Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-08-25
REAR.END COLLISION
Frightful Accident on a Mas
sachusetts Railroad.
THE SIGNALS FAILED 10 "ohh
Raven People Killed and 1wenty'oiA
wounded.-s calded by Escap-
Ing Steam.

rear-end collision occurred IN tne
Sharon station of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad, at 1870
o'clock tonight, when an express tram,
which was running as the second Sec
ton OF long train, crashed into the
first section, composed OF local cars.
AS result seven persons were Killed
and 26 seriously injured. The injured
were nearly all removed TO Boston on
special train, which was met by am bu-
lances and surgeons. The rear car of
the local train was completely demol-
ishel, and portion of the second car,
while the engine Of the express train
was crippled. The dead ale:
franklin NJ. Waters, Somerville,
Mass. Mrs. W. J. Fitzpatrick, Boston;
Mrs. ". J. Fitzpatrick granddaughter,
Mary Fitzpatrick, a l0-year-old girl;
Mrs. Fitzpatrick's grandson. Is years
old; woman, supposed to be Mrs.
Watson, OF Westerly, X. L.; Mrs H. G.
Brisco, Revere, Mass; c. B. Frye,
Revere, Mass.
The two trains which were in the
collision were usually combined into
one long train, but as the traffic today
was so heavy, it WAS divided, the hrst
section running as local accommodate
ton, while the second, which started
from Mansfield Is minutes later than
the first, ran az an express. The local
train due at Sharon at 1902 was ID
minutes late. 1t left Mansfield on
time. making two stops. and had lost
% hot AIg.er ti...lt Il nj
Sharon. 1t was due in Canton juno
ton, the next station beyond Sharon,
two minutes ahead of the express
train. which should bave passed it
there. Sharon is situated on a curve,
and both the outward and inward
tracks are protected by electric block
signals.
After the accident it was thought the
block signal protecting the inward
track WAS set at danger, showing, as it
was intended, that there was train in
the station. There was no warning
given by the conductor Of the Mans
field local. 70 show the approaching
train that the track was not clear at
the station. and it was not until he was
within 800 feet OF the station that the
engineer of the express noticed any
thing wrong. He Immediately set all
brakes and whist!ed warning, but it
was too late to stop the express. 1t
crashed into the rear car. splitting it
asunder and completely denolishing it,
with the exception of the roof. Its
speed was not sackened until the
engine had penetrated fully five feet
into the rear Of the second car. The
escaping steam entered the car and
badly sealded a number of the oocu.
pants. The roof of the last car was
forced on top of the engine Of the ex.
press, and remained there as the only
portion OF the car intact.
Engineer Getchel and Fireman
Holmes. Of the express train. both
jumped. Getchell was cut and bruised
about the head. He stated after the
accident that he eft Mansfield prompt-
Is on time ami there was no incident
until he was within 400 feet Of the
Mansfield train. Then he saw the red
lights of that train and shut off steam.
Meanwhile he had whistied for brakes
ana used every effort 70 stop his train.
Every one Of the killed and injured
was on the Mansfield train. and the
only explanation Of the fact that the
number of fatalities is not larger is
that the passengers We're all in the
forward end OF the car, and most of
them at the time of the acciden, were
either upon the front platform or stand.
ing by the door,
Mary Fitzpatrick, 10 years old, was
taken from the wreck unconscious, and
died just as the special train bearing
the injured started for Boston. Twenty
one OF the injured were taken on this
train.
The scene about the little station at
Sharon was q terrible one A large
corps of surgeons and two undertakers
arrived soon after the accident and i'm.
mediately set TO work to relieve the
suffering and care for the bodies OF the
dead. There were very few lights about
the portion OF the track where the ac-
cident occurred and the surgeons were
compelled to do their work in almost
total darkness.
Fifteen ambulances waited the ar
rival of the train at the Park square
station. which brought the injured from
the scene of the wreck. \ great crowd
had assembled and force OF police.
men we've necessary to keep them from
crowding onto the tracks.
! Lined upon the platform were IA
:tretchers, while 80 hospital attend
ants and number OF surgeons were on
hand
Daniel c. Mccain, an express mes
senger on the New Bedford train, had
his right hand and arm badly lacerated
and his right knee painfully injured in
extricating a man who was pinned be-
tween the engines head plate and the
flooring Of the telescoped car. Just in
front of the prisoner lay his wife.
crushed and bleeding, and he was un.
able to move hand or foot to help her.
The woman died in a few moments.
steam was arising as in a Turkish
bath. The heat from the escaping
steam was intense. MIR. Mccain said
that many people We're slightly burned,
though in their heroic endeavors to
assist the injured the workers did not