The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-17
DEATH ON THE RAIL.
Three Successive Accidents to
Trains in Maine.
Fatal Catastrophes Resulting From
Heavy Snow Drifts.

A Portland Me) dispatch Of the I'd says:
The heavy snow drifts caused no less than
three accidents to snow plow this morning,
involving the death Of three men and the in
turing Of four others. The names Of the un-
fortunate are: N. D. Martin, fireman; James
Smith, laborer; Thomas Shedwick, laborer;
L. W. Philbrick, fireman; John Kilpatrick,
laborer; - Lydon, laborer; Robert Slim
son, engineer. The three first were killed.
The train known as the 'snow plow spe-
cial" left Portland at o'clock, consisting OF
a snow plow, two engines, scraper and q
conductors van, in charge of A. E. Hanson,
conductor. The train was run to within one
mile above Bryant's Pond, where side drift
was met about eight feet deep. It was SO hard
that it crowded the plough against the outer
rail, throwing it across the track by the
spreading of the rails. This caused the en-
CINE to Jump the embankment, about six feet
high, into ditch, striking on it's side. Engi-
neer F. o. Mitchell stuck his hand out Of the
window and held on to the cab when he went
down, thus escaping injury. Fireman n. D.
Martin, in the act Of jumping, was struck in
the middle of the back His hip was dislocated
and other serious injuries inflicted.
When told that he could live but short
GlQle ne Salu, i WduI W see IAoaioi' ALS
was an impossibility, as he was too near his
end. He then said, ''Tell her am not afraid
to die.' A little later he said, II am
willing and anxious to die," but
his suffering became SO great at last
that he begged the doctor to
give him something to take away his senses
and let him die quickly. He lived until forty
minutes past II o'clock, retaining his mind
fully to the last. Just before he died he
asked, "Were any Of the boys hurtW and
then remarking, 'I want to sea mother" he
Fireman L. W. Philbrick, Of engine IS,
that was lust behind the engine C3l2 that
went over the embankment, crawled un-
der the engine through steam and
bot water to the side Of Martin and
lifted him out from under the wreck, where
he must have been tortured beyond
description had he remained. Phil
brick had scarcely got Martin out when he
fell senseless by his SIDE The cold was most
intense, and the garments Of both were froze
on them. Philbrick was taken to the saloon
car and thence to Bryants Pond with Mar
tin. He was unconscious most Of the time
until tonight, when he revived, and will i've
The wreck plow special left Island Pond
yesterday noon, coming this way to clear the
track, with the Montreal passenger behind
it, The train consisted Of dapge, a wind
plow, two engines and a;;conductor's van. A
crossing caused the plow to Jump the track,
and striking large rock, it turned bottom
up The pillow had in it at the time eight
men. James Smith, from Island Pond, had
an inch bolt driven into his forehead and was
killed. John Fitzpatrick, from Island Pond,
was injured about the head and shoulders.
Thomas Shedwick, also from Island Pond,
was injured internally and died at o'clock.
- Lydon, from Gorham, N. H., was
badly hurt about the head.
Another snow plow train on the Grand
Trunk, in charge of Engineer Robert Slim
son, was at Pleasant river this morning when
the engine left the track. Stimson jumped,
as he supposed the engine was going, over the
engine lust behind his. He was badly
brIised and cut, but may probably live.