Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-04-23
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
TERRIBLE RAILROAD DISASTER.
A Passenger Train Goes Over an Embark
ment

terrible disaster occurred on the Fitch
burg Mass railroad on the night OF April 4
midway between Barkwells Ferry and West
Deerlield station, the east bound passenger
train due at Greenfield AT 6:O5 going over AN
embankmcnt 100 feet high. Thirteen bodies
have been taken out of the ruins. The train
was the eastern express and consisted OF a
baggage car, a smoker, sleeping car, ma !
car and two ordinary passenger ears and was
in charge Of Conductor Foster, with Herbert
fsttle John as engineer. The point where the
q 'aont occurred is the most dangerous on
tn road The train runs on the edge OF an
embankmept 90 feet above Deefteld river.
The bank is steep and II covered with huge
bOulders and rocks On the train arriving at
this place the track commenced 10 settle under
il for a distance covering It's entire length.
The cars broke from the trucks and went roll
ing over and down the precipice. The engln
broke from the tender tearing mp the track
for twenty feet. Below rolled the Deerheld
river, on the very edge Of which the cars were
thrown. A. soon as they struck they caught
fire rom the stoves. The sleeping car is an
entire wreck. IL was occupied by several pas
sengcrs not one OF whom escaped injury One
man whose name is unknoSn, was imprisoned
in the wreck of the sleeper where ne was burn
ed alive. One little girl was picked up dead.
As soon "a the new, reached Deerfeld a
special went TO the scene of the q saster, hav-
ing on board several doctors, section men and
few citizens On arriving al the scene 81
the wreck horrible slght was MltuesScu.
Darkness had settled over the spot. Far
down on the river bank could be seen the
smouldering embers OF the holocaust. stout
hearted trackmen were lowered down the
treacherous height and the work OF rescue
began. Merritt Seey, superintendent Of the
National express company o. Boston, was
/ found in the wreck and taken into the relief
car He had wound four inches long an
half an inch W Dc over his temple. His left
thigh was broken and also his left leg al the
knee, besides which he sustained internal IN
juries from which be viii die.
DR.. Crandall, lO,tal clerk, was plunged into
/ the river and ot ashore with difficulty. lie
was wounded about the head and his arm was
| fractured. The Ftchburg coach was the ONLY
/ one that escaped the cOnilagration. Deputy
/ sheriff BRYANT OF Greenfield, who was in this
/ car. rescued two children rom the ilamcs, but
one was dead and the other died soon after
/ Some of the injured ana dead were taken Il
/ Shelburn anu some o. The wounded to Green
] field
II is reported that thirteen persons were kill
! ed outright, but the rel OFT can not b. verified.
/ Fears are entertained that further search vii
Increase the list of deaths and causalt es.
4 PORTION OF tie mail il rel orted lost in The
river
The train at the time Of the ace dent wa'
running at tie rate OF about twenty miles al
hour. Frank Lane of Boston, salesman for
| New York firm, Jumped from the train and Il
! elieyed 10 bee tn only person VINO saw The
cars 90 down the embankmcnt. lie say
there were three pa. sengers IN the drawing
| r"Qul car,