The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-08
Fatal Accident at Park
Square Station.
Chief Baker and Mr.. Whipple
Had Narrow Escape.
Michael McGarrahan Badly Hurt and
Is Now In Hospital.

Railroad accidents generally occur
when least expected, and that at the Park
square station of the New York, New
Haven q. Hartford railroad In Boston at
1880 O'Clock last night was no exception.
It's results were most disastrous, too, for
two passengers lost their lives and several
persons were injured, among tho latter
being Chief of Police Reuben X. Baker
and Michael McGarrahan, popular
young man who resides at so Lippitt
street, Providence.
Those who were killed were William j.
Dow, Boston commission merchant,
and Joseph Il. Long, of watertown. Mass.
The accident occurred to the Shore Line
express, which left New York at 1904
y. M, and those who were killed and IN
jured were in the smoking car.
Just after passing the Berkeley street
bridge, which is about twenty rods from
the entrance TO the train shed, the rear
truck of the second coach behind the
smoker left the track, and threw the
coach in front OF Ii off also. The pressure
of the first coach on the smoker lifted the
latter bodily and threw it over on it's
side, although the train had slowed up
to enter the train shed. What caused the
cars TO leave the track was not known,
but II was thought to be due to either
the i'm wperfect setting OF switch at that
point, or some obstruction which sud-
denly and steriously presented itself
after the engine and the baggage car had
passed over safely. Beside, the Provi-
dence persons named, Councilman Whip
pie of this city was RIse- -in-tbe smoker,
but be escaped uninjured. The story
of the accident AZ told by Chief Baker Is
most interesting.
He says: "Mr. whipple and myself
were sitting about i'm the middle of the
car on the right hand side. / was near
est the window ana in front of me sat j.
IL. Long OF Watertown. The seat nppo-
site as Was uscant, and the next seat .jn,
front OF that was occupied by a man
named Marshall OF Msnsfield. When the
car toppled over Marshall fell on Mr..
Long, forcing portion of his body
through the window, md when the car
fell TO the ground ne was SO badly crushed
that he died shortly after reaching the
hospital. Mr.. ". j. Dow, the other man
who was killed, was making his way to
the front door.to leave the car, aud was
thrown through window, or, at least,
half of his body,was outside, and when
the car rested on the ground the upper
portion OF bis boay was under IL and he
must nave been.killed instantly.
'When the car begsn to tip someone
cred, Look out, there is something
-
grabbed the side OF the seat, while 1
braced my feet against the foot rail with
all of my might As it was, my head
went through the window, nnd had there
been man in the seat opposite, or had
Mr.. Whipple not held ON to the side of
the seat, thus Keeping his weight off me,
j should have met the same fate as Dow
and Long. My head was within an inch
or more from the ground when the car
stopped.
''After the car came to a standstill, and
as 1t lay on its right side, warning to
make for our lives and that we were In
the-river was heard. and this caused far
more excitement than when the car
toppled over. At that time the car was go-
ing slow, SO slowly that ii did not go
more than twice ITS length after ii began
TO fall. The lights were extinguished,
but an opening in the front of the car
about two feet in width, was seen.
"Though this opening came stream OF
wafer In volume nearly as large as a
mans body, but luckily this proved to
come from hydrant that had heen
broken by the wrecked car. The opening
Was the front door, was assisted from
my perilous position by MIR. Whipple,
VINO fortunately escaped without a mark,
and WAS the only man in the car who
was not more or less injured. We crawled
out of the car, aud IN doing SO, saw
Dow's leg protruding upward on the in
"when we go. out Dr. whipple.and my
self did what we could to assist in getting
tho dead and wounded from the wreck and
are pleased TO think that We escaped with
sucn slight bruises" T"
Chief Baker was injured about the
right side OF his head and neck but not
seriously.
He and Councilman Whipple went to
the hotel and washed. MIR. Baker had
his wounds dressed and returned TO the
city on the midnight train.
A call was made,at Mr.. McGarrahan's
home this noon to see IL any news had
been received as TO tho extent of his in
juries, for IT seems he was taken to the
hospital In Bottom and itwas.Teported this
morning that he had a badly confused
leg. His white-haired mother, Mrs. Mary
McGarrehan, was terribly nervous, al
though che had just received n telegram
| from her daughter Marin, who went TO
Boston this morning. having received a
| telegram from Michael about IL 80
| O'Clock last night. The de,patch
sent by the injured mans Sister read I:
"Have seen Mike. He is well. VIII re.
turn today" But even though 1t satis-
| fed their widowed mother that the worst
was not to be feared II only served to In
! tensify her suspense because il did not
| imply that Mike would return with his
sister. The young man went to Boston
TO see his cousin in Rosdville i'm response
| to request To help him draw up some
| specifications for new house. Michael
| 10 about 36 years old, graduate of the
! Fountain street Christian Brothers coli
! lege, which he attended five years. OF
late he has not had much employment,
being I'm quest of some clerical position,
which was hard To obtain. His sister
works In an Aborn-stEeet jewelry shop
| His mother has been an invalid for sew
cral months, suffering from n lame loot
which prevented her gong TO Boston this
morning. She was rather disappointed
| when THE NEWS man stated that he did
not knew how badly her boy was hurt.
Among Others reported injured was an
engineer, said to be Henry j. Sheldc OF