The Portland daily press., 1883-09-03
RAILROAD COLLISION.
Boston and New York Trains Col
lide On the Central Vermont.
Many Wounded but No Lives Lost.

ST. ALBANs, Sept: 2.--The fast train leaving
Boston at l p. m. Saturday for Chicago via
Central Vermont line collfded with the fast
New York express leaving here at 7.25 p. M,
at Colchester. about O'Clock. Colchester Is
the meeting place for these trains and both
were about on time The New York express
arrived first and had turned the switch prepar-
atory to getting off on the side track. Before
the engines of this train reached the switch
the Boston express came along at rapid rate.
Engineer Jones OF the Boston train applied the
air breaks as soon as he discovered the danger
OF collision, but they did not work and his
train crashed into the New York express be-
fore the latter could back ont of the way. The
engineer and firemen Of the New York train
had time to jump and save themselves but the
engineer and fireman of the other train stuck
to their posts and were badly hurt. The fact
that the New York train was almost at o stand
still is the only thing that prevented most
terrible result.
Both engines were badly wrecked and both
tenders telescoped the baggage car behind
them. ono tender going almost completely in
to the baggage car. Not a soul aboard the
train was hurt and the passengers in the other
train miraculously escaped with only a shaking
up. A large number OF gravel train men were
in the baggage car of the Boston train, and
several OF them were more or less hurt II Is
mystery how any Of them escaped alive, as
the tender crashed into the Car and trunks
were broken into many pieces. Thirteen per-
sons In the Boston train were in1uaed as fol-
lows:
G. r. Jones, engineer, bruised chiefly ON the
left leg and shoulder; G. s. Jones, left leg cut
slightly and bruised otherwise; W. Fl. Chiison,
fireman, severely hurt, being bruised all over,
but chiefly in back; Michael Finn, baggage
master, severe scalp wound; James Rooney,
fracture Of collar bone and some bruises; Felix
Lamoth, fracture Of thigh; Andrew Osier, se-
verely bruised in thigh and body, and six other
employees on the gravel train were bruised but
not disabled. Superintendent Hobart and As
sistant Superintendent Foss repaired at once to
the scene with Drs. Fossett and Sherwood Of
st. Albans, and everything possible was done
for the comfort of the wounded. They were
put on beds In the Wagner sleeper and brought
to st. Adams, where most of them live
The passengers were carried by and the
track cleared by 10 a. m. today. The night ex-
press trains from Now York and to and from
Boston were delayed some time In consequence
Of the accident. Engineer Jones says he
would have been burned to death had IL not
been that his fireman, Chilson, though him.
self suffering from severe injuries, remained
till he had liberated Jones.
As far as can be learned the accident was
due 70 the failure of the brakes, as it seems
that the location Of the track at Colchester is
such as to enable the engineer to stop the
train il the brakes had worked.
An investigation is to be made at once. The
sufferers are being closely watched after by
the management and are doing as well as can
he expeCtad