The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-25
REAR COLLISION
Express and Accommodation Trains
Met at Hyde Park.
BLOCK SIGNALS DID NOT WORK
According to Statement Of
Engineer Burnham.

Snd coiilsion occurred here close by tho
New York, New Haven and Hartford rail.
road station at 5;iS p. IN. last evening, In
which Brakeman Austin was killed and
n awoman was fatally injured. and 81 other
passengers were moro or less seriously
hurt. The list OF injured is as follows
Mrs. William Ross. Cambridge, fatally
injured; Congressman Elijah A. Morse,
Canton, both hands and arms badly cut;
A. w. Bragg, Roxbury. injured head and
face Miss Ella Donovan, Boston, injured
about the chest and nose; j. f. Mcguire,
Roxbury, I'M Ired about the head and face;
Mrs. j. +. Mcguire, injured about tho
head and face; Mrs Mary Barnes Maiden,
injured internally; Mrs. j. Burnes, Hyde
Park, injured about the head and face;
Mrs. Cannon, Cambridge, internal injur-
les; Thomas j. Burke, Norfolk station.
injured about the head and face; William
Esler, Charlestown, injured about thu
head and face; William Is. Hoyt, Roxbury,
internal injuries; Roscoe Rines. Roxbury,
internally injured.
The regular Mansfield accommodation
train, duo In Boston at 5:i7' was just
leaving the station, 10 minutes late. when
the New London and Providence express,
due In Boston at 6:l0, came running down
straight track, and cracked into the rear
OF the Mansfield train.
The engine of the Providenoe train
plowcd into the rear car for distance OF
five or six feet, and caused this car TO tele.
scope the one ahead. Between these cars
was Brakeman Austin, who was caught,
and remained jammcd in the wreck for
nearly an hour.
Aid Promptly Rendered.
AS soon as tho dazed people about the
station realized what had occurred, rush
was made for the train, and the work OF
taking out the wounded began. A wreck.
Ing train, with General Superintendent
Allen, was at the scene within half an
hour. All the physicians In Hyde Park,
Dedham and Milton were summoned by
telephone, and the police department OF
Boston notified. Ambulances were sent
out and others dispatched TO the Park
square station. Boston, To remove those Of
the wounded who were sent ia to that city
by special train.
All the seriously injured wore sent to
the Massachusetts general hospital in
Boston. IL was nearly $3.50 before the un-
fortunate brakeman could be cxtricated
from the mass Of debris between the tele-
scoped cars, and he died shortly afterward
in the station waiting room. Both his
legs were broken and he was jammed
frightfully about the body.
In speaking of the wreck, General
Superintendent Allen said: Engineer
Burnham must have deliberately run by
two electric block signals showing red
lights, one Of which Is just north of the
Readville station aud the other south of
the Hyde Park station. Besides this tho
rear lights on the Mansfield train were
burning, so that there can be no excuse for
Burnham's negligence"
The track was cleared within an hour
after the accident, and the loss TO the road
Is estimated at not over $1,000
All the passengers that were injured
were In the rear car, with the exception OF
Mr.. Rines, who was in the second car.
Congressman Morse was not seriously in.
jured, and returned home after his hands
and arms were dressed.
The Engineers Story.
Both the engineer and fireman OF tho
express stood TO their posts. They were
both injured, the fireman getting the
worst OF IL with a cut head and "a broken
rib. The engineer got lame back and
was deafened. He is John II. Burnham
OF Boston, and he says the signals gave a
clear track. The firemans name was
William Hoyt of Boston.
Mr.. Burnham was found at his homo
late last night. He was sitting up In the
midst of his family, and. but for his lame
back. seemed fairly comfortable "The
signals said go ahead, >" he said. "and /
never thought of anything being wrong
We were on time at Readville, and slowed
down at the signal tower at that place. ac-
cording to the orders that have been stand.
ing ever since we changed TO the right
hand track.
"As the signals are not yet working.
the man at the tower give us the signals
by hand and said: All right, go ahead
The smoke blew down and hid the track
ahead, and to our own smoke was added,
just before we got to Hyde Purk station.
the smoke from another engine, outbound,
which had just pulled out
81 didn't see anything of the other train
until we were close TO it-just at the
bridge, In fact. Then saw the lights on
1t. never was In tighter place in my
life.
II turned on the air Immediately, jump
Ing down from my seat as did So Then
reversed her and threw her wide open.
didn't have time To open the sand-b
too, and just then we struck
Both of us were thrown against the
boiler butt, and Hoyt fell on his head Oh
the running board. The tender telcscoped
In and struck my back. II we had been
In our seats we should have both been
Killed.
II have been driving an engine for 90 |
years and this Is my first serious accident" |
On Christmas day, $780, the side rod of |
Mr.. Burnhain's machine broke aud came
pounding up directly under him. breaking
the cab into kindling For standing AT
his post In this time of peril the Massa,
chusetts Humane society gave him |
medal which he now has. Ii is said to bo |
the only one ever given TO a railroad man. |
Mr. Burnham refused to see n doctor |
last night. thinking his back would bo all |
right today.
Collision Near Hartford.
HARTFORD, Oct. 25 "A freight train on |