The Portland daily press., 1885-10-19
A TERRIBLE WRECK.
TWO Trains on the Northern Railroad
Collide While at Full Speed.
Three Men Instantly Killed and Five
Others Injured.

CONCORD, N. H., Oct. 18.-A terrible accident
occurred on the Northern Division of the Boston
and Lowell Railroad, midway between East and
West Andover, at O'Clock this morning. by
which three persons lost their lives and five were
injured. The Chicago express freight left here
with double header the engineers being John
p. Emerson and Daniel Seannell, and when they
reached West Andover to set off for the down pas
senger train, it was found that the train had
broken apart. Emerson started in search of the
missing cars and meanwhile the passenger train
came along. The passenger trainmen were in
formed that Emerson had gone after the part of
his train before they left the station. That train
stopped at Andover Centre leaving four passen-
gers and started southwark. When about three
eighths of mile below Andover Centre both
trains collided and as each was going rapidly the
recoil was great that the direction of each To-
comotve was completely changed. As soon as
possible the train men went to the rescue of the
persons on the engines Both locomotives were
badly demolished and their engineers missing,
but after long search they were found in the ruins
dead, as was also the brakeman of the freight
train who went back with Emerson on his engine.
The express messenger and baggage master were
imprisoned in the wreck and it was necessary to
cut them out after being confined in perilous
position more than an hour. Both OF these were
in the baggage car which took fire, but the flames
were extinguished without any damage. The
tender of the passenger locomotive telescoped the
baggage car and the latter telescoped the mail
car. There were two clerks in the latter, one of
whom was injured Aside from severe shaking
up none of the passengers were hurt
A wrecking train and medical assistance went
from this city and the track was cleared before
night. General Superintendent Mellen, who
came from Boston by special train, and Division
Superintendent Todd directed the work. Follow
lug is list of the
Killed-Lucius Graves, passenger engineer, of
Concord, aged 60, married; John P. Emerson,
freight engineer, of Concord aged 30. unmarried
William Harvey freight brakeman of Lebanon,
aged 80, married.
Iniured-Frank HI. Stevens of West Lebanon,
postal clerk, leg hurt; Will w. Stone of Concord,
express messenger, ankle and head bruised; Will
liam Turner of West Lebanon, baggage master,
leg broken and other injuries; Oscar Leighton Of
Concord, passenger fireman, head and hand
bruised; Frank G. Wells of West Lebanon,
freight fireman, head bruised
Tucker is the only person seriously injured.
Leighton escaped by jumping and Wells was
thrown long distance when the engines col
lided.
Emerson's fireman states that he left word at
West Andover to have the passenger train held
until he returned. He had to go to East Andover,
about eight miles, and as he had only eight cars
he must have been running rapidly when the ac-
cident happened. Had his request been under
stood the passenger train would undoubtedly
have remained at West And0ver, although the
latter had the right of way The railroad officials
biity, preerring to let the facts be elected at the
hearing which the railroad commissioners Will
hold early this week. 1t was very foggy this
morning, it being impossible for train men to see
more than twenty-five feet ahead of the train.
| Had it been clear the accident would not have
happened as both engineers could have stopped
tnelr trains. Several freight cars We're Smash eo
and the pecunary damage to property is placed al
$4,000.