Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-04-08

1nls afternoon Conductor Phllbrooks
passenger train which leaves this city at 4.40
T. M, collided at the Farmingdale siding,
so-called, with special freight train No. IL,
coming down, resulting in a considerable
loss, and minor injuries to several passen-
gers.
The Scene
Of the collision is about half way between
the cities of Gardiner and Hallowell, and
just below Rich's ice houses. Here is
long siding where trains frequently pass. On
one side is the river, while on the other,
not far distant, is the carriage road running
between the two cities. The collision
occurred at 347 o'clock. The passenger
train was running at a rate of eight miles an
hour, much slower than the regular rate, ae
it was expected that a crossing would be
made with freight at the siding. The train
had arrived at the lower end of the side track
aud was about the trains length from the
lower switch. The-freight train, which was
made up of 25 cars. was moving some seven
miles an hour. The locomotives
Met, With a Crash
Which was heard in all directions, even as far
as Gardiner gentleman who was driving
some distance off heard the sound and hur-
red to the scene of the accident. Almost
Immediately following the collision some
one rushed to the telephone connected with
RIch's ice houses and gave the alarm at Au-
81
train consisting of three passenger cars, a
baggage car and several wrecking cars was
made up. 1t arrived at the siding at $50
o'clock.
The shock
as in all such cases was terrific. Isaac
Blake, engineer on the passenger train, re-
versed his engine promptly on perceiving the
on coming train. There is short curve
just below the siding. which cut of the view
so that he was unable to stop his train in sea-
son to avert the accident He stuck to his
post until the last, never leaving his machine
until after the accidsnt. His fireman, Lewis
Bailey, jumped some time before the trains
met, landing long distance from the track.
He was able to rise after he struck and wit
ness the colliding Of the two locomotives.
The engineer of the freight, CAP Leavitt,
Jumped from His Engine,
as did his fireman. The shock to the occu-
pants of the passenger train was severe one.
Many were thrown forward and of their seats.
There was much excitement. Mrs.
Loren C. Allen of Hallowell whose husband
is master mechanic of the Hallowell Cotton
Manufacturing Co., was sitting at one end
her side. She was thrown forward with
much force against q car door, and received
bad flesh wound over one temple. She ex-
hibited great fortitudc, and several gentle
men present assisted in dressing the wound.
The lad was thrown upon hot stove, direct
ly in front of him. He was slightly burned
Mr.. Hathaway, a aveling salesman for Col
gates soap concern, was standing at the rear
end of car gazing from the door window.
The sudden halt of the train threw the gen.
tleman backwards and he struck the back of
his head on a car seat. He was stunned for
a while, but after a short time regained
his senses and was able to walk.
Mr.. John r. Gould of Hallowell, received
a painful injury in one hand. Mr.. John
Mace. the baggage master, was walking by
the open door of bis car when the concus-
sion came He was shot out of the door and
upon the rails of the siding. He suffered
from an injury to one leg. Conductor Phil
brook had one arm injured. Many suffered
slight bruises and strains. Among the pas
sengers on the train were Gen. Joshua L.
of Brunswick, Hon. John L.
Cutler of Bangor, f. r. Burpee of Bangor,
assistant superintendent of the New Bruins
wick railway and Gen. Hall of Damariscotta
also quite . party of Augusta people.
The Entire Loss
in the rolling stock is estimated at $40, 600.
The locomotives struck with such q momom-
tum that their boiler heads were crushed in,
and the cow-catchers fiattened, so that the
forward ends of the cylinders nearly touched.
The engine of the passenger traia was one
of the new ones purchased last summer and
which has since then appeared on the road
and attracted much attention. The forward
truck frame, with wheels, of this locomotive,
was thrown from its proper position and left
on one side of the track, something like q
rod ahead of the engine. This was account
ed for from the fact that after striking. Phil
brooks train was forced back on its course
nearly 20 feet, The machinery of the locomo-
tive. beneath the boilers was more or less
crushed and bent. The tender. of the pas
senger train telescoped with the mail car.
The baggage and mail cars also telescoped-
Otherwise the train did not seem to be much
injured, although considerable glass was
broken in the other four cars. On the freight
the drawbars on nearly all the cars were
ground together and broken. A surprising
phenomenon was to be seen about the center
of the train. 1t was the twelfth car from the
tender and had been loaded with sleepers.
Stripped Of il tracks il lay ashvart car