Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-18
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH
Daily xsuueber 3ourual
THE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER A
BALE OF GRAIN BAGS.
The List of The Killed and Wounded.
INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER.
An Inquest Held.

ST. JOHN, November l6. The accident on the
New Brunswick Railroad was caused by one Of
the hands throwing off large bale of grain bags
at Pell station, ct which, there were no psssen
gers the traia did not STOP Either from its great
distance or because be misudged the distance, the
| bale fell short of the platform and bounded back
under the wheels, throwing the train from the
track down an bankment fifty feet high. The
baggage and passenger cars turned over foul
times in the descent.
The following is the list of killed: An old lady
named Leslie, Grand Falls, n b., of which only
. few bones are left; Isaac Hacker, aged seventy
six years, Fort Fairfield; VIM. Besttie, newsboy
Fredericton; N. Perry, Presque Isle.
The wounded are: Conductor Vera, Frederic
ton Mrs. Cushmsn, Auburn; C. A. Phillips Of
Bristol; Levi Sears, Fort Kent; John Hamilton,
James Turner. Alfred Kinney, Daniel Kinney,
and James Montgomery of Florenceville; r. NJ
Dow, brakeman; Andrew CLARK, expressman.
Vera and Phillips are the most seriously injured
but fatal consequences are not expected in any Of
the cases however.
w. T. Head, civil engineer, of Fredericton,
gives an account Of his escape. lie says:
was in the first car with some ten or twenty
others. When the car left the track sprang for
the door just as the was plunging over.
sprang ahead down the hill, fortunately alighting
under . small mound Of earth, the car going over
me. The made four revolutions before get
ting to the bottom. was not stunned or injured
except slight bruise on the nose The smoking
car went down hill about one hundred aud fifty
feet above the first class car.
Engineer Davis. the fireman and myself ran
down the hill imme distely. aud we went to the
open door and dragged out some Eve or seven per.
sons.
One girl about thirteen years of age, clambered
out Of the window, and did not receive q scratch.
She is niece of Miss Cushman of Auburn, who
is among the killed. This lady was almost reseu-
ed, when she violently tore herself away and fell
back into the flames.
Mr.. Perry, one of the victims. also was nearly
rescued, but he appeared frantic and being q
powerfully built man, resisted all efforts to draw
him through the window, and so persisted.
The boy Beattie was not heard of at all. 1t is
supposed he was asleep near the stove, and was
instantly Tiled.
When got to the cars, fire and smoke were
through it from end to end.
Hacker never spoke, and it is presumed he nust
he been killed before the car re ached the bottom
OF the embankment.
Head says neither tongue nor pen can adequate
ly describe the character of the scene. The news
spread like wild fire through the neighborhood,
and soon many willing hands were at work re-
moving and caring for the wounded, and within
half hour all we're comfortably hou sed.
An inquest was held at which evidence was
rendered in accordance with the above facts.
Later.-Al the people injured by the railroad
accident are improving except Charles Phillips,
whose injuries are believed to be fatal.