The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-09
WRECKED BY a WAsHoUT.
Engineer and Firemen Killed at
Their Posts.

BELLOWS FALLS, VT, April THE train
leaving Bellows Falls over the Rutland Rail-
road at IL p. m. last night was wrecked a
mile above Rockingham station by wash
out The engineer, Moses Pratt, and fire.
man, John Pratt, were killed. The baggage
and express car with its contents were
burned. Many of the passengers were
bruised One sleeper and the passenger
cars did not leave the track
Among the injured are v e. BuTdlck Oh
Middlebury, sprained left ankle. scalp
wound, back injured seriously; Mary Lovely
of Essex Junction, not serious; Mrs Lewis
Moore of Burlington, injury to left leg, and
her child, Anna Moore. injured in left groin; ;
and Mrs. Clark Gibson, Sheldon Springs, in
jury to head, shoulders and hips. The body
of engineer Pratt was decapitatcd. The
body of the fireman was finally found be-
tween the tender and burning baggage ear.
The position showed that he must have been
thrown completely over. the tender in the
fall of the train. His face was somewhat
bruised and he was dead. The contents of
the baggage car, express matter and baggage
was destroyed. As far as can be ascertained
none Of the passengers or train men re-
ceived serious injury. All express and mall
matter was consumed with the express car.
Evidences of Poor Construction.
BELLOWS FALLS, VT, April S.-A careful
examination at the scene of the wreck at
Rockingham substantates the theory that
when the embankment was made, upon build
ing the road 80 years ago, aportion OF the soil
from the hill by which the road runs, was
used in building the embankment. Above
that was used a poor quality of sand, being
almost quicksand. The lower strata of soil
was held in place while the sand sloughed
off, leaving difference in the soil clearly
defined for the whole length OF the space
which was washed out. The road was built
and leased in 1871 to the Central Vermont for
20 years. In three years, it passes into the con-
troll of the Delaware 81 Hudson. The ques-
tion interesting the public is whether quite
portion of the line is not built in a similarly
faulty manner. A number of similar slides
and washouts have occurred in the past
year. but, with one exception, no serious
damage has resulted A trestle is completed
and trains crossed for the nrst time at 7 to-
night No attempt was made TO raise the en-
gine or cars. The train records show that
20 freight cars passed over the place about
two hours previous to the accident, after
which the track inspector walked over it, all
seeming right. The railroad commissioners
will investigate this week.
The large body of snow is moving off
gradually in this vicinity. In the Cornecti-
cut valley between Brattleboro and Wells
river, the snow still averages two feet in
depth and the roads are muddy and bad,
many back roads being impossible.
Mr.. Burdick's Loss.
MIDDLEBURY, VT. April 7.-V. E. Bur-
dick. one of the victims in the accident at
Rockingham last night, was brought to his
home today. His condition this evening is
serious. He was cut on the head, had one
ankle sprained, and the thigh of the other
leg dislocated, and is badly bruised and
jammed about the body He lost $500 in
gold in grip-sack, which was lost in the ex-
citement following the accident