News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-27


yet constantly liable to happen had
occurred that night. One of the Soutb.
bound night freight trains, running
down to New York, broke an axle and
got one of its middle cars off the rails. be-
fore reaching the bridge.
How far they dragged the car in that
condition, no one knows for it was so
cold that the conductor and all the
brakemen were huddled in the caboose
behind. But they found it out after a
time, and slowed down as the train got
on to the bridge.
As they came to a stand-still, two or
three other cars jumped the track; and
one OF these, an oil-car, with long tank
on it, broke its couplings and was showed
over on to the up-line of track-our line
where it stood sidewise across the
rails.
The accident made great confusion
with the men on the freight; but they
claimed that they got out their signal
lanterns SIS soon as they could, and that
it was not minute before we came up.
As we shot along past the dark station
and out toward the bridge, saw the
white steam of the freight-train.
''We shall pass No. 10 right by the
bridge" Doc said.
Both of us were looking, Doc on his
side and on mine.
Suddenly, right ahead, we saw a red
lantern swinging on our track, at the
head of the bridge.
''God save us. Doc p shouted, "the
draws open!''
"Spring the patent brake + he said to
me-that was what we called the air
brake, then-and in a moment we had
shut off, reversed and whistled for the
hand brakes.
But we were going at a great speed.
In moment more we had come along
side the freight engine, and out on the
bridge we saw the oil-car right across
our rails 1t had look of death IN it.
[ swung out on the step.
He stood with his back to me, looking
ahead, but turned when I called out. l
shall never forget that last look he gave
me. He did not speak, but his look
seemed to say, eyes, you may as well
jump, but must stick to my post.
He barely looked round to me, but
made no answer, then looked ahead
again.
Then jumped-went heels over head
along the side of the embankment lead
ing to the bridge, rolled over and over,
and landed down on the ice of the creek,
near the abutment, which I had scarce
touched when heard the crash, as our
engine struck the oil-car.
With the collision came a sudden,
brilliant flash of light Everything
above me, the whole bridge and the
cars on it, seemed wrapped in blaze of
fire
At the same instant, too, there was
dull, long, tearing crash The trestle
had given way beneath the strain.
Down came our engine, the three
baggage cars, a passenger car, and l
don't know how many freight cars of
the other train, on to the ice. The
whole wreck, as it fell down, seemed en-
veloped in flames; for the oil had
splashed over everything, and the blaz-
ing Goals from the fre-box exploded it
on the instant.
When the engine struck the ice, it
broke through, and with hiss went to
the bottom of the deep water there; and
on top of it came tumbling down all the
other cars.
For a moment following the crash
there was an almost complete silence;
then agonizing screams, and prayerful
cries for help from the imprisoned pas
seugers.
We who were not disabled did what
we could. The seven rear cars did not
run into the chasm. but two of them
burned on the track, along with num-
ber of freight cars. Twenty-one of the
passengers were killed outright, and 6
still greater number were injured.
As we worked there in the noise, heat
and awful confusion of that night. l cast
many an anxious glance round fol
Doc, hoping and half expecting that he
had got clear and would be at work witt
us trying to get out the passengers
But saw nothing of him, and by day
break l felt sure that he had gone dow
with his engine.
The locomotive was not hauled up ou
of the water till the next week. Ther
we found his body iammed down unde
the engine on the bed of the creek. Hi
hands, face and clothes had beel
scorched; but whether he was drowned
or burned to death, we could not tell.
He had met his death at his post o
duty; gone out of the world with hi
hand on the lever; giving his own lif
that the lives of others might be savec
"a man of whom any people may b'
proud.