Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-20
The Bartonsyille Accident.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.


The train, consisting OF the locomotive
General Strong" baggage car and
passenger coach lcfs B-llows Falls on the
usual time. Josiah Bowtelle was conduc-
tor, Christopher Rice, ID. baggagemsster,
F. A. Kemp, express messenger. Albert
Pratt. engineer, and E. d. Davis, fireman.
The train proceeded rather cautiously,
fearing that something might be wrong.
The accident occurred at the first culvert
south of Brockway's Mills. The water
had undermined il, but the rails vere ap-
parently all right. and the first warning OF
the catastrophe was the precipitation OF the
whole train into the gulf. The stream,
though usually 4 small one, was swollen
largely, and the gulf opened about so feet
in length. There were some eight passen-
gers In the coach, including four ladies
The first known by the passengers was q
sudden crash, and most of them were
thrown violently forward 20 hard that
some OF them tore out two or three seats.
Conductor Bowtell. had several teeth
knocked cut, ROadnaster +. W. Horner,
had his nose broken; and the others es
follows: Mrs. Harriet liz zelton. an aged
lady. going to Chester. slightly bruised {;
Flora Davis. her granddaug httr, finger
broken; Mr.. Pollard. OF Proctorsville. un-
hurt; Mr.. Wright, OF Vergenn.s. unhurt A;
four others were more or les bruised.
Tho Herald says: When the train stop
ped. Conductor Bowtell, Roadmaster Hot
ner and passengers Wright, Of Vergennes.
and Pollard. OF Proctorsvlile. Immediately
went to work and did every thing possible to
be done. Albert Pratt, engineer, was spon
found and helped up out OF the water, here
he had been thrown in some unaccountable
way out Of his engine. lie had bis collar
bone broken. Expressmsn kerp was soon
fouLd in the baggage car. dead, his skull
being broken Baggagemaster Rice was
next found in the baggage car, with two
ribs and his collar bone broken, and it Is
feared serious internal Injuries. Fireman
Davis was found after about two hours near
the fOOtbOard Of the locomotive. lie was
dead when found. and WAS badly scalded.
lt Is supposed he must have lain under
water for time. The IL jured and dead and
most of the passengers wero taken to the
house OF Mr.. Evans, near the scene OF
the accident, who, with his neighbors, are
entitled to great credit for the extent OF
their Efforts to do what could be done
for all. Immediately alter the accident u
boy was sent on horseback after DR.. PeIten-
gill, OF Saxton's RIVER. who came in answer
to the summons a. soon as possible, a. did
two ply slcans from Bellows Falls. and a
Dir. Lowell Of Boston, who was visiting at
Chester, and who drove five hours in the
darkness and rain to get to the sufferers
The body of Express Messenger Kemp was
taken to Bellows Falls in charge Of Mr..
Hayes OF that place, On the wreck tram,
early Wednesday morning. The body OF
Fireman Davis was taken to Bellows Falls
later. and was forwarded to Rutland up
the Central division via Burlington.
At the place 1i accident there Was a small
stream and culvert section man walked
over the track an hour before, and freight
train passed over the spot about bali an hour
before, and there was 10 indication of trou-
bic noticed. Engineer Pratt says the head
lights of the locomotive showed the track
intact, and the position OF the locomotive
would indicate that, for it nearly got over
the break and fell back. and heads up the
slope OF the break one side. almost u per-
feet wreck, and the baggage car on the
other side OF the break. The coach stopped
on the very brink Of the chasm with the
platform hanging over it. The break is
about eighteen itet deep and seventy five
ieet long. North Ui this break, IN the town
of BartOnsvllle. there ~ about n mile ol
track and cmbankment gone. The high
way bridge near Bartonsyille station, the
depot grounds and side tracks are all swept
away Ii Is thought that 1t will be ten days
OF two weeks before the road will be IN CON
ditiOn for trains to pass over.
Passengers and mails are now carried past
the breaks from Chester to BrockwHy'
Ills, about six miles, IN teams.