Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-30

On Wednesday evening Of last week. about
half-past six o'clock, collision occurred on the
Montpelier Wells River railroad, In which,
though few persons were severely injured, ter
riblc loss Of life was happily averted. The cod-
ing trains were the mail train from Wells River
and the mixed train which leaves Montpelier at
fifteen minutes before five O'Clock, and the par-
ticulars Of the affair, as we have been able TO
CLEAN from reliable sources are ~ follows
On account Of the number Of out-oi-town people
attendant upon tho Bristow meeting here on
Wednesday afternoon the mixed train was de-
layed at this station from lis regular leaving time
till ten minutes past six, TO accommodate those
who desired to leave after the addresses, Leaving
at this time, It would be due at Fast Montpelier at
thiry-one minutes past six, where it was expected
to meet the mail train from Wells River ON the
other hand the mail train had given the mixed
train their own time to Marshfed, which gave
the mixed train until thirty-one minutes past six,
?. NJ, TO arrive at East Montpelier Blu; 1t seems
that part Of this time was made up between
Marsbfeld and Fast Montpelier As the mixed
train was not at Plainfeld, the usual meeting
place for the two trains the mail came on to East
Montpelier expecting to find It there. Then Con
ductor ferrn probably not thinking but that the
mixed was held at Montpelier, and without wait
ing the prescribed FIVE minutes to allow for differ
cnce in Watches started on towards Montpelier
Had he waited five minutes more, all would have
been right, for the mixed train would have
reached the station within that time As It was,
the two trains met while coming round a curve,
about one mile this side Of East Montpelier-the
mixed, it IL claimed going only at the rate Of ten
miles an hour and the mail at the rate OF fifteen
miles an hour when the engineers Of the sopa-
rate trains discovered each other they were only
some five rods apart They at once whistled 10
put on brakes, and then both engineers and fire.
men jumped and escaped injury. The mail train
was supplied with the air brake, and this was the
means Of preventing fearful loss Of life, which
must have occurred had this not been the case
for they were near steep embankment the de-
scent Of which would have proven most faIal
On the mail train were not TO exceed twenty
five passengers but few Of whom were much in
jured Mrs. Langley, Of this place received Sc
we're bruises, but is now doing we'll; Section Mas
ter Blake was rendered insensible, and remained
50 for couple Of days, but will be out again very
soon; Conductor Ferrin received some ugly bruises
about the head and face and it is feared injured
internally w. K. Whitcomb, baggage master. WAS
hurt somewhat about the face but not so as "
disable him
Superintendent stowell went Immediately to the
scene Of the accident and did all in his power b
care for the injured, who were at once taken to
their several residences A wreclsng train was
sent up 70 clear the track and the road was in
running condition by seven O'Clock the next even
ing One Of the engines has been taken to St
Adams for reconstruction, and the other remains
here for the present at least All in all, there is
for thankfulness that the collision produced
no worse results-that so few were i.jured The
managers Of this road move very cautiously, and
| spare no pains in seeing that things are a. they
| should he all along the line