Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-06
Portland & Rochester Loco
motive Wrecked at Westbrook.
Fireman EIdridge Ki|ed--Engineer
Bickford Dies from Injuries.
Others Injured Damage to Surrounding
Properiy-The Road Blocked.

left Portland at 80 O'Clock, Wednes-
day morning. over the Portland K
Rochester Railroad for Rochester, ~
H.. blew up while crossing one of the
streets in the lhickiy settled part Of
this city. lust before o'clock. Wednes-
day morning. William Eldredge. the
fireman. was killed instantly. Engineer
James Bickford died soon after,
and three boys who We're play
ing near the scene of the disaster, We're
badly scalded. The flying Goals from
the engine Set fire to several houses in
the vicinity. necessitating the summon
ing Of the fire department which eXtin-
gushpd the flames without heavy loss.
Fred s.. Pierre. the gate tender. was
stunned by the conclusion. which de-
molished the small shanty Which shell
tered him at the crossing, and he re-
manned unconscious for an hour. but,
apparently, was not seriously injured.
r. II. Lawrence. a travelling salesman
for j Portland grocery firm, jumped
from the train. was burned by steam
and hot water and sustained other in
iurics by falling. as he jumped from the
car step. He viii recover.
The engine was practically demolish
"a ana the baggage car somewhat dam
aged. Traffic was blocked for about an
hour and a half.
When the accident occurred the train
was just slowing down on approaching
the WestbroOk station. At the cross
ing where the explosion occurred, the
houses are very thickly placed, and
near the track. Beyond the fact that
the explosion followed the action Of the
engineer i'll shutting off the steam.
nothing is known as to its cause
The people living in the vicinity heard
the loud report and felt the earth
shake. This was followed instantly by
4 rain of red hot coal, pieces of iron,
clouds Of steam and hot water. All the
windows in the vicinity were smashed
either by the force Of the shock or by
the flying debris which entered the va
rious buildings.
As the live coal struck. the floors or
articles Of furniture on which they
dropped quickly became ignited and
the fire department was called to the
scene. The loss is mostly confined to
| articles Of household furnishings.
The cylinder head Of the engine was
carried some 200 feet from the crossing.
| It cut off telegraph pole in its flight,
several tree limbs and caused consid-
cradle damage to house in its path.
into the back yard of which it fell.
Fireman F,ldredge was found on the
! foot board in terribly mangled condi-
ton. He had been instantly killed.
! His face was cut and bruised by flying
J,t
steam and other parts of the body had
suffered similarly.
Engineer Bickford was able to reach
the back part Of the tender when he
| fell. almost going over the end under
the wheels Of the following cars. He
! had strength enough to make known
/ the fact that the water in his boiler
was all right and that he had just shut
! off steam for the WestbrOok station.
when he became unconscious His
most severe injuries We're from ScaldS
ana burns from water and steam. He
was taken To a nearby house where
four physicians attended him. They
found his condition critical and decided
that he should be moved to the Maine
General hospital.
While attention was being given to
these persons, ii was found that Ar
thur and Luther Bohnson and Alfonso
Taller. three lads who We're playing
marbles about a dozen feet from the
track had been badly scalded and that
the Taller lad was in a serious con
dition.
Engineer James y. Bickford died
/ shortly after arriving at the hospital
He was one of the oldest engineers on
the road. and distinguished for his
rarefuIness and adherence to duty. He
leaves 4 family.
Fireman John F. Eldredge resided on
Anderson street. Portland. He had
! been i'll the service Of the company
quite number Of years. and was
thoroughly efficient.
! Il. IL. Lawrence. the travelling sales
man. had a scat near the end Of q car.
AS the train draw into Westbrook he
stepped to the platform preparatory to
getting off at the station.
When he heard the explosion he
jumped from the car step, was thrown
to the ground and became unconscious
and some of the hot water reached
him, causing burns. When lie recover
I cd consciousness, however, it was found
| that he was not seriously hurt
The same is true Of crossing tender.
! Fred st. Pierre, who had lowered the
| gates and was looking out of the win
dow of his shelter as the engine passed.
/ The little structure was blown into
small pieces and Mr. st. Pierre was
covered with the fragments, but aside
from period Of unconsciousness Of
about an hour. he did not suffer seri-
ously.
There are many conjecturcs regard
ing the cause of the accident. The
most reasonable one is that the steam
guage became clogged and didn't cor
.rectly register The Presumpscot was
an old locomotive but was considered
in good order.
The engine which was wrecked was
Presumpscot No l. and was the Oldest
on the road. 1t was completely wreck
ed bv the explosion. and the trucks
were thrown from the track. The bag
gage car was piled M 50 as to block
the track for more than an hour. Pas
Continued on page 80