St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-03-26
Fatal Railroad Accident.
Harry Meigs Killed and Enery j. Cham
berlain Injured.

Harry Meigs Killed and Ellery j. Cham-
berlain Injured.
A very sad railway accident &C.
Cured about 100 o'clock last Saturday
evening on the st. JOhnsbury & Lake
Chanplain road, at Fairbanks village,
resulting in the death of Harry Meigs,
conductor of the evening freight train,
which was passing this point at that
hour, moving east toward the st.
JOhnsbury station. The accident oc-
Cured on the trestle near the school
house. The rear end of the train be-
came derailed about 300 feet above the
trestle, probably owing to a stick OF
wood that fell from the tender and OBJ
structed the track. When half way
across the trestle, the two rear cars were
thrown off, and plunged precipltately
to the ground, about 25 feet below,
striking close to the house occupied by
Stephen POcock. The only occupants
of the cabOOse were Mr.. Meigs, and
Ellery j. Chamberlain, workman in
the employ of the road. They became
aware that the car had jumped the
track, but had no time to help them
selves. The caboOse struck without
being shattered, and lay with the bot
tom turned partly upward. Chamber
lain was able to get out through the
Widowed projection peculiar to the
tops of these cars, and Meigs was
carried into Mr.. POcock's house. The
only connected utterance that Meigs
made after being hurt was to have the
freight train following warned of the
accident. He soon lapsed into uncon-
seriousness, remaining so till his death
early Sunday morning.
Mr.. Chamberlain is a resident of
PaddOck's village, aAd though there
were confusing rumOrs at first rs to
the extent of his injuries, the welcome
announcement was soon made that his
recovery was expected. No internal
injuries were found, and the patient is
doing well.
A considerable number of persons
reached the scene soon after the acct
dent, and physicians were speedily
summoned. WOrkmen were busy all
night repairing the damage to the tres
tie. A great many from the village
went to view the wreck during Sun
day.
The freight car just ahead of the ca
boOse, and which fell with it, was
loaded with corn, and was completely
shattered by the fall. The rest of the
train was not derailed.
Mr.. Meigs was about 40 years old
and leaves a wife and three children
by former marriage. He lived on
Railroad street, but his wife was at
this time at his mothers in SwantOn.
A special train with his wife and moth
er, arrived here a few minutes after his
death.
There came near being a second ac
cident. AS above mentioned, the dy
ing conductor was able to order the
coming freight train warned, and Ste
phen Hayes, brakeman, was sent up
the road with a lantern for that pur-
pose. He says that he went up the
track for about half mile, and gave
the warning, remaining on the track
till the engine was almost upon him,
but that the engineer failed to see the
signal. And when those who were at
the scene of the wreck heard the en-
CINE whistle, and became aware that it
had not been signalled, some of them
ran up the track barely in season to
stop the train before it came to the
scene of the disaster.
Capt. f. f. GriswOld's fortunate es
cape from being a passenger in the ia
tel cabOose is of interest in connection
with the accident. He was in Dan
Vile, and wishing to get home by this
train, tagged it to stop, but luckily
the signal was not observed, and he
took the next train, reaching the scene
of disaster in season to be of service.
BARNET.
Mr.. Henry Wilson has started a har
ness shop in his store and Mr.. Byron
Berry has returned from Chelsea to
work a few weeks for him.
Edwin Morgan has moved into the
tenement recently occupied by Mr..
Berry.
Rev. Mr.. BOardman has been i'll and
unable to preach for two Sabbaths.
Reading meetings were held and Sab
bath school aud prayer meetings as
usual, conducted by the laymen.
Nancy Gilfillan has sold her farm to
Lewis Henderson, reserving a portion
of the house for her use.
Mrs. Rose FenOff has bought Willard
Heath's house for $500.
The ladies society had a pleasant
gathering at the hall last evening.
EAST BARNET.
There are many farmers in this vi
cinity very short of hay, who have
been unable to get corn or meal to