St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-14
Railroad Accident :
ONE LADY KILLED AND SEVERAL PASsEN-
GERS BADLY INJURED.
From the Barton Monitor

lle A1dTtoH 4hOnltOTtI
The mail train south was thrown
from the track one third of mile north
of Coventry station, on Friday morning
last, two cars being ditched, and all
within them more or less injured. The
train was running at ordinary speed,
which at this point is from twenty to
thirty miles an hour, when the engine
turned ont a rail, all the wheels except
the forward pair, being thrown off the
iron. The engineer, Henry Mower,
reversed steam and applied the air
breaks instantly, and his machine stop
ped, the forward wheels still clingiug
to the track, after running little more
than twice the length of the train.
The two passenger cars were turned on
their sides, down an embankment of
about six feet; the baggage car did not
tip over, but the rear end was thrown
out into the ditch, the forward coupling
not breaking from the tender. The
baggage car broke away from the smok-
ing car, and was drawn Il half cars
length from it. None of the train men
were badly hurt, though one or two got
cuts in their heads. Most of the pas
sengers in the smoking car escaped
with slight injuries. The regular pas
senger car was very full, there being,
beside the regular travel, several French
families from Canada, and party from
Barton Village, and Landing, who had
attended ball at Newport, and were
on their return home Conductor Edg-
ertOn was in the rear of the car. AL
most instantly after the first jar was
felt, the car was turned squarely on its
side, and all the passengers piled into
the lower corner. Those seated on the
left hand side. or the side on which the
car was thrown off, were none of them
severely hurt, but those who fell from
the opposite tier of seats sustained bad
injuries. Mrs. Sarah Jane Howe of
Athol, Mass, a lady sixty years or more
of age, was hurt internally, and never
spoke or seemed to know anything af-
ter the accident. Mrs. E. Z. Foster of
this village was injured in the back and
side, and appeared for some hours to
be dangerously wounded. She is con-
Siderably better at this writing, and it
is hoped will soon he in comfortable
condition. Mr.. Hitchcock of Ohio, who
had been i'll Westfield, VT, was injured
about the chest, but is now cOnsidera-
bly, better. Miss FurgersOn of Tverness,
p. O., received the worst injury of any
of the living. H. G. Blaisdell, the mu-
stefan, was hurt in the side, but is bet
ter aud will fulfill his engagement at
the Newport Musical Convention. John
Brown of Barton Landing, was serious
ly injured on the head. Mrs. G.. w.
Parker of the same place was badly
bruised on the head, and hurt on the
,c l.,
| his wife, and one child, were too badly
injured to go on their journey. Among
the others, more or less hurt, are Mary
Mcdonald, WinslOw, p. O., Lizzie
Christie, East Hartley, Mrs. Paul Con
nier, of Athabaska, formerly of this viii
| lage, Salina Duba, and her niece, a lit
tie girl, also from Canada.
As soon as possible after getting the
doors open, and those out who were
not too badly hurt to be removed, con-
ductor EdgertOn and another man pro-
cured hand car, and went to Newport
for assistance. A train was fitted out
at once, several of the citizens vOlun-
teering to go to the aid of the suffering
wounded. Arriving at the scene OF
disaster, several of the worst injured
were carried back to Newport, where
! they were comfortably provided for.
| The train ran back and forth several
times, and all unable to proceed to their
destination, were taken to Newport
where medical aid was at hand. Supt.
Folsom having arrived with the wreck
train, orders were given that the
wounded have the best possible care.
| The engine was soon righted on the
| iron, the baggage car dumped into the
ditch, and the track cleared for the
waiting trains. No blame attaches to
any one. This is the first casualty in
the history of the road, that has result
ed in the death of passengers.