Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-08-26
SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED
Rear-End Collision on a Mas
saehusetts Railroad.
WOUNDED NUMBER TwENTY-sIx
Several Soalded by Escaping Steam
The Injured Were Removed to BoS-
ton-Signals Failed to Work.

Sharon, Mass, Aug. ga frightful
rear-end collision occurred in the
Sharon station of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad, at 1880
o'clock tonight, when an express train,
which was running as the second Sec
tion of long train. crashed into the
first section, composed OF local cars.
AS result seven persons were killed
and 26 seriously injured. The injured
we're nearly all removed to Boston on a
special train, which was met by ambu-
lances and surgeons. The rear car of
the local train was completely demol-
ished, and portion of the second car,
while the engine of the express train
was crippled. The dead ale:
Franklin M. Waters, Some1ville,
Mass; Mrs. W. ]. Fitzpatrick, Boston;
Mrs. W. ]. Fitzpatrick's granddaughter,
Mary Fitzpatrick, q 10-year-old girl;
Mrs. Fitzpatrick's grandson. 10 years
old; woman, supposed to be Mrs.
Watson, of Westerly, r, IT, Mrs r. G.
Brisco, Revere, Mass; @. B. Frye,
Revere, Mass.
The two trains which were in the
collision we're usually combined into
one long train, but as the traffic today
was so heavy, it was divided, the first
section running as local accommoda-
ton, while the second, which started
from Mansfield Is minutes later than
the first, ran as an express. The local
train due at Sharon at 1909 was 13
minutes late. 1t left Mansfield on
time, making two stops, and had lost
the l3 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 bave passed it
there. Sharon is situated on 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, to show the approaching
train that the track was not clear at
the station, and it was not until he was
within 300 feet of the station that the
engineer of the express noticed any,
thing wrong. He Immediately set all
brakes and whistled warning, but it
was too late to stop the express. It
crashed into the rear car, splitting it
asunder and completely demolishing it,
with the exception of the roof. Its
speed was not slackened until the
engine had penetrated fully five feet
into the rear of the second car. The
escaping steam entered the car and
badly scalded number of the occu-
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 Getchell and Fireman
Holmes, of the express train, both
jumped. Getchell was cut and bruised
about the head. He stated after the
accident that he lsft Mansfield prompt
ly on time and 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 whistled for brakes
and used every effort to 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 accident 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 bealinp
the injured started for Boston. Twenty.
one of the injured were taken ON this
train.
The scene about the little station at
Sharon was terrible one. A large
corps of surgeons and two undertakers
arrived soon after the accident and i'm.
medlately 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. A great crowd
had assembled, and force of police.
men were necessary to keep them from
crowding onto the tracks.
Lined upon the platform were IA
stretchers, while 80 hospital attend.
ants and number of surgeons were on
! hand. 0i