Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-08
Railroad Accident at VassalbOrO'.
several Persons Injured Miraculous
Eseapes-FulI Particulars.

| An accident occurred on the Maine Cen
trail Railroad yesterday morning, about halt
past eight o'clock, at Getchells corner Vas
| salboro', by which several persons were in
Jured. An extra down train of lG cars,
heavily loaded with wood and cattle, ran
into the regular freight train that was stand
ing in its usual place upon the track at the
station. In the rear of the regular train was
a saloon and passenger car containing twelve
passengers. At this point there was quite a
curve, and the approaching train was not
| discovered by the persons on the passenger
and saloon cars, until within a few rods.
| Mr. Pishon of Vassalbere' was on the pas
senger car, and seeing the approaching en-
| CINE, shouted 20 the startled passengers.
''Clear out, or we shall be run into and all
| killed." and a rush was made for the door.
| In getting from the car most on board rushed
forward, but several went back towards the
| coming train. One woman, Mrs. Levi
Lashers of Watcryille, went to the door,
when she became frightened and started
back, wringing her hands in mental agony.
Hon. T. S. Lang of this city was on board,
and but for his kindly interposition, she must
have been killed. He seized her and dragged
her to the door, when she jumped to the
| ground and sank down about six feet from
the track. She was slightly injured in one
of her lower limbs. Mr.. Lang was on the
point of jumping whenfhe engine struck the
car and threw him over the woman on to the
grass. The engine completely telescoped
this car, forcing itself entirely through it. The
smoke stack of the engine was broken off
and the engine (the Il. ID. Rico otherwis
| injured. The exhaust steam soon filled the
wreck. Mr.. Geo. Z. Wadsworth Of Boston.
| (chair dealer), was unable to get out of the
ear, being the only person We believe, re-
| naming in it, and was badly scalded on the
back of his neck, head and both hands.
| Finding he could not get out, he laid down
| fiat upon the car floor, which probably saved
| his life. Mr.. Warrener of Skowhegan was
slightly scalded on the neck and face. The
worst injury was sustained by Eli French Of
capped his foot caught and was torn and the
sole and skin stripped from it. j. j. Walker
of New Portland had rib broken.
After striking, the engine continued ex-
hausting steam for fully ten seconds, and the
wreck was so full of steam as to make it i'm
possible for some moments to ascertain
whether any one was in the ruins. All
seemed to be possessed of fear that the
engine would blow up, but as soon as the
| steam was shut of it was ascertained that no
one was under the wreck. Then men breathed
| freer again, and began to realize the wonder
! full escape. The wounded ones were kindly
cared for in adjacent houses, and received the
professional services of DR.. Jackson of
Getchell's corner.
| The passenger car which was demolished
was new one. The top of the car went over
the engine and tender, while the engine itself
was completely inside the car. The saloen
car, next to the passenger car, was knocked
from part of its trucks, and the rear part
broken in, but it was not otherwise damaged.
| No person on the extra train was injured in
the least. Several cattle were so badly hurt
on the spot
| Now the public have a right to inquire as
to the case of this accident. BY some it is
laid squarely upon the shoulders of the en-
gineer, Mr.. Nichols, who it is said did not
properly estimate the distance between the
two trains and the momentum of his train.
On the other baud, and in the defence of the
engineer, it is said that the alarm for brakes
was sounded at the proper time, bat the
brakemen We're all in the rear car and could
not reach their proper positions at the brakes
in season. The engine was reversed but the
train was under such Roadway that the means
of stopping it entirely failed.