The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-10-15
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
AN EXCURSION TRAIN an The
Old COLONY ROAD
Jumps the Track, Killing rs Per-
sons and Woundtog 100.

Bosros, Oct. s.-A serions accident
occurred this evening on the Old Col
ony railroad To crowded excursion
train which was returning from the Sill
yer Lake rowing match, between Rea-
gan. If Boston, and Davis. of Portland.
A train of 20 cars went of the track. -
IL is rumored AZ persoLs were killed,
and that Reagan, the boatman, was IA
tally injured. The accident occurred
between Atlantic and Washington
heights, abuut 7 o'clock this evening.
The scene Of the accident is about Z
miles from Boston, aud as soon as the
news reached that city IA large number
OF cots and stretchers were sent ont by
the city officials. At midnight no in-
telligent account had been received,
but Is il known that at least 10 are kill
ed aud about 100 are wounded in a
greater or less degree. The train To
which the accident happened was re.
turning from Silver Lake, aud was
composed Of 22 ears aud engines, ear
rying about 1,500 persons who bad
been out To witness the races. The
train was not going at a high rate of
speed, perhaps 20 miles an hour. II Is
not yet positively known what was tue
canse of the accident, but il is stated
that freight train had just been
switched To make way for the excur-
sion train, and as the accident occurred
at this switch there is n reasonable sup
position that il had not been properly
locked. Both the engines Jumped the
track and went over the embankmen.,
total wrecks, but the engineers aud
tiremen escaped death, only one, as far
as known, being seriously hurt.
At least five cars were wrecked, in
GLIDING the baggage car aud four pass
enger coaches. Among the latter was
an English coach, in which were many
oarsmen aud newspaper men. These
cars were piled up on each other aud
the wonder is that the loss Of life is not
greater.
THE CAUSE or THE ACCIDENT.
The cause Of the accident on the Old
Colony railroad this afternoon is now
explained by the statement of Chas.
Westgate, engineer of the leading lo-
says after leaving Walaston Station.
while travelling at the rate Of 20 miles
an hour. and when about quarter II
mile this side Of Walaston, he saw
about 800 yards ahead freight car on
the track running on 20 the m ain track
from the siding, aud he Immediately
down brakes and reversed his
engine. He and his firemau, Dennison
stayed on the engine, and when it
struck the car both were thrown off
Dennison was badly scalded West
gate claimed he did all in his power to
stop the train, but that he had the
right OF way, aud the switch was all
right. He did not expect to see
freight Car SO suddenly emerge from
the siding, which is seldom used. On
the Old Colony roads all trains run TO
the left inside OF the right, as is the.
custom OF other roads. aud the freight /
,ar was being switched upou the right
rack and had near crossed when the /
lccident occurred.
Further returns from the scene state /
hat latter additions 10 the list Of kill !
ID will raise the total number to % or I
more. Most Of those killed were in I
he baggage, English coach, aud two !
passenger cars. The two latter were |
partially. aud IN these many
we're injured. About 800 or 400 were
,n these cars, aud not less than balf Of !
he Dumber were hurt.
BosroS, Oct. 9.-The track at Wall |
lston the scene of last nights disaster,
IN the Old Colony road, was cleared |
his a. m. Superintendent Kendrick |
hinks the freight conductor was TO
,lame for the accident 4