The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-25
A TRAIN DBRAILED.
Frightful Accident to an Ex.
press in Massachusetts.
Ten Persons Instantly Killed and
Many More Injured.

THE train which leaves Boston on the
Western Division of the Boston and Maine
Railroad at l o'clock p. N. is known as the
Portland Express and makes the run between
Haverhill and Boston, thirty three miles, in
SO minutes. When the traiu left Boston Oh
Tuesday it consisted of baggage-car, milk
car, Pullman, smoker and four passenger
cars under charge of Conductor Wrimouth,
one of the oldest and most experienced men
on the route At Bradford, which is on the
south side of the Merrimac River, separated
from Haverlill only by the stream, the
road makes n curve before passing upon
the bridge. At the centre of this curve
are brick round house and wooden water
house, situated in q right angle formed by
the regular line and the Newburyport branch
of the road. The Newburyport train had just
steamed by and was waiting for the express
to before up TO and
the engine and tender, baggage, milk and
Pullman cars had reached the bridge when
thu smoking-car, either owing to a broken
truck or broken rail, left the rail
and bumped along over the sleepers
till it reached the first span of the bridge,
where it toppled over. In its erratic course
the car became uncoupled, as did the passen-
ger cars Immediately following. One of these
turned almost at right angles to the track and
broke directly into two parts, but without
losing its equilibrium or doing much damage.
The cars Immediately following this plunged
hcatllong into the water-houss, completely
wreckng it and telescoping themselves
while the fourth car stayed on the track,
sustaining but little damage.
The alarm was at once given, and fearing
that the wreck might catch fire, the whistle
was blown, to which the Fire Department at
once responded Fortunately their efforts were
not needed, although they rendered efficient
aid in clearing away the debris and
removing the dead and injured. In
fifteen minutes after the alarm was given
hundreds Of willing bands were at work.
Owing to its proximity to the shoe factories
The crowd soon became so great as to necesSi-
tate the roping off Of the wreck in order that
the men might have room in which to work.
Upon investigation it was found that none
of the passengers in the overturned smoking
car were seriously injured, though some
were more or less bruised, and one man
had his leg fractured. The occupants Of
the car following were less fortunate,
several receiving severe injuries, while the
cars following those which crashed into the
round house were so completely smashed and
crushed that nearly every occupant was
more or less severely injured.
The scene was hearJrending. The screams
of the wounded. the sobs of those whom the
shock had rendered hysterical and the frantic
appeals of those who missed friends and
relatives caused the stoutest hearts to quail.
But in the meantime the work Of clearing
away the debris went bravely forward The
physicians of Haverhill and Bradford
responded ell masse to telephone requests for
assistance. The wounds of those less severely
injured were dressed. while those unable to
travel were at once placed in ambulances and
conveyed to the City Hospital.
One of the most piteous sights seen was
that Of husband, wife and little five.year-
old son lying together in Il heap under the
ruins of the telescopcl cars, the mother hold
ing the child close to her bosom as if to shield
it from harm. Allthree were cold in death.
The following persons we're instantly killed:
John O'Brien, Bradford; William Taylor,
section hani, Bradford; T. p. Goodwin. wife
and child, Kennebunk, Me-; Walker Harri-
son, Maine; Clarence Hazclwool, Boston;
Charles Thurlow, Newton junction, N. b. !;
Dennis Shannon, Bradford; Josephus Shaw,
Boston.
About sixty persons were injured, at least
fifteen of them quite badly, and two or three
so seriously that their recovery was not ex.
pectel