The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-22
FOUR MENHURLED T0DEATH
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT T0oK PLACE
NEAR WILLI4MSToWN.

1t Happened on Grade Crossing and Two
Men Who Were in Carriage Escaped
Death by the Merest Chance-There Was
Bloodourdling Cry, Crash and Then
the Death of Four Men.
Wflliamstown, Mass, July 21.-The
"Dugaway," place two miles west of
Williamstown, was the scene of ter
rible grade crossing accident this after
noon. Four men were instantly killed
and two others escaped death by the
merest chance. The party was return
ing from a drive to Pownal, VT, and
had stopped few feet from the cross
ing to allow an eastbound freight to
pass. The passenger train No, 157
down the other track, but
was hidden from the fated party by the
freight. No sooner had the last freight
car passed than the team rushed on
to the tracks to be struck Immediately
by the swift express.
The names of the four men killed, as
nearly as could be ascertained tonight,
are Nelson Trudeau, Peter Roche, Tat
TO and oliver Dudley, all of North
Adams.
The last named was employed as a
clerk In Cavanaugh's grocery store,
and the others worked In shop. The
men who escaped are Edward White
and Clarence Prindle, of Williamstown.
The history of the Inflated party
and the story of the accident were
learned from Prindle and follows:
The victims hired a, double team of
Berry, the North Adams liveryman,
about noon. They started for a drive to
Pownal, and at Willlamstown took in
White and Prindle. Prindle said all
had been drinking. They drove on to
Pownal and had more drinks there.
About 2:a0 they started for home. A
half mile east of Pownal Is the Dug
away" Here one has the choice Of two
roads. One leads over steep hill and
avoids the tracks, but is stony, and
most people prefer the other road. The
latter crosses the tracks, bends In q
semi-circle and crosses them again
a thousand feet to the east. The fated
party passed the first crossing In safe
ty, and was well on Its way to the
second when freight train east
bound whistled The team drove to
within few feet OF the crossing and
stopped to allow the freight to pass.
White jumped out the wagon and at
tempted to board the train, but failed.
Just then the freight engine began to
give short whistles.
Iorsfvo ~ 1a I,,,-
road, knew that that was a danger sfg-
nal and warned his companions against
proceeding until both tracks were clear.
They laughed at him, however, and no
sooner had the caboose of the freight
passed than they whipped up their
horses TO cross the tracks Prindle was
alarmed and begging the men to stop
short jumped out. They continued on
their way, but no sooner had they
gained the tracks than the passenger
train, which had been hidden from
their view by the freight cars, dashed
upon them. There was short blood
curdling cry, a terrific crash and four
men were hurled to death.
Dudley, who, 1t is said, was driving,
fell outside Of the rails. His three COM
panions dropped in heap between the
east and west-bound tracks. One OF
the horses lay dead q short distance
from Dudley. The other had escaped
uninjured. The wagon lay in an un-
recognizable mass near the three men.
The train was stopped short dis
tance west Of the accident The train
men and few persons who were pass
ing and had heard the crash rushed TO
whore the men lay Dudley was I'M
conscious, but still breathed. His COM
panions were ltfeless. The wounded
man and the dead bodies were carried
to the baggage car and they were taken
to Pownal. Dudley died on the way
there. The four corpses were borne to
the freight depot and stretched out up
on the floor. None were badly Ynangled
and the limbs II all were intact. The
only bruises apparent were about the
back of the head and trunks The train
had accomplished Its terrible work
quickly. Crowds gathered to view the
remains, but none were able to identify
the fourth man. Later Undertaken
Comiskey came from North Adams and
took charge of the bodies, but was un-
able to tell who the fourth unfortunate
was. He removed the bodies to North
Adams.
It was the worst accident that has
occurred In this vicinity In years, and
both Pownal and Williamstown were
greatly excited over 1t. 1t appears that
absolutely no blame attaches to the
railroad company William Blake, who
resides within stones throw of the
accident, and who heard the crash, is
positive that the engineer Of the pas
senger train whistled at the proper dis
tanee from the crossing. Prindle dis
t.nctly remembers the whistles. White,
the other survivor, could not be found
this evening and nothing could be learn
ed at Williamstown concerning the FAM
ilies of the dead men.
Prfndle's escape was remarkable. He
lost both feet in a railroad accident
some time ago and how he jumped from
the wagon to safety is mystery. He
appeared dazed when interviewed and
could scarcely realize the terrible IA
tality but he told his story in a strait hit
forward manner and 1t agreed with that
of other witnesses.