The New York herald., 1876-10-14
FATAL RAILROAD COLLISION.
A Long and Crowded Passenger Train CRASHES
Into Freight Train.
ONE FIR EMAN KILLED,
Several Persons Seriously lniured-Three
Locomotives and Number Of
Cars Demolished.
Irrom the Evening Telegram.l

[rrom the Evening telegram
Boston, oct Is ls76
Early this morning vague and wild rumors n.y.
ing about stating that the steamboat train tho Old
Colony road had of the track or collidcd with
some obstruction, by which immense number OF
people were reported have been killed wounded
The train was known to have large number OF re-
turning Centennial visitors board and the crowd Of
anxious faces at the old Colony Railroad station,
waiting the arrival Of their relatives and friends,
showed to what extent tho had gained credit
IN tho mind OF tho public II was soon ascerta,nsd
that although the disaster had resulted fatally to one
unfortunate fireman, yet tho had all escaped
with slight bruises. which tact many express
sions Of ''Thank Godi' from those snxiousy awaiting
their expected loved AS the reports be-
gan to take definite shape the depot
bcsicged with people anxiously waiting TO hear the
result
ACCIDENT.
Tho facts. q near could bo ascertained from In
tervews with the authorities OF the road and
Der of passengers who board Of tho train,
foows:--Tho steamboat train conductor Asa
Porter with twelve cars, including drawing room,
attached TO the rear Of the drawn by the Old
Colony and Falmouth started usual from Fall River
Ave O'Clock this morning. tho arrival OF tho boat
from New York.
While running Al the rate Of about twenty hve miles
per hour and short distance (abou sixty fce from
the station at Randolph, II coldsd with she local
freight train which switching on the main track
CAUSE
Tho steamboat train is due Randolph at thirteen
minutes past six A. NJ and the accident occurred At
sixteen minutes past six A. NJ
Randolph is designated by tho railroad officials as
the point where the above named trains should pass
each other The late freight arriving first should
a. .tnd tharo and us,tn nni thC
steamboat train passes.
There are two reports NJ to tho bnmc attached for
tho collision. Tho nrst Is that Conductor James MUIR
ply OF the local freight train wifully disobedent
to his orders Tho second statement Is glvon by sew
era parties who present AZ the scene of the disas
ter tho eject that the train TOO long TO be
commodated on the side track at Randolph station.
and that the engineer OF tho LOGON otive which was at
tached the local freight train swttchng tho re-
maindcr OF the upon another track Which OF the
above statements Is truo remains TO be asccrtainsd
and the officials the road will undoubtedly arrive At
the true facts Of tho
rHz SCENE.
To return 10 the scenc Of disaster The loco
motives were piled one upon another. Six freight
cars had been thrown adjoining field, mex
trcabls mAsh and tno smoking car OF tie steamboat
train had run ncighborng coal shed and al
most totally demolished.
WOUNDED
As the trains approached each other the employees
on tho local freight seeing their danger jumped
and escaped uninjurcd. Tho steamboat train men,
however were fortunate, and tho nrst locomo-
uve containing Engineer Decker and fireman. was
almost completely demolished. Tho fireman, Abbott,
was instantly killed, being crushed beyond rscogni-
t,on. Engineer Decker was more fortunate and es-
capped with ugly cut upon his ncad and his leg and
foot hndiv had IL cor
tained Engineer Crosby, whose head seriously cut
in several places and II is supposed that he has
taincd fatal Internal injuries Fireman John Clark
badly neck and shoulders, and has also
sustained internal injuries, the exact nature Of which
not yet known
TEE PASSENGERS.
Tho passengers escaped comparatively uninjured,
the only parties hurt being few Of tho occupants OF
the drawing room car, who owing to It's peculiar con-
structon thrown violently from their soats for
tunately sustaining only slight bruises
Tho injured men at cared for by the rcs
dent surgeons, Engineer Dcrow remaining At the
station, whio Engineer Crosby was removed to tho
Howard House, ut Randolph Fireman Jonn Clark
was taken to this city by tho returning sran and
red to his residence on street. South Boston
THIS accident Affords another demonstration of the
wisdom OF the officials in providing the
tho washingon brake and tho Miller platform, with
out which She catastrophe would have been attended
with much greater loss Of lifc
At seven A. NJ. receipt OF the intelligence OF
tho accident superintendent Hendrck at madc
mn wrecking train and proceeded TO she OF the
disaster. Shortly after passenger tran OF twelve
cars was 10 convey the belased travellers to
Boston.
The widest rumors prevailed In Boston tho effect
that tho train, consisting OF about twenty cars, hed
with Eastern passengers from New York and Philade
pha was demolished and that the engineers and nre-
men OF the three engines were killed
SCENE
Randolph Is post township OF Norfolk county, on
the Old Colony and Newport Railroad. niteon miles
south Of Boston. There two villages in the town.
ship known as East and West Randolph respectively,
and the railroad runs midway between the two.
A LATER pEsrATcH-rwo PASSENGERS SEVERELY HURT.
John Nagc, OF No a33 Federal street. and James n.
Watson. OF Nos $50 and 1872 Purchase street, were
10th severely injured but other passengers
present known 10 have bccn hurt
YURrHER PARTICULARS OF THE ACCIDENT.
NEWPORT r. l., Oct l3 1915
Owing 10 the accident on the Old Colony Railroad
this morning no freight received hcre during
the day. and this being the terminus Of the railroad
there has been no Iittc reference tho
occurrence
Private adviccs received here night state that
neither Decrow Crosby, tho engineers OF the two
locomotives attached to tho steamboat train, will ro-
cover. Tho nrst train came through from Boston this
afternoon track having been built around the wreck.
Tho three locomotives which arc totally destroyed
were The nucst owned by the company.
Tho blood, brains and hair OF Abbott tho fireman,
who was Instantly killed, were found on the throttle
Of hts engine.
rroS THE vREIGHr CONDUCTOR
Tho conductor OF the freight train who will probably