New-York tribune., 1878-10-10
MAD PLUNGE THROUGH A SWITCH.
THE ENerNEER's AccoUNr-scENEs OF THE Accr

The ENGINEERS ACCOUNT-SCEHRs OF THE ACCf-
DEST-THE EXCITEMENT IN BOSTON.
BOSTON, Oct 9.-Engineer Westgate, the foreman
Of the round house, is able to explain the cause of
the accident on the Old Colony Road last night.
He was in charge of the foremost locomotive the
Easton," having been specially assigned to the
duty.
Westgate states that the train was an hour and
seven minutes late at Quincy. After leaving VOL
laston. he running at the rate of twenty miles.
lie ran by special timetable until o'clock. after
which hour he wild - as the phrase is, follow
ing Instructions to look out Tor all regular passenger
trains and having the right of the road all local
freight trains. He could see distinctly Mt least 300
yards ahead. When about a quarter mile this
side Of WOllastOn Station, he saw freight train
moving over the connecting track. His engine
struck n corner Of the last of this train, an
empty fiat car, but not with sufficient force to
throw it from the track. Westgate asserts posi-
lively that the inward track was clear, and that
the freight car was on the cross connection. When
he passed over the switch by which the inward is
connected with the outward track. he discovered
that something was wrong, his first impression
being that The switch was open, and this con-
frnied by the observation Of others. He instantly
whstled down brakes " and reversed his engine.
The switches are about 100 feet apart. and the
EastOn having passed the first switch in safety,
the engineer hoped that it would hold to the iron
the only Of saving the train but the second
switch being also open, the engine left the rails,
and the catastrophe followed
Wes,gate and his fireman, Hiram 4. DennisOn,
went down the embankment on the engine. The
cab Of tine engine was torn off by the shock aud
through the opening thus made Westgate was
thrown into a clump OF birches by The side of the
road. DcnnisOn went over him aud struck the
ground. Both men were considerably shaken up,
and Dennison was scalded on the hands, arms aud
chest.
The freight train was in charge OF Conductor C.
III. HaTtwell, whose daily custom was TO leave
Boston at G30 p. NJ, far as South Brautree,
aud stop there over night, proceeding in the morn
ing. No statement has rs yet come from him. but
the opinion is freely expressed that the burden Of
responsibility for the accident rests upon him.
Superintendent Kendrick, of the Old Colony
Railroad when asked where the blame lies, said
that so fat as he had then learned, the employees in
charge of the train from Silver Lake were not 10
blame. lie is of the opinion that the fault lies
with the conductor of the lreignt tram. Ihls Is
all he has to say IN relation to the affair.
HORRORS or THE ACCIDENT.
Further details Of the story Of the accident have
been received. When the engines went over the
embankment the steam began TO escape in volumes
thereby iHeroasing the horror Of the situation.
A strenuous though not very well-directed effort
was made TO rescue the women and succOr the dying
and In less than ten minutes Fifty Of the dead and
wounded were taken out OF the wreck. The former
were carefully laid on improyscd stretchers by the
side of the road, while the seriously injured
were placed on beds made of cushions from the car
seats, placed in any convenient spot. AxCs, bars
and jackscrews were employed in clearing away the
wreck.
The wrecked engines fell across the inside track
headed toward the outward road. The tenders of
each were detached and thrown in q confused heap
close by aud beyond the engines. The baggage and
commitment ears were thrown 10 the ground; the
former down an embaukment and the latter just on
the verge.
The first news Of the accident was received in
Boston about o'clock. The reports spread about
the city with wonderful rapidity and thousands of
people began hocSing 10 the station Of the Old
Colony Road. by 10 O'clock the crush was fearful,
and il was with difficulty that the police made a
clearing about the station.
Tho first tran-lOad of dead and wounded arrived
here about IL o'clock. and for two hours
thereafter the streets were filled with am
balances, undertakers' wagons and express
wagons; the latter carrying beds has
tily imuroyised of straw and bed-clothing from
houses in the neighborhood of the station The
proprietor of the United States Hotel sent all his
spare mattresses, while medical aid poured in from
every quarter. The scenes III and about the depot
were narrowing in the extreme Relatives of pas
sengers on the Inflated train clamored for adms-
sion within the police lines and in many cases,
when informed that death or serious injury had be-
fallen those whom they sought, gave vent to their
agony in expressions of the widest grief.
Mrs. Blake. wife of John Blake, boat-builder,
of Cambridge, was not killed, reported body
mt the Morgue was to-day identified as that of w.
c. Stevens, of Portland, Me.
NINETEEN KILLED OUTRIGHT
Those who were killed outright by the accident
were twenty in number, as follows:
p.TpIcK REAGAN Of Boston, the Oarsman.
Mrs ELLIOTT BLAKE, the wife Of Elh0tt Blake,
the Cambridge bOat-buildcr.
MICHAEL CLAFFEY living az The corner Ol fleet anu
Garden C0urt-sts., Boston. ~, nm -,
CHARLES II. MORGAN, of Newton Upper Falls son
of Albert Morgan, proprietoro of The BoSto" Sdt"r-
ddy EreRiHg Erpross.
JOHN A. HAZEY, advertising agent OF INC Sd'"ddy
EreRing EJprcss. .
W. G. STEyENs, Portland, Me-
ions DAY, of CambndgepOrt.
n. 4, WHtrE of Ward Fourteen, Boston.
MORRIS GREEN. Pitts-st., Boston. -,
Paul CROWLEY, switchman at the Old Colony Rail
road depot Boston.
EDWIN T.. WHITE, of Boston,
TuoMAsJ j. TuBGY employed on the fire boat.
WILLIAM FIANDERs, house No. 90 East Windsor-st
IHTt;I TpwARp nj D0HiERrY, grocer No. 90 salem-st
JOHN OBRIRS, Boston.
PATRICK LAYERY, Boston.
NJ +. WELLS, Councilman OF Boston.
Two men unknown.
HUNDRED AND THIRTY WOUNDED.
The wounded were 13O in number. The follow
ing were the principal ones among them
WILLIAM FAuLKNFR, left shoulder aud leg injured
JNo. c, SANBORN, station agent, Old Colony depot
Boston. cut about the head. IL
Cuts, RpiGAS, brother Patrick Reagan, ankle
spraiDed. - 1Io,,oo
JonS FLlrTRRY, proprietor of the Jefferson House.
injured on head. A.
THos. NJ. MORROW, engineer Boston, lnJured i'll tho