Helena weekly herald., 1878-10-10
TELEGRA MS.
REPORTED SPECIALLY FOR THE HERALD BY
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
FRIGHTFUL RAILROAD ACCI.
DENT.

OCCuI1CO tAAS CVCOIuk Ou VIC OAu SVAOnJ
Railroad to crowded excursion train, which
was returning from the Silver Lake rowing
match between Reagan, of Boston, an6
Davis, of Portland. The train, consisting
of twenty cars, ran off the track. 1t is ru
mored that AZ persons we're killed, and tina
Reagan, the boatman, was fatally injured
About 800 or 400 persons were on these cars
and not less than half the number were hurt
A dispatch just received at police head
quarters places the number at 10 killed and
$50 injured.
The accident on the Old Colony Railroad
occurred between Atlantic and Wollans-
ton Heights, about z o'clock this evening.
The scene of the accident is about seven
miles from Boston, and as soon as the news
reached the city, large number OF cots and
stretchers were sent out by the city officials.
AT midnight no intelligent account had been
received, but it is known that at least ten
were killed and about hundred wounded in
a greater of less degree. The train to which
the accident occurred was the one returning
from Silver Lake, and was composed of %
cars and engines, carrying about ], 800 per-
sons, who had been out to witness the race
between Reagan and Davis. The train was
not going at high rate of speed, perhaps
twenty miles an hour. 1t is not yet positively
known what was the cause of the accident,
but it is stated that freight train had just
been switched off to make way for the ex-
cursion train, and as the accident occurred at
this switch, there is reasonable supposition
that it had not been properly locked. Both
engines jumped the track and went over the
embankment total wrecks, but the engineers
and firemen escaped death, only one being
seriously hurt, as far as known. AT least
five of the cars were wrecked, including a
baggage car and four passenger coaches.
Among the latter was the English coach, in
which were many oarsmen and newspaper
men. These cars were piled on top of each
other, and the wonder is that the loss of life
is not greater. Patrick Reagan, the loser of
the race to-day, was sitting with Mrs. Faulk-
ner, wife of his old boating partner, and both
were killed. Chas. H. Morgan, son of the
editor of the Erpress, was killed Among the
injured are Mrs. Blake, wife of the Cam
bridge boat-builder Geo. G. Kimball, of the
Associated Press, and Walter Clifford, re-
porter of the Erpress. Mike Mahoney, of
the Shawmut crew, and two of Gen. Buffers
are reported seriously hurt. 1t is stated that
Flynn, manager of the Silver Lake regatta,
was fatally hurt The list of killed as far as
known is as follows: Stephen Grady,
East Boston; J. A. Hasy, of the Boston Er-
press Chas. Morgan, of the Ezpress; Mr..
White, South Boston; John Day, Cam
bridge; Michael Chadey, Boston; Patrick
Reagan, Boston; MI. Faulkner and child.
Also Reagan's father-in-lsw, name not yet
known.
The cause of tie disaster is now explained
by the statement of Charles Westgate, engi-
neer of the leading locomotive on the wreck
ed train. He says that after leaving VOL
lanston Station, while travelling at the rate of
twenty miles an hour, and when about
quarter of a mile this side of Wallanston, he
saw about three hundred yards ahead freight
car of the train running onto the main track
from the siding, and he instantly whistled
down breaks and reversed the engine. He
and his fireman, Dennison, staid on the
engine and as it struck the car both were
thrown off. Dennison was badly scalded.
Westgate claims that he did all in his
power to stop the train, but that he had the
right of way and the switch was all right.
He did not expect to see the freight Car so
emerge from the siding, which is
seldom used. On the Old Colony road all
trains run to the left instead of right, as is |
he custom on other roads, and the freight |
car was being switched upon the right track
and had nearly crossed when the accident
occurred.
Further returns from the scene state that
ater addition to the list of killed will raise
he total number to 25 or more. Most of
hose killed were in the baggage, English
coach, and two passenger cars. The two
after were telescoped partially and in these
many were injured. The names are given of
IS seriously injured. 1t is stated that the
following were fatally hurt: VIM. Carroll.
Timothy Donovan, Mr.. Jackman, of Pea
body, John Davis of Boston, and VIM. Cross
nan, conductor of the palace car. In less
han ten minutes after the crash nearly fifty
lead and wounded were taken out of the
wreck. The former were carefully laid on
mprovisea stretchers by the side of the road,
While The more seriously injured were placed
IN beds made of car seat cushions, placed in
my convenient spot. Axes, bars and jack
screws were employed in clearing away the