The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-04
EIGHT MEN KILLED.
An Engine and Snow Plough Fall
Thirty Feet.

Eight lives were lost in a railroad accident
the other afternoon on the Intercolonial rail-
road at McIntoshs Cove, sm Ill fishing ham,
let forty miles from Bathurst, the capital of
Glouster County, New Brunswick. An en-
CINE and snow Plough with thirteen men on
board, all train hands but one, jumped the
track while crossing the Caraquet river and
fell thirty feet into the ice-bound stream be-
low. The names of the dead are:
Daniel Kearney, aged 25, conductor;
Michael Lannigan, aged 81; Felix Bushie,
aged "a. fireman; Joseph Viennean, aged ~;
John Paulin, aged 30, brakeman; A.
Pinet, aged 23 section man; John Carney,
The accident happened under unusual cir
cumstances. On account of the big snow
storms thereabouts, the track was OBJ.
etruc.ed, the drifts in place being piled
up to q height of four or five feet. The
train left Caraguet for Bathurst at 2
p. NJ, the usual hour, running under dimln-
ished speed on account Of tho drifts. The
train was filed with passengers. A snow
plough was attached in front OF the engine,
as far as Mclntosh's Cove, where small
colony of French fishermen live Big
drifts we're encountered here lying across the
track at the entrance to the bridge across
the Caraouet River. 1t was decided best not
to attempt to pull the train across until the
plough had cleared away the snow.
The engine, with the plough ahead OF it,
started for the bridge at a good speed AS
the first drift few out Of sight before the
plough the passengers ON the train behind
cheered and waved their hats Suddenly as
the engine approached the middle of the
bridge the plough was seen to jump clear from
the track, and with it the engine, and both
to topple headlong off the bridge and out of
sight into the river below. The river is only
six feet deep. The engine broke through the
ice, burying its little band beneath its weight
In the freezing water.
Some of the men were killed outright. The
cries of the others were heartrending as they
called for help The passengers on the train
hastened to the scene instantly, and ventur-
ing out on the river did their utmost to e1-
tricate the unfortunate party. Being with,
out implements, they made no progress, and
were compelled to witness the death OF
the helpless men. A relief train was
summoned as soon as possible, but
in order to do so a messenger
was despatched back to the nearest station:
The hours wore on until midnight, and still
the brave passengers kept at their task OF
irving to help the imprisoned men. 1t was
alter midnight before the relief train from
Bathurst, carrying physicians and road OIL
cals. made its appearance.
They began operations at once, and by ten
o'clock next morning succeeded in rescuing
those who were not dead. Of these there
were five, all more or less injured. The res
curers had a hard time of it trying to save
DUNCAN Patterson, who was imprisoned by
the broken timbers in the cab Of the engine,
whence, after suffering terribly from scaid-
ing, he was at last pulled out alive early next
morning. ,.,.
On the relief train came the wives ana mule
hildren of the train hands, who had heard OF
the accident and begged permission to go
down to the bridge. Several of the dead men
had large families, and the children cried
piteously as they saw the mangled bodies OF
their fathers taken from the river. The WORK
of the rescuers next morning was witnessed
by hundreds of people from the neigbbor'
ing country.