Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-03
The Boiler Of the Dummy
Engine Explodes Carry
ing Death to the Pas
sengers.
Twenty-Five Killed and Many
lniured-The Conductor Of
the Freight Arrested

time, occurred here this morning on the
Grand Trunk railroad. The suburban train
left the union station At $40. One Of the
cars attached was filled with employees of the
bolt works, who live in the city ard are con-
veyed to their dsily labor BY this means, the
train stopped for them opposite the works.
After .urni.1g the curve aG Parkdale boun
dairy, q freight train was observed coming
city-w ard, but the impetuo Of both trains
was too much to allow the brakes to be ap-
piled in time and the result WAS 4 feasful
smash-up ending in q shocking tragedy.
Nineteen of the mel employed n the bolt
works are now reported to have been killed
and twenty or thirty wounded. The con-
ductor of tie freight train, Geo. Barber, %
said 70 be respons BILE for the accident as he
was runnins the train without orders. He
has been arrested.
The Latest accounts of the railroad accident
place the number Of dead az swenty-seven.
Several of the iliured are 50 badly MANNED
that they are not exL ectsd TO recover. The
affair casts gloom over the city.
Among the killed are G. Agate, w. Klef-
fer, C. Spchn, A. Lynck P. Mulligan, A.
White, Harriaan, G. Mcdonald. G. Rowell.
w. Herbs G. Robinson and Cunningham.
Among the wounded lying in the hospital
between life and death are W. Fitzgerald, K.
Carruthers, II. C. kehman, Michael helly,
w. Rogers, Fred Burton, (these last two
cannot live) C. McDcnald, J. Lynch, Jas.
Kelly, A. Banks, Hugh Cunningham, K.
Robinson, Bailey, Pat Norton and John Cor
ri2an.
The majority of these are in an uucon.
scinus state and the doctors cannot say how
many will live. The friends of the victims
are surrounding the hospital and morgue and
scenes of the most hssrtrending description
are witnessed. Several of the men killed
leave wives and families.
ANOTHER DISPATCH.
TORONTO. Jan. 2.
One of the most frightful railroad acct
dents that ever occurred in Canada took place
at 6.55 o'clock this morning. A train con-
sisting of dummy engine and two cars on
the Great Western Division of the Grand
Trunk railroad left Union station having on
board sixty passengers, chiefly employees in
the bolt and iron works at Hamber, who re-
sided in this city and who were going to
their WORK. They were all in the best of
spirits, and although the weather was pierre
ing cold, the gale blowing the snow against
the car windows, the merry crowd did not
heed it as they told how they had spent New
Year. Upon rounding q sharp curve, just
before reaching the bolt works, the engineer
saw freight laundering down the grade
toward him. He reversed his engine, Shrek
ing out q warning, and along with his fire.
nam jumped for life. The conductor heard
the warning and crying out Jump boys for
your lives" sprang into the snow. In q Sec
ond more there was a terrific crash. The en-
eine of the freight train knocked the boiler
of the dummy clean. though the first car,
crushing the unfortunate passengers in every
direction and pinning many Of them to the
floor. The impetus was so great that the
engine mounted the truck of the dcmmy
which kept the rails and remained balanced.
The enguser of the freight train when he saw
that collision was inevitable sprang from
the engine, but the fireman, Thomas, was
killed.
To add to the horror of the scene the
boiler of the dummy exploded and the ss-
Gaping steam and boiling water scalded and
carried death or terrible injuries to the man.
gled and bleeding men. Fire broke out and
completed the work Of destruction. Shrisks.
groans and cries for help from agonized suf-
ferers rent the air. Several poor fellows.
suffering untold agonies with their limbs and
bodies burned to a crisp, piteously implored
those near them to pour water upon their
scalded limbs or put an end to their suffer
ings. Strong men looked on appalled, asd
many an eye was wet with tears Every
PpSstte pu1sc VI utsuxuIcmtuL was TO be
seen, limos cut, bruised and mangled, half
easten away by fire or swellen to an enor-
nous size by the action Of the steam and
water. No more awful scene could be wit
messed. nor was any possible horror left to
imagine The first passenger car was . terrible
wreck and several hours passed before the
poor fellows buried beneath the debris could
BIZ extricsted. A relief party of 30 or 40 were
SION at the scene and At once slowly
and tenderly set to work to rescue
the sufferers and about | O'Clock 4 car
load of dead and injured was on the way to
the city. On arriving at Union an ambu.
lance wagon and several cabs and busse,
were waiting. A large crowd had gathered
ard as one after another OF the dead and
wounded was carried from the car to the
eonveyances many turned sick at the sight.
while others brushed away . tear. The
wounded bore their safierings With fortitude
and patience, few groans being the ONLY
indication of their intense agony. The scene
at the morgue beggars description. Fifteen
bodies lay side By side in two rows in Opposite
sides Of the room mothers, fathers, brother,
and sisters we're to be seen passing from
oofy to body, and with trembling hands li,t
the covers to gaze on the faces of the dead
Nov and then . cry of anguish vas heard.
which told too plainly of the discovery Of
some dear one, carried OF in the prime of
manhood.
The hospital from an early hour vas
crowded With the relatives of the wounded.
On the arrival Of the wounded the full hospi-
tai stan proceeded to uudress them. While
the doctors Get TO work sewing up the wounds
and dressing their terribly sealded limbs.
Some Of the latter were burned from head TO
feet. One Of the victims, John Rovlest.
died soon after arriving At the hospitaL
when found among the ruins he spoke cheer
fully and asked to Be allowed to valk. On
locking down hslrried. ''OA God, ~ legs ar,
od, and 90 they we're burned %.
Coroner Lyod empanellsd . jury, Who NJ
onGe met and viewed the bodies and adiourped
till tuo O'Clock, when they again nes and
some evidence vas taken and : further AL |
tournament vas had till Tuesday night
BARBER, conductor Of the frsighs, vas in
meiiately placed under arrest. He n one