Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-16
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Accident on the Maine
Central!
a was1, out the Cause
The Pullman Sleeping Train
Thrown from the Track.
THE CARS BADLY SMASHED, BUT NO
PERSON KILLED.

The sleeping train from Bangor for Boston
was late last night on account of the deten-
ton to the afternoon train, and did rot arrive
in this city until about twenty minutes to
eleven.
When nearly opposite Lombard's ice house
in Farmingdale, the entire train run off the
track with the exception of.the engine, which
remained on the track, but the tender was
badly smashed. The accident took place
about IL 40 O'Clock.
The cause Of the accident was wash out
the track for some distance being undermined
by the storm.
Particulars Of the casualty have been fur
nished us by our Gardiner correspondent and
Superintendent Lincoln.
1t gives us pleasure to report that only one
man is injured, who was cut in the back part
of his neck. There are, of course, many
slight injuries, such as bruises and scratches
At the time of the accident 1t was raining
hard. and the darkness added to the confusion
of the scene. The passengers, however, be-
venting any undue excitement.
The baggage master, Mcdonald, who was
at first reported to be missing, has since
turned up. A brakeman who was at first re-
ported badly injured, is all right, not having
received scratch
The section men go over the track just
ahead Of the train, and the place where the
accident occurred must have been passable
few minutes before the arrival of the train.
The tender and engine were both smashed
The baggage car was thrown on to its side,
smashing it badly, and also throwing the cars
off the track and badly smashing them.
Mr.. Geo. Nevins, roadmaster of the Maine
Central, was in the smoking car with five or
six other passengers, and says, eve were
going along all smooth when suddenly we
heard a crash and were pitched headlong
upon the floor, followed by seats, stoves, &C. y
He escaped without injury except slight
bruises on the head and face. The baggage
master was missing when Mr.. Nevns came
to Gardiner to report the news. but he is now
reported safe. The engine remained on the
track.
The engineer, Mr.. Small, was not injured
1t is reported that the fireman is somewhat
hurt, but not badly. Several of the passen-
gers were injured but only slightly; none
killed. Cannot say how badly the cars are
smashed now, owing to the storm. Medical
assistance was called from Gardiner, and
Drs. Hildreth, Williams and Small promptly
went to the scene of accident, by the dummy
engine.
Superintendent Lincoln was called up by
the accident and he promptly sent relief
train to the scene of the accident.
The cause of the accident has been found
to have been culvert washed out near the
place of the late collision in Farmingdale
The engine passed over all right dragging
the tender behind and badly smashing it,
carrying it some twenty rods down the track,
leaving the engine on the iron.
The shock was very great and threw the
passengers in the passenger and smoking cars
in great confusion. mixing up seats, &C., but
fortunately none were killed, and but few
slightly wounded. The fireman is not much
hurt.
The track was badly torn up, baggage car
on one side with trucks out, and smoking car
somewhat injured. The passenger and sleep
ing cars all had their trucks knocked out and
platforms and floors somewhat injured.
The baggage car caught fire, but was ex-
tinguished by the passengers. Road Master
Nevens was slightly hurt on the head and face.
A telegraph repairer by the name of Geo.
II. Merrill of Saco, had a cut on the head.
Several others were slightly bruised. The
track was torn up badly and it will take some
time to repair it. Conductor Holmes tsok
the passengers to Gardiner on an extra train.
On reaching Gardiner they were cared for at
the Evans and johnson houses. Everything
has been done to clear the wreck and establish
communication, but the darkness and storm
render it next to impossible to do anything
until daylight.
Conductor Eaton escaped with slight bruis-
es on the hip, and did everything in his power
to promote the comfort of the passengers.