The Portland daily press., 1889-06-12
THE ACCIDENT At CRoWElIS BROOK.
A Passengers Story of the Rescue
of Engineer Underwood.
Death Of Roscoe Stevens Of skowhe
gan, the Express Messenger.
How Baggage Master Harrigar
Jumped for His Life.

WATERvILLE, June 1.-THE accident on
the Maine Central railroad. which occurred
at Crowell's Brook yesterday afternoon, has
ended fatally in one instance. Roscoe L..
Stevens the express messenger, died this
morning, at A20 O'Clock, from the loss Of
blood.
Steyens's case is sad one. His leg was
caught in the wreck of the express car and
literally jammed to pulp. He bled profusely.
and 1t was impossible to perform an opera
tion until Waterville was reached. Last
evening Drs. Hill, Campbell and Boutelle
amputated the injured member just above
the knee. All this time and ever since the
accident, Stevens was unconscious. He
grew weaker and weaker until the time Of
his death, never once regaining conscious
ness. The dead mans home was in Skowhe-
gan. He lost his wife about year ago, and
has two children at Skowhegan. who are left
orphans by their fathers death.
Mail Agent Augustus Libby of Portland is
at Mack's Hotel in this city. 1t was report
ed this morning that his injuries were Of
such serious nature that he could not live,
but that seems to have been an exaggeration
for this noon he is quite comfortable, and
the chances are decidedly in favor of recov-
cry Two or three ribs were broken. and his
face was badly bruised. He was also inter
nally injured, and in such manner that he
cannot now lie down, being obliged to re-
main all the time In sitting posture. His
physicians make a hopeful report, and his
friends, who are here, are quite confident of
his ultimate recovery.
Engineer Underwood. Fireman Coburn
and Mail Agents Patterson and Spear are
doing well today.
Arthur Smith. the newsboy on this train,
Is hero. To his presence of mind and
pluck Engineer Underwood owes his life. A
passenger, who was an eye witness, tells
how Arthur Smith saved the brave engineers
life; He says: young Smith was standing
in the rear end Of the smoker when the air
brakes were suddenly put on, checking the
train with such force as to throw him half
the length of the car. A minute later and
the terrible shock came, throwing the news
boy back into the rear end of the car again.
He picked himself up in less time than it
takes to say so, and rushed for the car door,
He seemed to take in the whole situation in
a minute. Seeing Fireman Coburn clinging
to rock in the middle Of the stream, and
GS seeing the engn,sr he cried FCe
fireman was dazed and could hardly speak,
but waved his hand down the stream.
For Gods sake the newsboy shouted
again, Ieli me where Billy Is.
with q great effort the fireman tried to
speak, and with look Of horror depicted
upon his face, pointed down stream and
huskily said, In the water; there; don't
you see.
Arthur Smith with one leap. ru shed
down the embankment, and he saw the en-
gineer's body hung up on some roots in the
middle of the stream. He was lying on his
stomach, his head was just visible, and he
was gasping for breath. The water was
deep and muddy, and the current very swift.
Young Smith plunged into the stream. and
while. struggling against the current and
his foothold and was taken down stream.
The current bore him to the bank, and Sec
ond time he struggled to reach the engineer.
and did so just in time to save his life, for
Mr.. Underwood had lost all consciousness
and was scarcely alive. Assistance was
quickly obtained, and the hero newsboy and
the engineer were taken from the water to-
gether."
j.. s. Harrigan OF Brunswick, baggage
master on the wrecked train, was the only
man in the baggage or mail cars who escaped
without serious injury, he receiving a
sprained wrist and a cut ON the head. He
said: Il was standing near the centre of the
car when felt the engineer put on the air
brakes, and at almost the same time trunk
me. Several trunks then tumbled onto me,
but managed to scramble up and jump out
of the door, falling on the bank. This was
before the final crash came Had / stayed
In the car should have been killed, for it
was completely crushed. jumped up, ran
forward and assisted in digging Patterson
out. He lay on his chest, being covered over
with debris. He told us to take plenty of
time.