Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-06
Pnr,icuInr. of the Di.n.,cr.

The trains which collided were passen-
ger train Of seven coaches, which left Rut-
land at 6:30 p. NJ with excursonists return
ing north from the horse breeders meeting.
drawn by engine John Crombie, with En-
gineer William Embery of St Albans, Fire
man Perron and Herman Blodgett, conduc-
tor, and the south bound train of 81 cars of
hogs, drawn by the engine George Nichols,
Engineer w. II. Chilson, Fireman Robson
and Conductor George w. Button of st.
Albans. The hog train should have set off
at New Haven and met tho passenger train
at that point Instead Of doing so il passed
New Haven, southwark bound, about the
same time the passenger train left Middle
bury. the two trains coliding on sharp
curve about quarter of mile from Brooks
vile station. Both trains came ON 10 each
other so suddenly that the trainmen were
not warned Of the danger in time 10 Jump
The engines came together with crash and
were thrown from the track. The car next
10 the passenger engine was passenger
coach, which was badly smashed. In this
coach were Conductor Blodgett who was
instantly killed a passenger Mr. w. w.
Allen of Ferrisburg, who was also killed,
and several other passengers who were
bruised and badly shaken up The engi-
neer of the passenger train VIM Embery,
was buried in the wreck of his engine and
killed. Embery stuck to his post, as did
also his fireman, Perron. who had one leg
fractured in half dozen places. Engineer
Chillson of the freight train was badly in
iured in the back aud ribs but will survive.
Fireman Robson escaped with few bruises.
The passengers in the remaining coaches
were somewhat shaken up, but none suf-
fered any serious injury except Arthur and
r \
aged respectively II and l9 years The
former had his left leg crushed and was Sc
verey bruised about the head the latter's
leg was broken and he was injured inter.
nally. The coaches were not damaged to
any extent, aud were taken back to Rut-
land. Eight freight cars were badly broken
and many hogs were killed, the wreckage
being piled up and Obstructing the line.
Among the passengers ON the excursion
tram were Secretary Of State Porter of
Montpelier and L. A. Drew Of Burlington
Responsibility for the accident rests with
the conductor and engineer of the freight,
who either forgot about the special excur.
sion train although it had run for two days
previous or else thought they could make
Middlebury station before the arrival Of the
passenger train, and 50 rccklcssly pushed on
wreckiug train went up from Rutland at
II o'clock, carrying surgeons and wrecking
tools Another came down from st. Alhaus,
with railroad officials and surgeons from
Burlington. Mddlebury aud Brooksville
people however, had cared for the dead aud
injured with kind hands A lady who lives
in a house near by, and who saw the col
lision, says that both engines reared into
the air. The one headed north was pointed
south, so great was the shock
Fireman Robpsnu Il tha
gine gives a thrilling account Of his expe-
rience. Owing to the curve, they had no
intimation Of the approach of the freight
train until it was right upon them. Engi
neer Embery. As he saw the impending dan
ger, said, my God ~ and in an instant had
reversed the engine and applied the air
brakes. He could have jumped and saved
himself, but he stood bravely at his post,
thus saving the lives Of scores Of passen-
gers. The fireman. who was putting on
fresh coal at the time. turned and saw the
engineer standing at the lever Just as the
crash came. The fireman was hurled out
of the cab and some distance away from
the road bed He was stunned, and did
not regain consciousness for about half an
hour
That the freight conductor realized the
situation is proved by the fact that when he
was found wandering on the track in a
crazed condition, he was constantly saying,
Its my fault-it's my fault He was tax
en- to New Haven.
The wrecking crew, under the direction
Of General Superintendent Foss, made es-
pecial efforts to find the body of the brave
engineer of the passenger train. One of
the engines was raised and turned over in
the search for the body, but no trace could
be found The body was discovered late |
in the afternoon under the debris of the |
freight wreck on the side of the track OPP
posite where the engines lay. Embery was
an old engineer and one of the most faith
ful and trusted employees of the road He
was highly esteemed in st. Albans, and was
an active and valued member Of St Luke's |
Episcopal church, being vestryman and |
leading member Of the choir His funeral
took place from the church Sunday after
noon.
A pathetic incident connected with the
death of Mr. Allen of Ferrisburg is the
fact that his wife waited until ten o'clock
Friday night for him in Nergennes expect
ing him to 20 home with her when in fact |
he was lying dead under the car near the |
New Haven camp ground
Large bonhres were kndled Friday night, |
by the light Of which the search for the
dead and injured was prosecuted The
wreck was cleared away during Saturday
aud Sunday, and the work of hunting up
the hogs that had strayed away gave EN-.
ployment 10 a large number of the on
lockers Six cars were loaded with dead
hogs and four with live ones, and they were
shipped To Boston.
General Manager Hobart, who came
down from ST. Albans with the wrecking
train, thinks Slj, 900 will cover the proper
ty loss