The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-05
Should Have Waited on
a Siding.
Three of Injured win Prob
ably Die.

Webster, Mass, July 4.-Running at
the rate of about 20 miles an hour car
No. IA Of the Worcester and Webster
street railway collided with car No. 10
of the Webster and Dudley road just be-
fore s o'clock this forenoon and two per-
sons were killed and about 40 injured, of
whom, it is thought, three cannot re-
cover. The accident is attributed to the
action of the men In charge of the Wor-
cester and Webster car, in running by the
place where they should have waited for
the other car, and Conductor William
r. Olney Of Oxford, who was in charge
of the former, has been arrested, charged
with manslaughter The dead are:
William Joint, New Boston, Ct., 40
years Of age.
Hartwen Robbins, North Grosvenor-
dale, Ct, years.
The.most seriously injured are:
L. r. Mottit of Oxford; Mrs. Augustine
Rabidoux, Southbridge; Miss Flora Ser
ron, Southbridge.
The list of others injured includes the
following:
Mary j. Burns, Worcester; w H.
Miller, motorman, Worcester and Webster
railroad company, home Hoosick Falls,
N. Y; W.nR. Olney, Oxford, conductor
Worcester and Webster railroad company;
Michael Thompson, Webster, motorman
Webster and Dudley road; John LaBonte,
Webster, conductor of Webster and Dud-
ley road Herbert L. Chapman, Wilson
vile, CT; Mrs. H. L. Chapman, Miss
Bennette Robbins, North Grosvenordale;
Charles E. Gorde, New Boston, Conn.
Mrs. Charles S. Lucie, Southbridge;
Trueman Robbins, Gather of lad who
was killed.; Mrs. Trueman Robbins,
Miss Alvina Hammell Southbridge; Miss
Odel Farland, Bridgeport; jeremiah VIII
cox and wife, Lowell; Miss Della Farland,
Southbridge; George Fareau and sister
Flora, Southbridge Emil Boudoin,
Southbridge; Miss Josephine Rabidoux,
Soutnbridge; Miss Georgia Rabidoux,
Southbridge; Mrs. Adolph Rabidoux,
Southbridge; Miss Louise Schubreck,
Southbridge; Miss Jennie Stott, South
bridge; Clara Simond, Southbridge; Mrs.
Joseph Gero1x, child and Miss Blanche
Richard Southbridge; George Fesron,
Southbridge; Marie Caplette Webster;
Miss Georgianna Hoax, Miss Mary Parent,
Southbridge.
Several other persons including the
two little daughters of Mrs. Rabidoux
sustained bruises or minor injuries.
The accident occurred at a point oppo-
site the estate of the late w S. Slater at
East Webster. The cars started from
their respective terminals on time, the
Worcester and Webster car having on
board l04 persons, mostly employees of
the American Optical company at South
bridge, who were going to Worcester for
days outing. The Webster and Dudley
had gathered only three passengers.
Passing through the scantily settled
district, the motormen are permitted to
put on top speed and each car was under
strong Roadway approaching the locality
in which the accident occurred. In each
direction there was a down or ade and
the momentum of the cars was increased
as they swept down hill and they came
together with a terrific crash in the hol-
low at the bottom. The Webster and
Dudley car, being lighter, was thrown
upward by the collision, to height
which just cleared the floor of the other
car and it ploughed it's way through the
crowded seats, SCATTERING the woodwork
and piling the passengers into heaps on
every hand.
The work of removing the injured and
caring for them was prosecuted with as
much speed as possible 1t is considered
remarkable that the fatalities were SO
few, in view of the speed at which the
cars came together. AS soon as the ex-
citement had abated slightly, it appeared
that the Worcester and Webster car
should have waited on side track at
East Webster until the Webster and Dud-
ley car had passed. AS soon as the facts
became fully known, the authorities of
Webster decided to take action in the
matter and Deputy Sheriff Maurice 4.
Clare was despatched to place Conduc-
tor Olney of the Worcester car under ar
rest here to await hearing tomorrow on