Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-25
A COLLISION AND SERIOUS ACCIDENT

Two LOCOMOTIVES BADLY DAMAGED
Two PASSENGERS, a CONDUCTOR AND
BAGGAGEMAN INJURED.-A collision oc-
Cured on the Troy and Boston railroad
at the switch near Melrose Station, We'd
nesday evening, which resulted in the
dismantling of two locomotives and the
injury of two passengers and railroad
employees
We are in receipt of special telegram
in regard to the accident, but the fol-
lowing account of it, from the Troy
Times of last evening, we use because it
is fuller. 1t seems the freight and accom-
mediation train due here at 8 p. M.
arrived at Melrose sixty-fixe minutes be-
hind time. In accordance with the gen.
eral instructions, it was detained at Mel
rose until the express leaving here at
$50 should arrive. The train was run
upon the switch; unfortunately the 10
comotive |. V. Baker, in charge of en-
gineer VIM. Davis, was allowed TO stand
partly on the switch and partly on the
main track. The train from Troy came
along on time; it passed round sharp
curve near the switch, and the engineer,
r. Killenbeck, failed to see the delayed
train until too late to avoid a collision. He
slackened speed, and used his best eff
forts to have the meeting as harmless as
possible. His locomotive, the General
Wool, struck the other with terrific
force, and, using the words of specta-
tor, sit climbed right on top of the Ba-
ker." Both engines were seriously dam
aged by the shock. Some0f the passen-
gers became wild with excitement, but
two only were injured. B. F. Lewis,
conductor Of the passenger train, in at
tempting to set the brakes, had one of
his hands badly crushed John II. Fo-
ley, the baggageman, in setting on the
brakes, was hurt on the side and shOul-
der, and injured internally He was
sent tohis home at North Adams. Ap-
prehensions of fatal termination of his
Injuries are entertained. The baggage
car of the passenger train was somewhat
damaged, and was partially tipped from
the trucks; none of the baggage was i'm
jured Mrs. III. J. Clark, of North Ad-
ans, who was on her way home from
New York, and John Buckley, laborer
employed at the Hoosac tunnel, were the
only passengers who received injuries
worth noticing. Mrs. Clark had one of
her arms severely bruised. Buckley,
who was intoxicated, was standing on
the front platform of the passenger car
when the collision took place He was
thrown from the Cur and badly bruised,
but was about the depot at Troy yester-
day as drunk as ever
When tIdings Of the accident reached
Troy wrecLing train was sent up In
Charge OF Master Mechanic Foster. a
number of men were immeuIateIy sot ~
work clearing the track Of the wrecked
locomotives, and at one o'clock next
morning, other locomotives having been
procured, the passenger train was allow
ed to proceed on its trip. The freight
train arrived IN Troy ate o'clock next
morning. The Montreal express, which
should leave Troy at 10 O'clock, dill not
get away until 1870, and was detained
some time at Melrose.
The chief officials of the road seem TO
be of the opinion that the blame belongs
either to the engineer of the passenger
train or the conductor of the freight and
accommodation. Both are experienced
railroad men, and never had accidents to
their trains before; yet, upon a survey
of the facts. it seems as if one or both
were guilty of negligence. The con-
ductor, George Dorm, of the freight train
says the locomotive was allowed to stay
partly on the switch and on the main
track simply because it could not move
back wholly on the switch. The train
consisted of fifty cars, all heavily loaded,
and the grade in the vicinity is very
steep. The heavy train and steep grade
prevented the locomotive from pushing
itself back on the switch track. To
avoid an accident fagman was sent
ahead to notify the engineer of the pas
senger train. If this man gave signal
the engineer did not see it. Mr. Killen-
beck says he was on the engine, and
would have enoticed the signal had it been
given. An investigation has been begun
by the railroad officials.
Trains were running regularly yester-
daV