Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-11
A RAILROAD HORROR.
FRTGHTFUL ACCIDENT TO THE PORT
LAND tkEJ EXPRESS.
A Derallment Causes Sad Havoc-Eine Per-
sons Killed and Many Woundsd-Par-
ticulars Of the Disaster.
fBr telegraph % the pIspatrh.l


the Bradford side in safety, when sud
denly the forward trucks Of the smoker
broke. The smoker was hurled
upon its side. Two coaches were
thrown OF the track and COM
pletely WICKED, being piled mp
AGAINST the Bradford car-house. The
train was on time and running at
ordinary speed. A fire-alarm was sound
ed Immediately, and the department re-
spoDded, but their services were not
needed, as the cars did not take flre.
Physicians were summoned and the
wounded and dying were rapidly cared
for. The work of clearing the wreck
was Immediately pushed forward with
energy. At $3.50 O'Clock six bodies had
been taken from the wreck. Several OF
them we're disfgured beyond recogni-
ton. The list of killed, as far as can be
ascertained, is asfollows: John O'Brien
and John Maddin, of Bradford railroad
section mem c. p. Goodwin, wife, and
child. of Kinochunk, Maine, and an un.
known man having in his pocket a card
on which was the name 81. Hazleton.
Ldfcr.-Two of the dead men aud one
Of the most severely wounded were rail
road section-meD, who were III small
pump-house by the side Of the road,
which was destroyed by the cars crash
ing into it. Nine bodies have been
taken out Of the wreck. Filty-two pas
sengers were wounded, some OF them
badly. A number of them have been
taken to the city hospital. The accident
happened between Bradford station and
the bridge, and was caused by the rails
spreading near frog on a curve where
the turn is made to run on the bridge.
The smoking-car ran on to the bridge
aud turned over. One coach smashed
into the water-tank house, and the other
through the sleeper
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
This train does not stop at Bradford,
and was going at great speed. The
Georgetown branch train was standing
on the track near the water-tank house,
at the Bradford end Of the bridge, wait
ing for the express TO pass over to hayer-
hill. As the express rounded the curve
two cars left the rails and went
crashing into and demolishing the water
tank house In this house a number
of section hands were eating dinner
!. O'Brien. retired merchant of Brad
ford. was talking with the section hands,
and was killed, together with Taylor, one
OF the laborers The car that crashed
into the tank house knocked the ounda-
ton out, fitting the heavy tank upon the
ear, crushing through the top OF
the car and doing fearful work
within. The next car behind these
telescoped the car ahead of 1t, adding
to the havoc. The killed and wounded
were mostly in these two cars. The cars
behind these ran down alongside the
Georgetown train, barely escaping col
lision with the engine of that tram. The
people in the smoker had fearful expe-
rience. One Of the wheels or the front
truck broke and the car bumped against
the end OF the bridge causing the car to
careen, and it ran upon the bridge
for some distance upon the sleepers,
then careened the other way and
leaned against the ironwork OF the
side Of the bridge. The passengers, OF
whom there were about thirty, found
themselves at the top Of the car while II
seemed TO those who had sufficient pres
ence OF mind to think that the car was
tumblng of the bridge to the river be-
/ low. The passengers managed to crawl
out. none Of them being very seriously
injured Such as were able rushed back
and helped those who were imprisoned
in the wrecked cars.
The entire force of physicians in Brad
ford was summoned by telephone, and
they were quickly at hand, aud the
wounded were cared for as soon as re-
( leased.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The following is q corrected list OF tho
killed:
/ Clarence Lakewood, residence un-
known.
/ John O'Brien, of Bradford.
G. p. Goodwin, wife, and child, OF
Kennebunk, Me.
William Taylor section hand.
A. l.. Walker, of Harrison, Me.
Charles Thurlow, Of Newton Junction,
/ \. II.
Josephus Shaw, of Boston.
Fourteen people are too seriously hurt
TO be moved from Haverhill. Some OF
them will undoubtedly die. A majority
of the wounded were able to proceed to
their homes.
CAUSE or THE ACCIDENT.
The accident is supposed to have been
occasloned by a switch-rod breaking
after the engine AMI three forward cars
had passed over the switch. The wheels,
axles. and journals were found to be
sonnd after the accident. The switch
and its connections were 50 badly broken
that it is impossible at present to ascer-
| tain the exact truth.
/ The train was one Of the finest equip
ned on the road. 1t was running, ac
cording TO the engineers story, at about
eighteen miles an hour. After the
smoking-car had broken apart from the
rear portion of the train and bounded
/ forward on the bridge the air
! brake on the car was automatl
cally applied, and the car was
thrown on its side. It is probable thai
but for this brake the car would have
fallen into the e-bound Merrimac river
one hundred feet below. The hard pine
stringers of the bridge were badly spin
tered, but the bridge, which Is OF iron
withstood the severe strain and was II
no way injured.
There were about forty passengers in
the smoking-car as near as can bt
learned, but they all escaped without
severe injuries. although nearly all o
them were badly shaken up and a mum
Der had their clothing torn from thei
bodies. All of the cars were equipped
with the Baker steam-heater, and NJ
portion of the cars caught fire.
Falling OF in Coke shipments.