The Republican journal., 1889-06-13

MAIL AGENT PATTERSON or BELFAST ENGINEER
UNDERw GOD AND FIREMAN COMTRN NIL RED.
Maine Central train No 10, from Portland to
Waterville, via. the Lewiston route, met with an
accident at Benson brook, Monday afternoon at
four O'Clock when two miles west of Oakland. A
terrible shower raised Benson brook and washed
out the cuvert. The engineer saw the rails over
the cuvert depressed and put on the brakes but
could not stop the train. The engine went over,
but the tender, baggage express and mail cars
were total wreck. The passenger cars stopped
on the brink. Seven men were injured William
p. Underwood, engineer in arms, leg and breast
not dangerously; f. S. Cobun, South Unity fire
man, legs badly crushed Mr.. +. W. Patterson
Belfast, mail agent, both legs broken and left hand
scalded; Mr. Spear, Gardiner, mail agent legs
| crushed, Mr.. Libby, Portland, mail agent, ribs
broken and head cut; Roscoe Stevens, Skowhegan,
express messenger one leg torn OF and the other
badly crushed, (since died.. No passengers were
injured.
\ special train, in charge of Frank Gardner
brought Mr.. Patterson home to Belfast, arriving
here at $50 p. NJ. Mr. Herbert Damon, a CONNER
clal traveller who was at Oakland, accompanied
Mr.. Patterson and remained with him until Tues
day morning. DR.. s W johnson set Mr.. Pattcr-
sons broken limbs, and when the journal repre-
sentative called Tuesday forenoon the injured man
was as comfortable as possible and full DC grit.
Mr.. Patterson told the following story Of the arct-
dent
eve left Portland on time and when but a Short
distance out ran into bad tempest of rain, thun-
der and lightning. never saw it rain harder. At
Lewiston it ceased, but shortly after leaving that
city the storm opened again as severe rs before
The great rain caused washouts. Arriving 1T
6enson's brook the engine crossed over the Gun
vert At that time was standing In the forward
| part of the mail car drinking water. The mail
car was first behind the tender. felt melting
away sensation, and the car sank under ne. The
next knew was down and the tender on top Of
me pinning me to the floor 1t appears that the
mail car shot underneath the tender ana the Elttrr
came through it and across mv legs. never ln.f
my head and knew what was going on, but cou M
not move owing to the mass that was across fl}.
legs was close beside the fire box Of the engine
and my first thought that the train might taxi
hfe and should burn to death. / WAS relieved
when saw the water from the brook cXtingui.E
the fire In the engine. | shouted and presently
two men came to my rescue. Undcr NV direction
the tender was pried on my lc@s ann | WI ~
| leased"
| Both Mr.. Patterson Thighs are broken near the
body, the left hand badly scaldcd. with several
small wounds on different parts of the body. Nh.
Underwood, formerly engineer On the Belfast
branch, jumped into the water auJ vouhl MAUI
drowned, bur for timely rescue. Tue,,av M
telegraphed friends here that He VA. All ri.ht
| All of the Injured men di,played Great presence.
| OF mind and nerve. The engineer, Mr. Under
wood by his prompt action no doubt aycrfed :.
n I'M! more serious accident Had c not SET the
| ,IG