Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-11

also examined and found perfect. The
switch and connections were so badly broken
that il was impossible TO ascertain accurately
but it is the general opinion among railroad
official that il was broken switch-rod that
caused tue acc.d n.
The train was one of the finest equipped
on the road and consisted of one of the
largest locomotives attached 10 eight cars in
the following manner milk car. baggage,
psrlor, smoker and four monitor top pas
senger cars with the Westinghouse automat-
ic air brake. The train was running accord
ing TO the engineers story eighteen miles an
hour and after the smoker broke apart from
the rear portion of the train, it bounded
forward onto the bridge. The automatic air
brake was applied and the cars were thrown
upon their side. 1t is probable that, but
for the action of this brake, the car would
have fallen into the Merrimac river, a hund-
red feet below, killing all of the forty pas
sengers insiGe.
The hard pine stringers of the bridge were
badly spliutered but the bridge, which is
iron, withstood the severe strain and was in
no ways injured. All the cars contained the
Baker steam heater and in spite of the
severe test they went through and the shak
| ing up no part of the cars caught fire.
| The passenger cars are complete wreck,
the smoker though badly damaged can be
/ liked up at a small expense. The damage TO
the rolling stock will not exceed $50, 900.
/ The inward tracks were cleared at 6 O'Clock,
and the traids for Boston started as usual, al
though throughout the afternoon passengers
on through trains were transferred over the
bridge by special local train.
In the first passenger car six were killed
and alt the rest received injuries of seri-
Gus nature, number having their limbs
broken.
Passengers in the car next TO this received
bad shaking up, several being thrown back
of their seats, but as far as can be learned
none received serious injuries.
The two rear cars jumped off the track
and ran about a hundred feet, when they
were stopped by automatic brakes. All the
passengers III these two cars escaped without
injuries, although they were badly shaken
up by the cars running over the sleepers
All the male passengers in these cars as soon
as possible rushed to the rescue of the for
ward cars and helped them out. Those i'll
the smoker were mostly taken out through
the windows. Some of the occupants crawled
out on their hands and knees, some present
ing pitiful sight, being badly cut by glass.
One man was dragged out OF a window with
a broken leg, and suffering much pain
General Manager Furber, Road-master John
Bailey and two wrecking trains with large
force of men were early on the scene, clear
ing away the debris. \ number who receiy-
ed inj urles of Il trlting nature were trans
ferred 10 a special train on the opposite side
Of the bridge and left for their destinations.
The conductor in charge was Edward Wey-
mouth, one of the Oldest passenger conduc-
tors on the road. He was in one of the rear
coaches and escaped without injury. Frank
Bowker and III. Collins. of Maiden, were in
the wrecked coaches but escaped with slight
injuries.
As is usual in accidents of this kind, there
are several different stories regarding the
cause There are rum that IA broken
wheel. and also broken rall caused the
disaster, and other people ascrlbe the acci-
ient to a broken switch rod. The usual
speed of trains at this point is said to be from
- to 80 miles.
There is street crossing where the acci-
dent occurred, and for a long time there has
been fears expressed that an accident some
day would occur at that point
The express is said to have been running
at the customary speed today. 1t is a Won
Ter that the entire train was not prccipitated
into the river. The scene at the police sta
ton after the bodies were removed there
Was most distressing. The bodies lay side
by side, distgured almost beyond recogni-
ton.
Most of the victims are persons in the
prime of life. One was child of four
years, cut and mangled in most horrible
manner.
At the hospital the scene was even more
affecting. The groans and expressions of
the injured telling of the terrible nature of
their wounds. The attendant ply ysicians and
nurses are doing all in their power to allevi-
ate the pain and minister to the comfort of
the wounded.
Some of the experiences of those who es-
capped death are thrilling in the extreme. a
man sitting in seat in the worst wrecked
car escaped without scratch, while the pas
senger in front and the one behind him were
instantly killed
Conductor Weymouth went east at $40
with the cars of his unlucky train that were
not damaged.
Thousands of people visited the scene of
the wreck during the afternoon and evening.
The tank which fell upon the wrecked car
was full of water, and those who escaped in
jury were drenchcd to the skin. Trains are
running tonight usual.