Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-16
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
COLLISION OF FREIGHT TRAINS.
SIX PERSONS INJURED-ONE PROBABLY
FATALLY.

Il 6tS1 OSSuIiCo Oa LILO 1eueiohA
: took place on Saturday afternoon last be
a tween the mixed train which leaves TIL
9 place at $40 p. m. and wood train, at
8 point about two and a half miles below
: Rutland. 1t may not be generally under
. stood that the mixed train leaves the Rut
/ land station as two trains, and proceeds il
Q this way, on account of the heavy ascend
: ing grade, as far as the Summit station
where the two parts are connected and tn
train continues on its way with one en-
r CINE. The first part of this train, draw
by the engine "Geo. B. Chase in charg
of Isaiah Sears, left the station at its ap
pointed time, $40 o'clock, and had pro
3 ceeded to point short distance nortl
of the bridge across Cold River, when tn
engineer discovered the wood train ap
preaching around the curve at the lowe
end of the bridge. He at once sounded
= "down brakes" and reversed his engine
. and succeeded in bringing the train to
stand Just at the north end of the bridge
The acting engineer of the wood train
, Mr.. Jairus Jenness, also saw the approach
ing freight train at the same instant, ant
gave the proper signal for applying brakes
and reversed his engine. But such wa!
the momentum of the train, together with
the heavy down grade, that its speed doe'
not appear to have been materially
checked, and the engine struck the engine
of the freight train with terrific power
The force of the conclusion was such that
the freight train was driven back about
four rods, where the engines remained
closely interlocked, the smoke-box of each
being crushed in, and the forward works
so far demolished that the cylinders came
in close contact.
The tender of the "Middlebnry," the
engine connected with the wood train,
was lifted bodily from its trucks, and re-
manned in an inclined position upon the
loaded wood car Immediately behind it.
This car was forced forward, completely
demolishing the cab of the engine, until
it was checked by the rear end of the
! UOlicE ln6 tOECc Vi tuS COuCuSSlUH APP
pears to have been expended at this point,
as no further damage resulted to the
wood train beyond displacing the second
and third car from the track The re-
mainder of the train kept the track, three
or four cars being left on the bridge when
they came to a stand-still.
On the freight train but little damage
was done, excepting to the engine, beyond
the partial crushing in of the ends of
several box cars.
This train being stationary, and upon
down grade, escaped the severe shock
the wood train received. AS the train
came to a stand, an opportunity was
given for all connected with it to escape
in safety before the collision occurred.
Those connected with the wood train,
however, were not so fortunate. Seeing
collision inevitable, the fireman of the
"Middlebury," Mr.. Jairus Jenness, who
was running the engine in the absence of
the regular engineer, jumped from the
train, together with six others, just be-
fore it entered the bridge. With a single
exception, these received severe Injuries,
and two of them were hurt seriously. Mr.
Jenness struck upon his head, and was
taken up in an unconscious condition.
and conveyed to the North Clarendon
depot, short distance below the scene of
the disaster.
Patrick Mcguire was badly cut about
the head and received a severe injury of
the hip.
Edgar Lareau, received severe bruises
about the head
Charles Lawrence, also injured about
the head.
Patrick Bradshaw, an arm broken
William Brislip, arm injured.
Henry Brislin, acting fireman of the
"Middlebury," jumped from the train and
escaped without injury.
Intelligence of the accident was prompt
ly sent to this place, and Drs. Allen,
Pond and Hanrahan went to the relief of |
the sufferers. 1t was found that Mr.. Jen-
ness had sustained fracture of the skull,
both of the front portion and at the base,
and was bleeding from the ears, which in
dictated such injury to the brain that it
was thought probable he could not sur
vive the night. He was removed by pri-
vate conveyance to his home in this viii
lage. The wounds of the other sufferers
were also attended to, but though severe
ly injured, none were found in danger-
GUS condition. They all belonged in this
place, and were brought to their homes
by rail in the evening.
The wood train was an irregular or
"wild' train, and was in charge of Will
liam B. Thrall as engineer and conductor,
but in consequence of illness he had left
his train at Ludlow in charge of the fire.
man, and came to this place on the $40
p. m. mail train. A red flag was placed
upon the mail train to indicate that the
wood train was following it, and in addi-
ton to this Mr.. Thrall had given notice
at the Office that his train was coming on.
But from some unexplained reason the
mixed train started out before the wood
train mad arrived.
The rear portion of the mixed train to
which the passenger car was attached,
was delayed some twenty miuutes on &C.
count of the non-arrival of the train from
Saratoga, and on going forward was sig
nailed by the disabled train, and at once
returned to Rutland
An extra engine being sent down, the
forward freight train was brought to this
place, when Mr.. N. L. Davis, master me-
chanic OF the road. promptly started with
wrecking car and gang of workmen to
remove the disabled engines. After work
ing till two o'clock Sunday morning, the
engines were placed upon temporary
trucks and brought to this Mace. Com