The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-25
BY TELEGRAPH
Statement of A. E. Pitkin.

hibhNls c's 81
Hon. A. p. Pitkin, of the firm of Pitkin
Bros. g Co., of Hartford, Conn, who was
one of those who narrowly escaped from
the burnt car, was taken to Albany, N. Y,
and is now lying at the Deevan house in
that city. lie made the following state
ment: left Malone at 1.47 p. m. on The
Montreal train and left st. Albans on time;
at Essex Junction we were 35 or 40 minutes
late and suppose the delay was caused by
waiting for the eastern bound train.
suppose tbst on starting again the train
was endeavoring to make up for lost time.
| was the first to retire into the Sleep
ing car. This car was thrown from
track within two hundred yards of the de-
pot at South Wallngford, Vermont. The
car rolled down an embankment a distance
of about 25 feet into stone yard, and was
literally wrecked. Afterwards 1t took fire
from the stove and was entirely burned up.
WAS thrown from my berth and sup
pose the wound indicating large scalp
wound on his forehead, was caused by
striking large stone which had crushed
through the car or upon which the car had
fallen. l was partially stunned and held
down by portions of the car. made four
unsuccessful efforts to reach the door, but
was blinded by blood from cuts in my
head. Mr.. W. Chapman OF the Merchants
bank of Montreal had succeeded in break
ing out of window overhead, the
Car being upon its side, and got out,
climbed to the window, but owing to
weakness occasioned by loss of blood, fell
back into the car, which had
became filled to suffocation with smoke.
Knowing the car would soon take fire |
made one more effort TO reach the window
and this time succeeded in getting out on
the side of the car, when after crawling
along about half its length slid off into
the snow. l had nothing ca but my night
clothes, seeing light in building about
one hundred feet distant, which subs
equen'ly proved to be marble mill, en-
deavored to reach it, but when about half
way there was met by some gentlemen
who assisted me into the mill, procuring
table spread bound up my head, soon after
Nr. Thos Norton brought me slippers,
pants and coat and / moved to the depot,
it being feared that the mill would burn.
The engine by this time came back with
DR.. Whipple of Dandy, who dressed my
wounds. desire to mention tho heoroism
OF Mrs. L. Palmer, Rutland, who stripped
off her own clothing to cover another
lady who had been taken from the car in
| her night clothes also of the service rem
dered by Madame Pierrot and Of L. f.
Yerger of Albany, who did not leave me
| until be saw me snfe in the Delevan house.
| occupied berth No. 8, Mr.. Chapman of
Montreal berth No. 10, gentleman and
wife berth No. 7, which think were all
that were in our end of the car. When
the fire took place both conductors, Mr..
Bssell and his son Of Chicago and Mr..
Woodbridge were near the front end of the
car. What other persons might have come
in after | retired / know not, but suppose
that Mr.. Bissell went back into the car TO
get his son and was burned with him.
There was a pair of pants found which
seemed 10 belong u no one among the
saved or TO the Bissell,, but cannot say
whether the owner OF them was burned.
A tall, well dressed man, with sandy hair
and side vhskers, whom | noticed
passing up and down the car two or three
times; was among the missing, but am
not sure that he was burned The accident
it was said was caused by fail broken in
two pieces. Mr.. Pitkn was very weak
from lose of blood and the effects of the
really serious injuries he had sustained and
it was with much difficulty that he could at
times articulate