The Portland daily press., 1899-12-25
Not Known How Acci-
dent Happened.
Cars Had Just Been Emptied ut
Coal Pockets.

Rochester railroad, near Tukey's bridge
at nine O'Clock last night resulted In the
death Of Frank Swan, q conductor, and
the ipjury OF Eugene Dennsts 9 brake
man. The latter was SO severely Injured
that the chances Of his recovery are said
to be very small. About eight O'Clock
Engineer william A Ferguson with
Conductor Swan, Brakeman Eugene
Dsnnst, and Fireman Fred Lane were
sent out +, the Portland and Rochester,
oal sheds beyond Tukey's bridge to
haul In load of coal for the coal pockets
near the foot of wilmot street. They had
hauled In some twenty cars loaded with
coal and dumped them at the coal pockets
and were returning tn. emrsy oars t, the
coal wharf some distance beyond Tukey's
bridge. 1t was about nine O'Clock when
the train was backing slowly towards the
place where the empty cars were TO be
left. Conductor Frank Swan and Brake
man Eugens bennett were on the rear of
the train. At this time 1t was blowing
hard and the rain was falling In torrents.
At this point 1t was very dark and from
the engine only the faint glimmer Of the
lanterns Of the conductor and brakeman
could be seen from the engine. Sudden
ly there came the sound OF cars humping
together from the rear Of the train and
then crash. Engineer Ferguson stopped
the locomotive quickly knowing that
something was wrong. The lanterns Of
Conductor Swan and Brakeman bennett
could not be ssen from the engine and
ths engineer and fireman ran back to-
wards the end Of the train to see what
had happened They found that four OF
the coal oars had left the Iron and be-
tween the double tracks near the spot
where the fourth car from the end had
left the rails bennett was found.
He was lying on his back and
Was unconscious. Engineer Ferguson
called out for swan several times, but
did not hear any response. Continuing
up the track short distance he found
that the four cars had left the track. The
rear car had run down over TIE embank-
ment to the waters edge and Its end was
almost in the water. The second car from
the end was lying on Its side half way
up the EN- mbankment with one end across
the track. The third and fourth cars
were on their sides parallel to the rails.
The engineer and hrsm an hunted about
In the darkness for Swan, but could not
find him. They came to the conclusion
that he was somewhere beneath the wreck
and that what was required was a
ply sician as soon as one could be found.
Engineer Ferguson took lantern and
started ON the run back over the Marginal
Way to reaoh q telephone. He had over a
half mile to 60 In the darkness and
through water and mud ankle deep. DE
made good time because he realized that
a mans life depended upon his speed. He
reached telephone and sent for Rioh's
ambulance and for DR.. Palmer. Then he
hurried back to the ssene of the wreck.
The doctor and Rich's ambulance
reached Tukey's bridRs within short
time. 10 was some distance from the
scene OF the wreck to the bridge and the
walking In the darkness and rain was
none of the best. DIR. Palmer hurried to
the spot as fast as possible and found
bennett, who had recovered conscious
ness. He made superficial exam ination
OF the man In ths rain and darkness and
concluded that he should be sent to the
hospital as soon as possible. When Mr..
Rich arrived with the ambulance there
were only three or four men at hand to
aid IN the carrying of the wounded man
to the bridge. The walking as has hsen
said, was none of the beat and the injured
brakeman suffered untold agonies ss he
was carried over the rough road.
In the meantime the engineer and fire.
man had made . search Of the wreck for
Swan. Thsy found him At lass beneath
tine wheels Of the last car which had left
the track. The top Of his skull had besn