Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-03-06

and half below, and at once notified
the conductor, both of whom bega1
to set up brakes; soon after the engi-
neer discovered the danger and re-
versed his engine and the forward
brakeman. the alarm sounding, set
several brakes on the forward end OF
the train. Meantime they had ap-
preached the Charles Cobb place, the
other train being less than half a mile
away, and apparently working heavy
steam under high rate of speed. The
conductor and hind brakeman had
pulled the pin on the saloon and SO
set up the brakes as to stop the sa-
loon; the forward brakeman and the
engineer and fireman, the train having
slowed up somewhat, jumped without
serious injury.
The up train, also through train,
had left Wells River some hours be-
fore with orders to run to st. Johns
bury and to wait there for further or
ders. The train reached st. Johns
bury all right, waited until the air line
express arrived and then pulled out,
without further orders, and started
for Lyndonville. The train hands
were Fred Clark engineer, F. S. Green
| fireman, Harry j. Drew conductor,
and two brakemen. Beside the above
mentioned, engineer Charles West,
who had been off duty few days,
stepped on to the engine at ST. Johns
| bury to ride to Lyndonville. Just be-
fore the ill-fated train moved out of
ST. Johnsbury engineer Clark and
conductor Drew and others were talk
ing about an accident of like char
acter, which had recently occurred.
Why they should step right out and
drive their train into the jaws of death
is mystery that cannot be explained.
Within very few minutes after the
train started message came from
the train dispatcher's office at Lyn-
donville, giving orders for the train
to start when the down coming train
reached st. J. The operator tele
graphed back that the train had al
ready been gone some minutes. There
was great CONSERVATION in both of
fees as it was known that the trains
were running swiftly toward each
other. ST. Johnsbury Center had no
telegraph office, but the telephone was
reached and message sent to the
Center just too late, as the up train
had just passed that point. Super
intendent Folsom, who was at
ST. Johnsbury, was notified, but he
was powerless to prevent the catas-
trophe. He obtained a team and
started at great speed to find what he
knew must be a great wreck, land met,
a little below st. Johnsbury Center,
Conductor Drew, running and appar
entity half crazed, from whom he
learned that the collision had taken |
place, but learned no further facts.
The train moved on at fair rate of |
speed, having 21 cars, most of them
empty. 1t seems that the engineer
did not see the down coming train
until he had come within few rods
of it and that nobody on the train saw
it until almost on the moment of col
lision. The place where the engine
struck was about fifty rods south of
the Cobb residence, just at a place
where a small brook divided the low
twenty rods in length extended. The
engines struck with terrific force.
completely smashing in the whole for
ward end, but without causing an ex-
plosion. The forward cars on both
trains, such as were not crushed and
ground to splinters, junted or shot out
into the little ravine of the brook,
while those further in the rear were
piled in promiscuous confusion. En-
gineers Clark and West, fireman
Green and brakeman Bowling were
all in the engine, and either jumped,
DR. were in the act of of jumping, when
5he collision came and they were bur
ed in the wreck. The three first were
killed outright and buried under the
debris. Beneath dozen or more car
rucks, the tender of the down en-
sine and several cars of hay, grain,
ETC., the bodies of the four men were
ound, brakeman Bowling alone alive.
lie was liberated in about two hours,
with cold, but not serious
y hurt.
The loss Of life was terrible and the
oss of property will, perhaps, exceed
$40, 900. The wreck was so far remov-
ID that trains were running regularly
he next night.
Engineer Clark was unmarried, but
lad father in the employ of the Ca
ladian Pacific r. B., who was notified