The Portland daily press., 1877-01-05
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
Yesterdays Disasters by Eail-A Smash
up ON the Grand Trunk and a Man
Killed on the Ogdensburg-Five Men

The Montreal express train over the Grand
Trunk which is due here at 10 30 p. M, met
with serious accident near Gllead yesterday.
The train was No. and was drawn by engine
No 315, and was in charge of David Pratt,
conductor; James Doyle, engine driver; N. b.
Mitchell, fireman, and brakeman, r. E. LARA
bee. The truin consisted of engine and tender,
baggage and express cars, smoking, first-class
| passenger and the Pullman coach "Otta.
| wa" In the last two cars there were % or 80
| passengers.
The recent storms have drifted the snOw
badly in the vicinity of Gilead and at point
about two miles this side of the village, at a
place known as Peabody's Bridge, the drifts
have been very high. AS fast as the snow is
cleared from the track it is blown back and
packs in very hard. The train went along very
we'll until it had just crossed the bridge
when the engine suddenly came to hare drift
across the track. Without a seconds warning it
was lifted bodily and thrown over the embank-
ment % or 80 feet below and struck completely
upsidedown. The tender, baggage and express
cars followed the engine, but the two passen-
ger cars remained on the road-bed, though they
were slightly injured. Both Doyle the driver,
and Mitchell the fireman, were buried under
the engine, but the former was taken out but
little injured. Mr.. Mitchell. however, was
probably fatally injured His head was badly
cut, and when taken from beneath the engine
he was unconscious. He was taken back to Cor
ham and soon became conscious. His father,
Capt. B. E. Mitchell, head of the car depart
ment of the road in this city, went out to the
scene of the disaster accomp anied by DR.. Mer-
rill There were also one physician from Beth
Ell, two from Gorham and one from Island
Pond in attendance
At the time of the accident, Mr.. Frank Ross
the baggage master, and Mr.. Larrabee, the
brakeman, were in the baggage car. Larrabee
was struck on the head with some hard SUBJ
stance and received quite severe scalp wound,
while Ross escaped with few bruises Mr..
Small, the messenger of the Canadian Express
Company, was but little bruised. A careful in
quiry shows that no passengers were injured.
As soon as the accident occurred conductor
Pratt walked back to Gilead and reported the
accident. A telegram was sent to Gorham
and wrecking train was sent to the scene of
the disaster at once. The accident occurred at
$40 a. No., and the track was clear at p. m.
The running gear of the passenger cars were
uninjured. and they were put into the train
which was made up as soon as the track was
clear. This train left Gilead at 4.30 and arriv-
ed here at $50, bringing the passengers and all
the injured men except Mitchell, the Herman.
All the injured ones except Ross belong in this
city, consequently very large crowd of anx-
ious friends gathered in the depot to meet
them The scene was lively one for short
time AS soon as ono Of the men issued from
the train he was surrounded by crowd of
eager friends, and in some cases the jam was
decidedly unpleasant for the injured men. Mr..
Doyle walked to his home unaided, while Mr..
Larrabee, who was met by his wife, accompan-
led her home ncne Of them taking carriages
Capt. Mitchell telegraphed his wife in this
city last evening that their son was quite COM
Portable and there was goo prospect of his
recovery, and if there was no change for the
worse they should bring him home to-day.
Later-A despatch received at this office at
midnight says "Mr Mitchell is some little
better tonight.
Man Killed ON the Ogdensburg.
AS the freight train on the Ogdensburg was
following the regular passenger yesterday at
ternoon the engineer discovered the body of q
man beside the track short distance above
North Conway at East Branch. The train was
backed up and the body taken up, but life was
extinct although the flesh was not cold. The
body was taken to North Conway where it was
recognized as that of Luther 81. Tucker,
young man who has been travelling in that vi
cinity as agent of the American Tract Society.
1t is thought that he was walking on the track
when the snow pillow on the passenger train
struck him, killing him instantly. Owing to
the great amount of snow moved by the pillow
the men on the. engine were unable to see
ahead at all. The body was left in charge of
the town authorities at North Conway where
coroner's inquess will be held to-day. No one
appears to BE- to blame for the accident except
the victim, who it is supposed was walking on
the track.