Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-08-25
KILLED IN A WRECK.
Seven Passengers Slain and Twenty
SIX Injured I'm q Collision Mt
Sharon, Mass.

SHARON, MASS, aug. ES.-A 1rlgntIul
rear-end collision occurred in the
Sharon station of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad at 1880
Sunday night, when an express train
which was running as the second por-
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
a special train, which was met by am
balances and surgeons. The rear car
of the local train was completely de-
molished and portion of the second
car, while the engine of the express
train was crippled.
The dead are:
c. B. Fry, selectman of Revere, Mass
Franklin M. Waters, Somerville, Mass.
Mrs. William j. Fitzpatrick Boston, her
granddaughter Mary Fitzpatrick, ten
years of age, and her grandson, Is years
old.
A woman supposed to be Mrs. Watson, of
Westerly, r. /.
Mrs. C. II. Briscoe, Revere, Mass.
The two trains which were in the
collision were usually combined into
one long train, but as the traffic Sum
day was so heavy it was divided, the
first section running as local ac-
commodation, while the second, which
started from Mansfield Is minutes
later than the first, ran as an express.
The local train, due at Sharon at 1902,
was 10 minutes late. 1t left Mansfield
on time, making two stops, and had
lost 10 minutes between Mansfield and
Sharon. 1t. was due in Canton juno
ton, the next station beyond Sharon,
two minutes ahead of the express
train, which should have passed it
there. Sharon is situated on a curve,
and both the outward and inward
tracks are protected by electric block
signals.
There was no warning given by the
conductor of the Mansfield local to
show the approaching train that the
track was not clear at the station, and
it was not until he was within 400 feet
Of the station that the engineer of the
express train noticed anything wrong.
He Immediately set all brakes and
whistled the warning, but it was too
late TO stop the express. 1t crashed
into the rear car, splitting it asunder
and completely demolishing it, with
the exception of the roof. It's speed
was not slackened until the engine had
penetrated fully five feet in the rear
of the second car, The escaping steam
entered the car and badly scalded a
number of the occupants. The roof of
the last car was forced on top of the
engine of the express and remained
there as the only portion of the car in
tact. ag-7sW
Engineer Getchell and Fireman
Holmes, of the express, both jumped
when they saw that collision was
unavoidable. Getchell was cut and
bruised about the head. He stated
after the accident that he left Mans
field promptly on time, and there was
no incident until he was within 400
feet of the Mansfield train. Then he
saw the rear lights of that train and
shut off all steam. Meanwhile he had
whistled for brakes and used every eff
fort 20 stop his train.
Every one of the killed and injured
"oS vi 'hc -hahsheli Train, ana the
only explanation of the fact that the
number of fatalities is not larger is
that the passengers were all in the for
ward end of the car, in the act of
aiighting at the station. There were
about 30 people in the last car, and
most of them at the time of the acct
dent .Iere either upon the front plat
form or standing by the door.
Mary Fitzpatrick, ten years old, was
taken from the wreck, but uncon-
scious, and died just as the special
train bearing the injured started for
Boston. Twenty-Five of the injured
were taken on this train, and four 9TH
ers, whose names they refuse to dis
close remained in Sharon.