The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-08
Passenger and Freight
Trains Crash together.
A Head.on Collision With the "Can
non Bail" Express.
Three Trainmen Lost Their Live:
Near Ply mouth, N. II.

PLYMOUTH, n. H., Aug. Sin head.
on collision between the "Cannon Ball
express, south bound, and freight train
north bound, just south OF this place TINS
morning, three trainmen were killed. Inc
dead are Frank Stevens OF Lakeport,
leaving a widow and one daughteri George
Merrill of Lakeport, fireman OF the ex-
press, leaves one child; Henry Glines OF
Northfield, fireman of the freight.
There were 16.passengers on the express
train, but none OF them was seriously
injured. Editor w. j. Randall OF Mere
dith was severely injured on one leg,
however, and Conductor Eugene Bennett
and Brakeman w. l.. Walsh OF the psssen-
ger train, received bad cuts.
The express train No. 81, through
train to Boston, left here on time at 5:35
O'Clock, and had gained coed headwsy,
When half a mile south OF the town, near
the village OF Stonewall, 1t crashed into
wild freight, bound north. The morning
air was misty and as the accident occurred
near curve II is evident that the train
crews were not warned of the impending
accident until the trains were very near
each other.
Engineer Stephens and fireman Morrill,,
OF the passenger train and fireman Glines
of the freight jumped on the same side
OF the trains when they saw that col
lision was inevi able and all three We're
crushed beneath the wreck and were in
stantly killed. The engineer of the freight,
Moses Eaton, and the pilot, David Co
burn, jumped on the other side OF the
train and escaped.
Both engines were completely demol-
side, almost burying the unfortunate
trainmen, who jumped on that side.
Fireman Merrill's body lay in the ditch
almost cut In two across the abdomen.
Engineer Stevens fell under the boiler OF
his engine and was burned TO crisp,
while fireman Glines of the freight was
found lying across the the footboard OF
the freight locomotive, crushed to death.
All of the biodies were SO terribly dis
figured that they could hardly be recog-
nized.
The force OF the collision was so great
that the roadbed was torn up for con-
siderable distance and telegraph poles
near the track were knocked down.
Wreoking trains were ordered TO the
scene from Lskeport, and Woods
vile, and the work on the tangled mass
of wood and iron was soon begun. The
bodies of the dead trainmen were soon
removed and were sent to this place.
Over dozen freight cars were wrecked
and they were piled on the tracks in such
a shape that the work of removing them
was very slow. II is probable that the
tracks viii not be clear until late this
afternooon.
Conductor Leslie Tyler OF the freight
ira n is blamed for the accident, it being
claimed that he disobeyed orders. When
asked by conductor Bennett of the express
how the accident happened, Tyler said,
81 forgot all about your tram"
The pilot on the freight train, David
Cohurn, had been giving instructions to
engineer Eaton, who was new man, and
was to complete his work today. He dis
claims any responsibility for the catas-
trophe, saying that his only duty was to
point out the crossings 10 the new man
and acquaint him with the road.
The express train is the fastest on the
southern division OF the Boston d Maine
road.