between Royalston and
Athol, being almost completely wrecked
by collision with hand car. 1t seems
that Mr.. Morse, the section master, mis-
taking the hour indicated by his watch,
and thinking that he had ample time to
reach Royalston before the train from
Boston arrived here, started with one
man on a hand car from Athol in that di-
rection. A sharp curve in the road on
Royaston side of Miller's river prevented
him from seeing the train (Which was APP
preaching at full speedy until he entered
the bridge at one end, the train entering
the other end about the same time. The
onginoor OF tho train had Just gone In the
front end of the engine, leaving his engine
in charge Of the fireman, who, seeing the
hand car, whstled down brakes but it
was too late. The section men Jumped
from the hand car and caught in the b.a-
ces of the bridge, just as the engine struck
the car, completely demoishing it. ln-
stantly, an iron bar on the hand car
caught under the engine, throwing it
from the track. The wheels Of the engine
displaced the timbers Of the bridge aud
the baggage car, when it came to the
weakened spot, fell through into the river
below. The first passenger ear followed
in such a way that its front end shot UNI
der the rear end of the baggage car The
second passenger car fell cndwise, remain
ing in so nearly perpendicular position
as its wrecked condition would allow.
The last car did not go down, the for
ward truck only falling through the
bridge.
After the cars had gone down, the en-
CINE was pulled down backward, the ten
der falling first, then the engine going
down, leaving the forward end Of the
frame caught in the bridge. The ongi-
necr, being in front of hi engine, did not
fall into the river, but received cuts on
his lip and right knee in the collision
He Immediately went into the river, and
with what assistance he could get, COM
menced throwing water on the heated por.
tions of the engine, continuing till all
danger from fire was past. But for his
promptness and courage, the bridge would
have taken fire, and the calamity would
have been aggravated in fearful degree
Most of the passengers in the last cal
escaped with slight scratches and bruises
but those in the other cars were mangled
in horrible manner. -Four persons were
fatally injured, the list being as follows
Mrs Brewer, of Royalston, an aged lady
who died shortly after being taken to the
Methodist church in Athol johnson, q
man who sold popped corn on the train
killed instantly; Conner, laborcr going
ap hgwS a a hS HC9 0i EnsSh wh
suffered a compound fracture of the right
leg near the ankle. and was also injured
on the head and internally. She survived
the accident but few hours.
The wounded who number about TWEEN
ty, were: II. NJ. Jones, fireman, COM
pound fracture of wrist and cut in the
face and arm; A. s. Whitcomb, mail
agent, two ribs broken; George NJ. How
ard, brakeman, injured severely in the
head and internally; A. c. Doolittle, of
Gardner, leg broken VIM. NJ. Elliott,
baggage master, hurt severely; Mrs. Levi
Wheeler, severely hurt in the head; 4.
II. Rockwell, express messenger, cut over
the right eye; Miss L. j. Bullock, of
Royalston, injured on the head NJ. NJ.
Field, of Tounton; p. S. Young, of Bos-
ton Mrs. Charles Dean, Of Sunderland :;
John Murphy, of Lowell John Murphy,
I'd. of Lowell Miss Emily Sibley, Of
Bthol Miss Jennie Bruce, of Royalston;
William A. Foster, engineer, lip and
right knee; Mrs. Ellen King aud infant
child; Master Theodore Jones, head
slightly injured Ncttie Whitaker, AL
ice B. Mather, Sally Fish, and Angeiuc
Laters. Most of the ten last mentioned
were not seriously iniurnd