Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-24
A BAD MIXUP.
Freight No. % Wrecked Just
Below lCeboro Station.
The Train Breaks Apart Eight Cars
Derailed and Burned.
Fire Caused by Explosives in Freiaht-Irain
Service Delayed.

| ooi'' -'AoiN"S iiloi mig, ana before lne
engineer could pull away from the rear
section. the two parts were in col
lision, and eight cars left the iron and
were wrecked. Presumably from
matches or powder being carried as
| freight, the Wreckage and contents of
the cars We're Immediately ignited. and
| as there We're no means Of fighting the
fire, everything was consumed. The
loss cannot be estimated. but will be
total on eight cars and their contents
OF general merchandise. consigned to
up-river towns.
| Train No. % left Richmond about on
Tune, ana was to pass passenger train
NO. "A. at lceboro. After leaving
| Richmond there is a noticeable down
grade until the Modoc Ice houses are
reached. At this point the grade Is
| higher, lowering again as Iceboro
comes in view. on the down grade
from Richmond the cars are close to-
gether. and as the engine mounts the
upgrade and the throttle is opened. the
rear cars are slow to respond. as in a
long train the distance between may
be several feet.
The train was pulling up the grade
when the draw bar between the eighth
and ninth car broke. The forward
section gained about three car lengths.
when the rear section caught up. and
the collision occurred. The engineer
felt the shock and realizing instantly
the nature of the accident opened the
throttle of his engine. to avoid the un-
nnrpGG1r.N- II l. ~
\ broken draw bar Of one Of the ears
dropped out as the forward section
pulled away. ana eight cars were piled
up and sent over either side Of the
bank in less time than it takes to tel
it, As they commenced to pile up
smoke was seen arising from one Of
the cars. and as they went over the
bank terrible explosion was heard
1t is supposed that matches or amuni-
ton was ignited by the shock As
there We're no means by which to cheek
the flames, nothing remained to a. but
to quickly send for wrec king crews.
A 'wrecking train from Waterville
was on the way within a remarkably
short time. and making quick trip t.
the scene of the disaster, arriving at
about 9 o'clock. Norman's gravel crew
from Brunswick was early on the
scene, with about 80 men, and the
work of clearing away the wreck COM
menced at once.
AS one of the cars went over the
bank it separated from the rest and
turned bottom up on the west side Of
the track. This car contained large
bundles of leather and bales of cotton.
a
over but the contents were removed
to places of safety by the small crowd
of people who had gathered.
Merchandise Of various sorts filled
the other cars. and before the mass
assumed the bonfire appearance Of a
few moments later cases of beer
boxes of tobacco and groceries We're re-
moved by lOoters. who thought they
We're entitled to souvenirs of the mo-
mentous occasion. The beer was not
removed a great distance from the
wreck. as up-turned bottles were soon
emptying their contents into the yawn-
ing mouths to ease parched threats. A
case of overcoats was ransacked for
the right size by one man. while sew
eral men appropriated underwear in a
more or less damaged condition.
enough to supply neighbors for miles
around.
Only for a short time was the looting
continued. as the flames soon claimed
undisputed ownership. AS case Of
cartridges commenced to feel the heat
the explosions kept the crowd a safe
distance back for some time.
When the wrecking crews arrived the
work of clearing was commenced on
both ends Wreckage which was not
on fire was easily pulled away. and
several pairs of derailed trucks We're
sent over the bank with their frames
burning. Save what could be brought
in buckets there was no water to be
had, and for this reason the work of
was very slow.
Train No. "a remained al Iceboro un-
til the arrival of No. 8. when passen-
gers We're transferred The train west
was held until the arrival of the train
leaving South Gardiner at 1890 This
train was a special running under No.
81, the regular train proceeding from
Waterville to Portland by way of
Lewiston. The special was in charge
Of Conductor Clements and proceeded
east on the arrival of the noon train. |
The noon train carried about $50 pas
and there was considerable de
lay in transferring baggage, mails. etc. |
This train left Iceboro IL hours late. !
Train No Is west was cancelled.
The wreckage was cleared sufficient !
ly at o'clock to allow the afternoon
express from Boston to pass, the local
Boston train arriving about half an
hour later
At one time the ACCESSIBILITY Of send |
ing for some sort Of fire apparatus was |
but the idea was given up
and an improvised bucket brigade was I
to carTy water from neigh |
boring springs and wells. The flames
seemed to lick up the water and burn !
fercer. but the crews could not have
handled the iron work for some time /
had not water been applied. The burn
inc cars were about % yards south Of
the residence of Joshua Tasker, and
with north wind nothing could have
prevented the house taking fire.
CONTINUED on page 81