Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-09-07
A BAD WRECK.
Two Passenger Trains COL
lide Near Taunton.
One Man Killed and Fifteen Injured.
One Other Expected to Die.
Failure ot easiaser 10 Understand Signals
Cause Of the Disaster.

Taunton, Mass, Sept 6.-Two trains
over the New York. New Haven
Hartford Railroad, from Boston, one
I xtbm Park square station and the
other from Kneeland street station
came into collision at Whittenton
Junction, about two miles above the
station here, just before O'Clock, to-
night. and in the wreck which follow
ed one of the cars of the Park Square
train, Is persons were more or Jess in
jured, one ct whom. Harry w. Nc
Intire. has since died, and another,
Nicholas Young, of this city, is not
expected to live.
The Whittenton Junction station isan
important one on this line of the road.
The track from Mansfield, where the
track leaves the Providence Division.
for this city, and beyond to Fail River
and New Bedford, is comparatively
straight all the way to the main sta
ton in this city.
over the Plymouth Division from
Kneeland street by way of Braintree.
leave the main line at Raynham,
sweep around a sharp curve, and come
into the main track from Mansfield
at WhitteEton Junction. There is 4
tower at the junction from which in
terIocking signals protecting each
track. are worked by a signal man.
and II the connections are in good or
der, and 1T is rare that they are not
is is impossible to throw the switch
for the trains from Mansfield without
setting the signals at danger for trains
round the curve from Kneeland street
and South Braintree.
Both trains are due at the junction
within five minutes of each other. The
train from Park square left Boston at
6.45. while the train from Kneeland
street left Is minutes later. For some
reason the Park square train lost time
on the way down and arrived at the
Junction five minutes late or at time
when the Kneeland street train was
due. The engineer of the Park square
train on approaching the juction'
slowed down. but kept on for the
switch as the signals on his line were
apparently set at safety.
lust as this train reached the switch
the headlight OF the engine of the
Kneeland street train flashed round
the curve and a sharp whistled star
tied the trainmen on both trains. The
engineer Of the Park square train put
on the emergency brake. and, as the
train was going over the switch at the
rate of only seven or eight miles an
hour the train stopped with such sud-
deness that nearly every passenger
was thrown forward in his seat with
some violence but without injury, at
that time.
On the other hand, the Kneeland
street train did not slow up to any
great extent, but kept on and crushed
into the Park Square train. The latter
train had xtopped so that the engine
and three cars We're over the switch,
while the balance of the train was
back on the Mansfield track. The en-
gine OF the Kneeland street train
struck the third car ofthe Park Square
train and tearing it from the forward
. trucks, tilted it on it's side, off the
tracks.
The blow was a glancing one and the
engine kept on to the next car which
was combination baggage and
baggage andsmoker. Nearly the entire
left side of this car was torn off, with
all the seats and those who occupied
them.
Doors and shutters were secured from
neie4boring houses and the wounded
quickly removed to a special car, and
with the exception of Nicholas Young
were removed to the Central Railroad
station, where they were met by am6u-
lances and removed IN Norton hospital.
Nicholas Young. one of the most serious
~ injured and who may die was crushed
between a car seat when the smoker went
over on it's side. His arm was wrenched
tanned cuts and bruises of a serious ma
ture. His condition was so weak that he
was taken direct from the wreck to the
hospital in an ambulance.
a special train from Mansfield with
C.. Peter Clark. general superintendent OF
the old s Colony system, with other of the
O'Clock and immediately began an inves-
tipation of the wreck.
Mr.. Clark said to an Associated Press
representative:
ut looks very much as though the en-.
gineer of the Mansfield train mist q
whte-Aghted signal tower for the nom,
signal covering the switch and discovered
his mistuke when he struck the switch
There he stopped just as the train from
The kBeek,nd street station. which W,
find, fkd the right of way. came arount
the c9rve. The latter engineer did no
discover the Mansfield train until he wa.
upon It and ran into it. although wiz, re
duced speed. | do not like to make pos
tive statement. hut this is how X look
to us now. and | can see nothing which
can modify this View.
The work of clearing the wreck was a
once commenced and there was ever,
prospect that the track will be clear b,
morning.