The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-27
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FAST MAIL TRAIN WRECKED.
The Fireman Killed

ALBANY, N. Y, May, 20.
The Fast mail train left here for the west,
this morning at 1855, four minutes behind
time. 1t consisted Of the N Y. G. and II.
r. X. X. locomotive $40, and the cars Gov.
Hartranft, Gov. Hawley, Gov. Brough and
Gov. Oglesby. Mr.. ]. II. Sullivan Of syria
cuse, was the conductor in charge, chief
clerk lIoughtaling was in charge Of the
mail matter, and the engine was manned
by Chas. Sixbury, engineer aud Charles
Johnson, fireman, both of Syracuse. 1t 10
well known that the grade between Albany
and West Albany is steep and it is usual
tor two engines to pull the fast mail up the
hill This morning locomotive SO, James
Harrigan engineer, was the helper. At the
terminus OF Waiervliet avenue, near the
West Albany railroad shops, it left the
train and was switched on the south branch
track. The train had gone up the grade at
the rate of about twenty miles per hour
When the helping locomotive left, engineer
Sixbury starred his engine at the usual fast
speed. But before the movement of the
train had quickened percepiibly the
ENGINE LEFT THE TRACK
dragging aftor 1t three of the cars. 1t Is
supposed that some portion Of the cow
catcher caught the gnard rail and picking
it up carried it along. The engine and cars
ran along on the ties tor about one hun
dred yards. When tue locomotive separ-
ated from the cars and at point six hum
dred feet further on, it plunged into n
ditch where il landed pretty nearly all right.
The tender was whiied around aud was
about demolished. Before the engine
plunged
CHARLES JOHNSON THE FIREMAN JUMPED
and fell upon the ground seemingly insen-
sible. Sxbury, the engineer, after vainly
endeavoring to stop the train with patent
brakes which failed to work, followed the
fireman. The clerks in the postal cars
were all shaken up but not injured. The
mail matter WAS distributed promiscuously
but mono of the packages were lost. When
assistance arrived the dead boty OF John
son, the fireman, was found under the
tank. There was hole in the back Of his
head and several bones were broken. |; is
supposed the tender 10 it, evolutions struck
him. He was 20 years Of age, and leaves
a wife and one child. For five years he
and Sixbury had travelled together aud had
met with several narrow escapes. The re-
mains were taken to Albany and placed in
Campon's undertaking rooms. Sixbuiy
sustained a few scratches and bruises and
was insensble when found. He was taken
to st. Peters hospital and in a short time
had sufficiently recovered 10 walk about.
hi, statement is as follows
My name is Charles Sixhury have run
on the fast mail train eyer since it was
started we had engine SAG and four cars
left Albany four minutes late we were
assisted by engine So; at the grade after
the helper left US and had got SAFELY on the
switch track, put on speei al the same
moment felt the engine jar, as though it
was running rail or Jumping frog
put on the brakes but they wouldn't work
saw johnson jump and followed him;
Don't remember anything else, l don't
know how badly | am hurt my right
shoulder pains | will go home on the
next express if they can fix me up