Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-15
DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.
An Express Train Makes q Plunge
Of Two Hundred Feet.
The Cars Take Fire and Many Perish
in the Flames.
The Number of Dead Not Yet Known.

GREENFIELD, Mass, April "a terrible
disaster occurred on the Fitchburg rail-
road tonight, midway between Baldwell's
Ferry and West Deerfield station. The
eastbound passenger train, due at Green
field at sos p. M, going over an embank-
ment 200 feet high. Six bodies have been
taken out of the ruins, and it is not known
how many others were killed. The train
was the eastern bound express and con-
sisted of baggage car, a smoker, a
sleeping car and two ordinary passenger
cars. The train was in charge of Con-
ductor Foster, with Herbert LittlejOhn as
engineer.
The point where the accident occurred
is the most dangerous on the road. The
train runs on an embankment 200 feet
above the Deerfield river. The bank is
steep and is covered with large boulders
and masses of rock. When the train ar
rived at this point the track commenced
to settle under it for a distance covering
its entire length. The coaches broke
from their trucks and went rolling over
and over down the precipice. The engine
broke from the tender, tearing up the
track for 20 feet. Below rolled the river.
thrown. AS soon as they struck they
caught fire from the stoves.
NO ONE ESCAPED.
The sleeping car was an entire wreck.
1t was occupied by several passengers,
not one of whom, at this hour, is known
to have escaped injury. One man, whose
name is unknown, is imprisoned in the
wreck of the sleeper, where he is being
oil ri Oh
up dead. AS soou as the news reached
Greenfield a special train was made up
aud sent to the scene of the disaster hay
ing on board several physicians, section
men and a few citizens. On arriving at
the scene of the wreck a horrible sight
was witnessed. Darkness had settled over
the spot. Far down on the river bank
could be seen the smouldering embers of
the holocaust. It was impossible to tell
who was hurt and who was killed. Stout
hearted trackmen were lowered cautiously
down the treacherous height and the work
of rescue began.
Merrill Seely, superintendent of the
National Express company of Boston was
found in the wreck and taken to the relief
car. He had a wound four inches long
and half an inch wide over his left temple.
His left thigh was broken and also his
left leg at the knee, besides which he sus-
tanned internal injuries from which he will
die.
d. L. Crandall, postal clerk, was plung-
ed into the river and got ashore with diff
fculty. He was wounded about the head
and his arm was fractured. The Fitch
burg coach was the only one that escaped
the conHagration. Deputy Sheriff Byrant
who was IN this car, rescued two children
from the flames, but one was dead and the
other dying. The parents were on board,
but could not be found.
DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Some of the in ured and dead were
taken to Shelburn Falls, and some of the
wounded to Greenfield. G.. P. Bell, of
Nashua, n. H., was slightly cut on the
head and leg. He was thrown head fore
most into the river, and went to the bot
tom, barely escaping drowning. Conductor
Foster, is reported safe and but slightly
injured. D. G. Wells, of Andover, had
his shoulder hurt. The car in which he was
riding was broken in two, and stood on
end within a few feet of the river bank.
Nicholas Dorgan, of Greenfield, had his
left arm and ankle broken, and was seri-
ously injured internally. A little girl who
was passenger on the train, died in his
arms, from injuries received. J. E. Priest,
of Littleton, N. H., had his face and head
cut. Engineer Littlejohn, of North Ad-
ans, was badly scalded, and it is believed
fatally. A. K. Warner, chairman of the
Greenfield board of selectmen, was badly
hurt, but his injuries are not fatal.
Great excitement prevails all along the
road between here and North Adams.
Italian Eyes and HAIR