Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-31
Terrible Railroad Disaster.

The appalling railroad slaughter at Re.
we're, Saturday night, causes great excite.
ment to-day. Large crowds have visited
the scene of disaster. The railroad offi-
cials have cleared away the debris and
ruins, and the road is in running order
again.
At the time of the collision the accom-
mediation train for Beverly had its red
signal lights behind, and the red signal
was hoisted at mast head of signal post
for the express to held up, which it did at
Everett, but subsequently proceeded. 1t
was under full Roadway when near Revere
station. The engineer, evidently not
being aware of the proximity of the Bev'
erly train until within perhaps sixty rods
of it, whistled down brakes, but rot soon
enough to avert the calamity. Some OF
those in the rear part of the acconmo-
dation train heard the ominous whistle
but too late to escape. On came the ex-
press train at great velocity, and the en-
CINE struck the rearmost car full in the
centre and forced it's way in telescope
fashion two-thirds of the length of the
car. The smoke-stack was instantly
knocked off and the boiler penetrated all
of the distance named into the rear car.
the rear part of the latter being smashed
into thousand pieces. The fore part of
the engine was literally demolished, its
pistons bent and its rods broken. The
car was crowded with people, every seat
being occupied and many standing In the
aisle. In among these the locomotive
rushed as quick as a fash of lightning
Just as the Beverly train had started,
mangling and killing in the most fright
full manner But this was not the only
and perhaps not the worst visitor the UNI
fortunate passengers had. simultaneously
with the collision the head cap of the
boiler was broken and in an instant the
wretohed sufferers were shrouded in a.
cloud of Kissing steam and deluged with
boiling water, which brought instant
death to many of the wounded, and will
prove fatal to others who would probably
not have tean otherwise injured. The
lamps spilled their contents and fire here
if any, was undoubtedly extinguished by
the water and steam. Although the
Beverly train was just moving when the
collision took place, this motion did not
prevent injury to the cars in front of the
last Que. The coupling between the two
rear cars broke, and the platforms Of all
of them were jammed up together, the
smoking car overlapping the baggage car,
and timbers were inextricably mixed and
interviewed. Fortunately, the entangle-
ment was not SO great bat that the pas
sengers succeeded in getting out quite
speedily.
Happily was it for them that they did
so for the kerosene oil lamps were upset
and their contents spilled upon the up
holstery, and in an instant the smoking
car was in blaze. The flames travelled
with great speed from one car to another
until three Of them were embraced in
fiery folds These were subsequently
moved up the track half Il dozen rods and
allowed to burn until there was nothing
left for fire to feed upon. The flames
were useful in lighting up the dreadful
scene in the rear and facilitate services
for the wounded. Work of rescuing vic.
Tins was at once commenced, aid being
soon furnished from Chelsea, Charlestown,
and at late hour from Boston, including
surgeons aSd physicians.
The Frost Hose Company, just return
ed from an excursion to Providence were,
promptly on the ground, having seen
burning cars Deems OF poor creatures
were jammed with wood and iron work
and could not get out, The axe was APP
piled vigorously, and soon rope was ap-
piled to the sides of the car and all the re.
naming frame work was pulled asuDder
The dead and mangled bodie, were taken
out carefully and speedily, and placed on
the platform or in the depot. Ssme were
pinned with splinters, some had arms and
legs broken, while others were mangled
Many, in fact the majority, of the dead
were apparently free from bruises,
but the peeIin9 skin and the deathly
pallor which oyerspresd the flesh told
plainly that steam and sc4lding water
had been trightful ana effective agents of
death.