Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-22
THREE ENGINES SMASHED.
PROPER WARNING DISREGARDED.
Seven Freight Cars Smashed and Several
Others Damaged.

Portland, Me-, 20th-9.4O A. NJ. There
was an accident on the Eastern Railroad at
Kennebunk last night. The disaster was the
collision of up and down night trains, after
the midnight Pullman train safely past. Two
or three employees of the road are reported
killed or injured.
Portland, 20-lO A. M. The Eastern rail-
road accident occurred between Kennebunk
| and Days Siding. Freight w left here for
Boston at 7.40, which was three hours later
than the usual time. Near the place above
mentioned, the train broke apart, and the en-
gineer ran ahead to avoid being struck by the
rear part, it being down grade. He got on
to siding, and then finding that the balance
of the train did not overtake him he ran back
to meet it, when the freight train f, from
Boston, ran into him. The extent of the
damage is unknown. A wreeking train has
gone out. Three men are killed: conduc-
tor, brakeman, and fireman. There were two
I'M ured, who are unknown.
Portland, 20,-l.45, p. NJ. Nothing relia-
BILE received from the disaster in addition to
former dispatches. The Boston train is not
in yet, being detained by the wreck. 1t is re-
ported that the conductor killed was Bisbee,
also that one of the engineers lay under the
wreck, and three engines were smashed
The heavy engine on train F was dashed to
pieces.
Portland, Me-, 20. The victims of the
disaster are Bisbee, conductor Of the up
freight, killed. He was to have been married
on Christmas. Sherbsrne, fireman, killed.
The names of the wounded not given, and
their injuries were slight. Train w from
here consisted OF 40 freigh. cars and two To-
comotives. The officers of the road are I'M
able to locate the blame; but thorough in
vestigation will be had.
Portland, 2l Coroner j. w. Sargent, of
Kennebunk has summoned an inquest on the
railroad disaster. The road authorities will
afiored every opportunity for an impartial in
vestigatisn. From the evidence thus far pro-
duced, it appears that freight train w from
the East broke apart at kennebunkport. A
thick binding snow storm prevailing at the
time. The train was made up of some forty
cars. After breaking from them, the en-
gineers were compelled to run ahead to keep
out of the way of the train running wild on
down grade. The engineers reached Kenne
bunk on time and notified the telegraph oper-
ator and Waterman at that station that their
train was blocking the road, and asking the
delay of all trains until they could return and
clear it. The operator Immediately hung out
a red light, saying to the engineers that no
train would dare go by that They then re-
turned to secure their train order to cross the
train from the West at kennebunk. Shortly
after securing the wild cars a little short of
two miles east of Kennebunk, they were met
by the train from the west. The snow was
falling so thick and fast that the headlights
we're hidden or both trains. Why the train
from the west disregarded the warning given
at Kennebunk does not yet appear.
The witnesses have all been summoned and
the mystery will be unraveled on Monday.
At the time Of the collision there were four
men on the foremost engine of the up train !:
the conductor and friend, besides the engin-
eer and fireman The conductors friend was
ihe first to see the engine coming opon them
and leaped, escaping uninjured. The engin-
eer reversed his engine, whistled on brakes
and also jumped. The conductor and fire.
man were killed on the second engine, and
the engineer was thrown sixteen feet into the
snow, escaping with crushed! shoulder. The
fireman was killed. The men on the down
train escaped by jumping. Seven freight
cars were smashed up and several others
damaged.