Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-21
Railroad Horror.
A Train Plunges into a River.
Seven Persons Killed.
A Number Injured-Six Cars Burn
cd-The Destruction Of q Bridge
Causes the Disaster.

Providence, r. l., 10. The steamboat trair
from Providence plunged into the Pawcatucl
River this morning at three o'clock. TIL,
bridge was carried away by the freshet. ST,
bodies have been taken out. Fifteen persons
were badly injured. Six cars we're burned
SECOND DESPATCH.
Providence, 10. The bodies of William
ID. Gould, engineer. George Eldridge, fire
man, and Albert Allen, of Providence, Jerr,
Dreamer OF Boston, and two unknown per
sons have been recovered.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Stonington, Conn, 10. A dreadful acct
dent occurred to the steamboat train on thu
Stonington and Providence Railroad this
morning. The train from Stonington 70,
Boston fell through the bridge at Richmond
switch. Six cars were burned in the river
Fifteen persons are supposed to have been
killed. Six bodies have already been recoy-
cred from the ruins. The accident was caus
ed by the freshet.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Boston. 10. A number of passengers, sur.
vivors of the wrecked Stonington train,
reached Boston this afternoon. Among them
several of the wounded whose names were
given in the Providence despatch. None OF
them appeared to be seriously injured excep,
Nolan, the brakeman, who was taken to his
home on Abbott street. Conductor Gardiner
and the baggage master had just gone back
into the smoking car when the accident hap
pened. The conductor was jammed between
the seats by the shock, and showed grea
presence of mind by Immediately calling ou
to some one to go back with signal of dan
ger for the mail train, which was just behind
them, and was coming with rapid speed
Some of the unframed Immediately rushed
back and signaled the coming train, and &
double disaster was aveIted. All the badly
wsunded were taken to the hospital in thai
city.
Mr.. Jonas Hostrom, who was a passenger
in the fourth car of the train gives an accoun,
of the disaster The train, which consisted
OF five cars, left Stonington at five minutes
pas three o'clock, about thirty-fiv minutes
late. The rate of speed before reaching
Richmond switch was about thirty five miles
miles an hour, and the first intimation lie had
of the disaster was sharp conclusion, which
burst open the car in which he was seated
and partially filled it with the debris of the
preceding car. Mr.. Holstrom was on the left
hand side Of the rear of the car, and in from,
| OF him on the opposite side near the stove
were two young men, apparently from twenty
| to twenty five years of age, while directly
behind them was Benz. r. Knapp. Jr., o.
Boston. Mr.. Holstrom, Immediately afte
| the shock, heard the young men and Mr.
Knapp call for help to extrcate them, as they
wounded and held fast by the splntered por
| tons of the preceding car. Mr.. Holstrou
and several others set about TO extricate Mr.
Knapp and the two young men above named
when suddenly volume of flames shot init
| the car door and instantly the mass of spin
tiers was on FIRE. The flames rushed through
! the Car as quickly as if it had been filled witt
a lot Of hay, and the rescuers had barely
| time to relieve Mr.. Knapp from his perilou,
position, when they were obliged to flee fo
| their lives, leaving the two unfortunate mer
| to meet their terrible fate. None of the 9TH
er occupants of the car were known to have
| persisted, although quite a number had yer,
narrow escape.
| The bridge where the disaster happened i
between thirty and forty feet wide, and thu
depth Of the chasm is about twenty feet
| Nearly forty rods above this point is saw
and grist mill on the Pawcatuck and a suppl.
of water for the mills is received by means o
a dam. The storm swept away the dam ant
the stream below rose to a hight of ten feet
carrying away the railroad bridge and abut
ments which were found about fifty rods be
low. The engine and tender leaped thu
chasn and landed on the opposite side. Ia,
mediately behind were the crate cars whicl
plunged into the opening, followed by thu
second class passenger car containing a mum
Der of emigrants, and a party of sailors be
| longing in Boston were returning to that city
from New York, where they had sailed a shi
on Wednesday. As this car piled upon tn
crate cars, it was splintered into kindlin
wood, and the persons inside were tumbe
into the river. In the rear Of this was ca
which contained but two passengers and Thos
Nolan, the brakeman. The next car was oc
cuIAed by quite number of passengers, ano
was the one in which Mr.. Holstrom was seat
ed. Behind this was another passenger ant
smoking car, both of which were saved b.
uncoupIing and running them back from tn
wreck. The general opinion among the pas
sengers seemed to be that the fire caugt
from the stove in the second class car, al
though its work was done SO quickly, that tn
true origin will never be definitely known.
The Shore Line train went back to Wes
erly and gave news Of the catastrophy, an
Drs Wilbur. Lewis, Collins and Crandal
were soon dispatched by special train to III
scene of the wreck
Providence, r. L., 10. There are probabl
but seven killed, Allen, Dreamer, Guile, +
bridge, Callahan, and two unknown person
whose limbs are burned off, leaving Il
trunks only. No inquest has been deemt
necessary by the Coroner. The bodies vi
be brought to this city.
STILL LATER.
Boston, 10. ~ have just returned fro
the scene of the disaster. So far, only d,
passengers and two employees have bee
found killed. The cause Of the accident
| very nlain The dam l5O wards above u