St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-03-03
A Railroad Horror in Vermont.


RUTLAND. VT, Feb. 24.-Ope of tn
most horrible railroad accidents tina
has occurred in Vermont for years, hap
pened to the New York express train
about midnight last night, near Soutl
Wallingford, on the Harlem Extension
railroad. The train left Rutland thirt,
minutes late. The train proceeded IL
Il low rate of speed, hut when With,
fifty rods of South Wallingford station
THE ENGINE BROKE RAIL,
throwing the rear ear and the Wayne
sleeping car. behind it from the track
The passenger car followed the r0a,
bed. but the sleeping car was thrown
down the embankment some tiftecr
feet high. smashing the car and scttin.
it on fire from the stove. There wer,
nine or ten persons III the car AT tn,
time. only eight of whom are vet az
counted for.
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT.
The train WAS approaching Soutl
Wallingtord, when it WAS obliged t,
stop for broken rail After again
starting. it had not proceeded more
than mile when another broken raj
was reached, throwing the train from
the track. The baggage ear jumped of
aud on again, but the coach remained
off. The sleeping caI broke loose from
the train, and fell upon pile of MAJ
blc alongside the track. instantly icnit
ing from the stoves in the car. Two
conductors. Capt. Mooney and Fred
llder. and ten passengers were in the
ear. The ear WAS filled with fire and
smoke. the greatest confusion prevail
ed. and death seemed certain for all
Finally. W. W. l.. Chapman of Montreal
observed Il window and smashed it. eff
tecting his egre>> through the same.
Several Passengers followed him.
4 FATHEE's LOVE.
Although Mr. BisSell WAS almost suf-
located when he escaped from the caI.
Lc made frantic inquiries for his son
Charley. Capt Mooney says it WIS
heartrcndlng t" hear Young Bi>s,ll cry
for help. Nj. Bi>>ell fran'icall, shouted.
My God my God Will no one save
my son p and then rushed To the rescue.
and To his own destruction.
Afterwards the position of the chaIred
remains showed that the father must
have been overcome while entering the
window. ;I> the body WAS found inside
The cal with the feet protecting through
the window. The charred body of
Young BlsScll was also found. and lac. had
evidently been Sutfocatcd in the at
tempt (" escape from the car. Immedi-
ItcIN after the accident the engine pIo-
r'rdcd 1" DANNY. the next station, five
miles distant. and brought back DIR.
Nlhpplc and another physician to at
tend the sufferers.
THE INJURED.
Hon. +. f.. Woodbridge of Nrrrcnues.
VIII" wa> on his way t" New York. was
injured about the chest. \ Mr.. Pitkin
of Hartford. Conn. WIS badly injured
sustaining a severe cash on the, head.
He lost gold watch and chain worth
S6'm- The remaining passengers were
burned or bruised more or less but did
not sustain serious injuries The con
ductoI> escaped with Slight bruises.
Fortunately there WAS Il ph\ stefan ON
the train Who under stood surgery some
what. and dressed the wounds of the.
injured.
None of the passengers saved any of
their clothing. excepting what they
wore: and lis the night WAS very cold
they suffered greatly. The PASSENGERS
on the other cars escaped without in
jury. and they readily rendered their
spare clothing and all necessary assist
ance to the sufferers
MIR. rITKIN's STATEMENT.
| left Malone at l:47 p. m. on the
Montreal train. and left st. Albaps ON
time. At Essex Junction, We were 81
or ~ minutes late and | suppose. the
delay was caused by waiting for the
eastern bound train. suppose that OR
starting again the train WAS endeavorinp
To make up lost time. waS the first
to retire into the sleeping ear. This
ear WAS thrown from the track within
two hundred yards of the depot ,t
South Wallingford. Vt. The ear rolled
down an emlankmeut Il distance of
about % feet into Il stone ward, and WAS
literally wrecked. Afterwards it took
fire tIom the stoves and WIS entirely
burned up. | WAS thrown from nv
berth. and | suppose the wound Gndi-
eating Il large scalp wound on his fore
head) WIS caused by striking Il large
stone which had crushed through the
car. OF upon which the car had fallen.
was pant TALLY stunned, and held down
by portions of the car. made four I'M
successful efforts to reach the door but
was blinded by the blood from the cuts
i'll my head. Mr.. w. Chapman. of the
Merchants bank of Montreal. had SHE
ceeded i'll breaking ont IL window over
head. the car being upon its side. and
got ont. | climbed to the window but
owingto weakness Occasiuned by the loss
of blood. fell back into the ear which
had become filled to sutfocation with
smoke. Knowing the car would soon
take fire, | made one more effort tn
reach the window and this time suc-
ceeded in getting out Oh the side of the
car, when after crawling along about
halt its length slid off into the SNOW
| had nothing on but my right clothes.
Seeing light i'll Il building about one
feet distant. which subs.-
qnently proved to he II marble mill.
endeavored to reach it, but when abnut !
half way there ! was met by some gen
tlemen VIII" assisted me into the mill
and who procuring table spread bound .
up my head. Soon after Mr.. Thomas
Norton brought me slippers. pants, and
coat. and / was moved to the depot. il
being feared that the mill would burn
The engine 10y this time came back
with DIR. Whipple of Dandy, who dress
ell my wounds.
STATEMENT OF F. f. WOODBRIDGE
Mr. Rissell his s,, ,,;II, -,