The Portland daily press., 1871-08-08

| Especial Dispatch by Western Union Line
| GErcHEIL's CORNER, Vassalboro', Aug. T.
The most inexcusable railroad accident tina
ever took place in the State, occurred at tn
stations in this village about nine O'Clock TIL
morning M. P. Waterman's freight trall
| with two passenger cars attached, was stand
ing on the main track. The engine being De
tached taking water at the bank.
In the two passenger cars occupying the rea
of the train were thirty or forty persons. Hon
| I. s. Lang CHANGED to be on board and as h'
| happened to look on the track he saw, to hi
horror, another train dashing round the curv'
| few rods off at the rate of fifteen or twenty
miles an hour. He Immediately gave TIT
| alarm and most of the passengers escaped IRON
| the Car before the engine came plOughlnf
through it. Two persons however, ere pre-
vented by the crush from jumping of These
were Eli French of Kendalrs Mills and Geo
G. Wadsworth Of Boston, the former had hil
boot torn off and his foot seriously injured
While the latter seriously, but not dangerous
ly scalded on the head, neck and hand. 1t is q
miracle that either escaped with his life
The engine made its way two-thrds of the
distance through the ear; the car detached ii
from the rest of the train aud carried it the
length of seven rails on its back, SO to speak.
The wreck was not only kindliDg-wood but q
part of it was sawdust The speed at which
the extra train was coming may be inferred
from this circumstance as well as from the fact
that the whole heavy freight train that was
struck was driven forward five hundred feet
dragging after it the first passenger car, which
had been thrown off its hind trucks and was
tearing up the sleepers over which it was
drawn.
OF those who jumped from the train VIM
Warren of SkowhegaB, was slightly scalded
about the head by escaping steam, and j. J.
Walker of North New Portland, was badly
hurt 10 the side by jumping. Mr.Lang was the
last ma n to leave the car, where be made the
most heroic endeavors to aid the escape OF his
fellow passengers. Mrs. Sophia Lashus OF
Waterville. was so paralyze by fear that she
stood motionless till she was seized and fairly
thrown from the car by Mr.. Lang. She was
quite badly hurt by the fall, but no bones were
broken.
All Ofthe injured but Mr.. French and Mrs.
Lashus were able to 60 on in the train. They
were kindly cared for at the house of Mr..
Charles Blanchard, gin front of which the
collision took place. DR.. jackson was prompt
tly on the ground and gave such aid as was re-
quired.
The train which attempted to pass another
on the same track was Julius Fairbrother's
extra wood and cattle train. 1t is said that the
conductor knew that another train was Just
ahead of him and that the proper flags were
displayed to warn him to stop. Cons. quently
the popular impression is that he is to blame,
and the indignation excited by his conduct is
very great, but an investigation may place the
fearful responsibility elsewhere. The freight
train was late and he thought it had gone.
1t the collision had occurred little later
the loss of life would haveibeen fearful, as q
large excursion party was about to occupy the
car that was smashed, and it would have been
impossible for all to escape.
The force OF the collision was sucb that
some of the cattle were thrown through the
front OF their cars and escaped, and one was
hung by the neck and had to be killed.
Col. Wildes, one of the Railroad Commits
sioners, visited the scene of the disaster to day.
He remarked that he never saw a car SO thor
oughly demolished. The engineer on the ex-
ira train was John Nichols. r.
5 Masonic Funeral.
Especial Despatch by International Linel
Brunswick, Aug. THE Grand Lodge of
Maine was in session here to-day to attend the
funeral of Most Worshipful Past Grand Master
Abner B. Thompson. who was one of the old
est, and tor many years one of the most active
members of the Grand Lodge. In the dark
days of Masonry, Gen. Thompson was of the
few who stood firm in the support of the
Grand Lodge as an active organization, and
lived to see all of his sanguine hopes realized
as member of the higher bodies The Su-
preme Council of the State was represented by
Grand Commander Josiah Fl. Drummond, and
the Grand Commandry of Knight Templars by
Grand Commander Henry FL. Dickey. The
following Masonic bodies were represented in
the procession, forming one of the most i'm
pressive funerals held in our State for long
time. United Lodge, in which Gen. Thompson
received his degrees of Master, taking the i'm
mediate supervision of the preparatory ar
engagements. The funeral consisted of
Members of Acadia Polar Star and Ancient
York Lodges, with United Lodge Maine Com
mandery, of which he was a member; Port
land, Lewiston and Bath Communicates, ac-
by the Portland, Bath and Gar
diner Bands. The procession was under Sir
Knight VIM. R. Field, Marshal, assisted by
Marshals of the several bodies.
By request of Most Worshpful John H.
Lyndle the funeral services at the grave were
conducted by Most Worshipful Past Grand
Master, J. II. Drummond, whose rendering of
the same was interesting and impressive.
Thus, upon one of the pleasantest days of
the year has been laid to rest, one, who in pros
perity and adversely, guarded we'll the inter-
ests of the Order in Maine, aud one whose face
will be missed for many sessions of the Grand
Lodge at its regular communications.
Ito Associated Pressl
Fire.
BANGOR, July IA fire tonight damaged
the house on Bower street owned by H. w.
Durgin and occupied by three families, to the
amount of $500; insured. Each of the families
lose about $500; no insurance.