Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-04-25
Railroad Slaughter.
SEVEN PERSONS KILLED AND SEVERAL
WOUNDED.

SEVEN PERSONS KILLED AND SEVERAL
WOUNDED.
A terrible accident occurred ON the
Stonington and Providence railroad, ear
ly Saturday morning, the steamboat
train from Stonington to Providence be-
ing precipitated into stream at Rich
mond Switch, Il. l., about fourteen miles
east of Stonington, by the washing away
of the bridge About 40 rods above this
bridge was dam, which was carried
away during the hight by sudden fresh
ct, thus letting the whole force of the
water from Ennis pond, which supplies
the water for grist-mill, down upon the
railroad bridge and completely washing
it away. No one lived near the pond,
so that the breaking away of the dam
was not known until the train, freighted
with 10 souls, was thrown into the
chasm made by the swollen stream. The
engine and tender leaped the stream, but
five of the cars fell into the abyss fortu-
nately the first were baggage flats, ;"
containing the baggage and express
crates, and these broke the shock for the
following passenger cars. The latter,
however, caught fire, and several persons
were burned to death. The latest reports
indicate that seven were killed, including
the engineer and fireman, who died at
their posts, while a large number were
more or less injured. Only the conduc-
tors presence of mind saved still more
terrible disaster. The Shore line mail
train was entitled to the track, but, being
from three to five minutes late, the
steamboat train started in advance; 9th.
erwise the former would have plunged
into the chasm. Conductor Gardner and
the baggage-master had just entered the
smoking car, when the accident occurred.
The conductor was jammed in between
the seats, but showed great presence of
mind by Immediately calling out to some
one to go back with signal of danger
to the mail train, which was only three
minutes behind Some one of the un-
harmed Immediately rushed back and
signaled the coming train, and double
disaster was thus averted by Mr.. Gard
ner's promptitude The Shore line train
backed to Westerly and gave news Of
the catastrophe, and Drs. Willow, Will
bur, Lewis, Collins and Crandall were
soon dispatched by special train to the
scene of the wreck.
A PASSENGERS STATEMENT.
Jonas Holstrom, passenger in the
fourth car of the train, gives the follow
account of the disaster: The train con
sisted of five cars, and left Stonington al
5 minutes past o'clock, about 80 min,
utes late. The speed before reaching
Richmond was about 80 miles an hour
and the first intimation he had of thu
disaster was sharp conclusion, which
burst open the car in which he was seat
ed and partly filled it with the debris o
the preceding car. Mr.. Holstrom wa
on the left side at the rear end of tn
car and in front of him, on the opposite
side, near the stove, were two young men
apparently from 20 to Is years of age
and directly behind them was Is. r
Knapp, Jr,, of Boston. Mr.. Holstron
Immediately after the shock heard tn
young men and Knapp call for help t
extricate them, as they were held fast b,
splintered portions of the preceding cal
On reaching Mr.. Knapp, it was foun'
that one of his legs was injured, and MI
Holetrom and several others set about t
extricate him and the two young mel
Suddenly volume of flames shot int
the car door, and instantly the mass G
} splinters was on fire, the flames rushin
through the car as quickly as though th
wood had been lot of hay. The rescu
] ers had barely time to release Mr.. Knapp
$ when they were obliged to flee for thei
lives, and the two unfortunate youn
: men were left to terrible fate, and wer
burned to death in few minutes N
r other occupants of this car are known t
: have persisted, though quite numbe
g had very narrow escape, among whor
! was an old lady, who belonged in Sane
S wich, Mass. Just before the fire burs
e into the car, Mr.. Holstrom and other
e we're engaged in prying up the stow,
9 which apparently had imprisoned til
. two young men, and the light of the fiji
t was distinctly seen outside the train, br
Q was supposed to be signal to warn al
r preaching trains or to aid the rescue
r in their labors.