Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-07-08
The Rutland Railroad accident.

of the road with culpable neglect, and repre-
senting the road to have been and still to be in
generally insecure condition. As late IS last
Sunday the N. Y. World contained letter,
which it made the subject Of an editorial, en-
desvoliag to make political capital out Of the
disaster, by asserting that the inhabitants in the
neighborhood treated the injured and dying
with brutal neglect and that nothing was
done for their comfort or relief by either the
officers Of the road or the citizens who came in
crowds to gaze on the misery of the sufferers
This alleged inhumsnity was contrasted with
the alscrity with which the people in the
vicinity Of the scene Of some railroad catastrophe
in Southern State, rushed to the relief of the
wounded; and the public were left to draw the
inference thst the civilization at the South,
where the refining influences of slavery have
been enjoyed and where the Democratic party
is in the asceadency, is vastly superior to that of
moral New England"
In view of these aud similar representations
Railroad Commissioner Parker Of Vermont, and
Mr.. W. B. Gilbert, civil engineer, have recently
at the request Of Governor Page, President Of the
road, made an investigation into the causes Of
the accident and the condition of the road, and
have prepared detailed statement in reference
thereto, which is published in the Rutland
Herald
They mention the fact that the accident oc-
CURED at spo; where the road had received in
jury from The great freshet Of October, 1860.
They describe the way in which this was repaired,
and say that the track at this point appeared
to be firmly and well secured for the passage Of
trains, - and thu, ''such security had been CIV
en- to the track by the use Of lorgitulinal tim
bers, q feet long, to slight depression in
the embankmeut of Only two feet for about
twelve feet in length, as any roaimaster would
use under similar circumstances. until the cul-
vert could be properly repaired. They ali
that during the interval between Midnight,
and about half-past 4. m the entire road bed
had been examined by section men passing over .
the road on loot, with lanterns; no unsafe place
was then discovered and it was reasonable to
suppose that the track in very short time
thereafter would be found safe
The way in which the track was undermined
and weakened by the sudden rise of water is de
scribei. The closing paragraphs Of the state
rent are as follows
It l. due to you, Mr. President, and il is also
due 20 the business public who have occasion %
use the line Of the Rutland road. to state the
fact that as the road has been 10 operation for
period Of over twenty years, without break or
injury At the points Of the late disaster or upon
other parts Of the road, you hal every reason 20
look with confidence to the stability and safety Of
the road AZ the points 10 question.
We find that every possible preesutou hal
been taken hy section men upon the road during
the interval Of the passage Of the freight train ~
this point about midnight aui the time q The
disaster hall past j 8. VI, aud that men hal
twice passed this point We End that the tea-
p1rsry structures used on the Rutland road 10
making such repairs are common On all rail-
roads. were strong and secure, over which trains
may pass with safety az the rate Of .5 20 80 miles
an hour. a, We have seen them subjected % such
a test.
From the IN IT careful examination All .uyes-
ti.aton that We have been able 90 give TINS ms,-
ter, We must come 90 the conclusion, tina, the
road was in q safe condition previous 90 the
storm AMI ihst llriur the storm, which WAS one
Of great severity all the caution hal been e1er-
e.s,i THAT hu@sn forecast could demand.
-'s $50 -...,. t.i
trask throughout the entire length. anil are war
rautei in saying tla, we dal theu 10 al res ,
Iecis hrsi class roAI, ami the civil engineer o.
signing the article takes pleasure 900 saying D.
.'''' Tie anus me COMMIT. o. % NE i.Ai Del 81
..--" D., .I'A L-'''iis'-- I'D iAt.-.'l' instance
200 l--es, Do e'eiy respect equal 70, AMI 10 A- g
--' .''7', '.''.l' ~ ''e '-e -.-' sel
"'.' 20 'lI We" l.'A Nsi-'lA- I.'''' aus 'AAt
gre AAo"u am FesAIlei As mole. IoAi' 'A our
c 4uIt.
We a-s1 nHi that the rosi from hli.AuI o. ri
ne.1~s aus d distance oil Ga miles, Do. '''e am
-. .1s f'll are b
2 ,s. tbis mart Or t5s road in the Fam, rs-.4.t ii
.l:ti5n IS that ul-t Of the road from R4t.nf .
20 Burlington.
Its.c.-ie lent tna- the condition uf -.ur el..re I"
road. previous 20 the October f~es6et. w.u.i 80
con pare fa,5-ai.y With any OF ths fr,r class D.
roads Ia the country The points where the road d.
received iuiurv are nov being repaired ali
placed 90 q rerusueu, condition a
G D. Parser. e.
Eaurusi Commissioner Of Vermont a
vs. r. GIlHaUr,
Civil Engineer
Tai mia -s,.-f ID. s-.,.r.Il . statement r, D- q
,.,, .
'.'" "--l''l-..- vi "''.--'' 'u reference
20 tle charges Of ilh-mauity sll neglect lft.c
wounded. lie refers especially t5arlau.heI
.,..--.,+ --t-,t Oh. sr-...s--... -..u be-
iu
" Hen NiF- 4. X ie.i's friends reached 1i1 r.
-i.ten hour. after ne accident lie hAl lai d.
i.isAAiehl "a, clIi water ana Whtn some
"I WAS ass Z IIr, -lAt .HN- ia rlf male
= nili, Ais trends we're tod thst there va nor i
io-nI "' i'esH oeei ca tue mountain. Tie lay
--.Liig "a 90 p mattress 700 sulri Ut hll-'
I'D ms reg Js-Uus over lle enl ana RESI- 81
< upon me NOR one % l's .e1s beng 'eril- VI
d. .' use 4-i uu'1'eIel MS was OUT a.,
-Ap.e % t1e coni'uon oi the DINERS.
Or Go.ismiJhs statement IS IS follows ~
"a, rre.eDt Al the Summit Station duriu, %.
be- i,v Of the accident AMI although NOT In Oh
a-,,e Of the wounded saw them sll ami e1-
-.inei several of them Your ipflrnstiou that
D.. wounded hal no proper food is incorre,t
bev hal an the food that thew peejeI Tbey d.
4 chicken broth and every thing tbst the sur la
ms I'm was lest for them The vouniei Oh,
ere dis'riou'ei secA a coIld oe sA'gy novel So
i. ,z,o i,r mon the alor bnt he bajo at
,ld bed under him. He, amongst his other ing
laries' had broken ribs His injuries were ma
i'h that 1t was impracticable to move him. It Jr,
n Of the bed . hit il h,ppepei 50 because nj der
s difficult md painful breathing made him its
a d, a.. vac Nn.S 10 pe 'ipyI ny III ueI' "
to slide d5wrw,rd. His legs were properly ms
essei, as were slI his other burns. myself dan
'y IA 'ne g'y SPpuel .ne 'LesS'uS proper 10 iust
. ppnbsr of b,rrej ,nsis =, sas,,ir,rv si,,e ms,
complete the dressing but the whole nece-- ing
Ty -ppIeAtons were made as promptly as pos ms,
e Ni ~ lsey enough 10. ~ i s,I. ppr zoo
l.e the major mart Of his whole bolv wa.
.ldei,-an injury from which have never