Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-19
SEVEN KILLED
In a Head-on Freight Collision
Near Bethel, Me.
Two Engineers, Two Firemen, Brake
man and Two Tramps Dead.
Four En-. ines and 13 Loaded Cars Wrecked
and Destroyed by Fire.

Ecthel, Me, Jan. 1S.-The most Seri-
Railroad in long time occurred at
the foot of a long grade, two miles
south of this place, just after midnight
and as a result seven men were killed
and several others injured, four en-
giEcs were demolished and IS loaded
cars with their contents We're destroy
ed. The wrecked cars contained a
large quantity of explosives. and as
they took fire soon after the collision
the work of clearing away the wreck
age could not be carried on. Every few
moments a terrific explosion would oc-
cur and the burning embers would be
scattered about over many acres.
The known dead are: Peter Thomp-
son, engineer, aged 81, of Montreal: W.
{. Oliver, brakeman, Bangor: Will
Ross. fireman. residence unknown.
Reliable information says that an
other engineer and fireman and two
unknown trampS We're also killed, but
their names are not now known.
The trains came together just at the
point where two grades met, and both
trains were running at a high speed.
The east bound train was made up of
81 loaded cars and was drawn by two
engines. and the west bound of 10
loaded and - empty cars. This train
also had two engines.
1t is claimed that each conductor be-
licVed he had the right of way. with
clear track. and they We're taking aG-
vantage of down grades which met at
the point where the trains came to-
Sethcr. 10 make fast run.
Tho up train was in charge of Con
ductor Il. C..namon of Island Pond,
VT. and the engineers were Peter
Thompson and - Roberts. Conductor
Tom Foley was in charge of the down
train, and the engines We're driven by
- Hill and - Bunker
Engineer Thompson stuck to his post
and was killed ia the--crash.s as was
also his fireman, Will Ross The crew
of the down train saw the danger in
time and saved their lives by jumping.
The two trampS We're seen riding on
the bumpers of the loaded ears which
were demolished a few minutes be-
fore the wreck occurred. and it is sup
posed their bodies are among the burn
ed cars.
The trains came together with aw
full force and the four engines were
only mass of twisted steel, this morn
ing. one engine. bent and battered. was
perched on top of the three others,
fully 20 feet above the ground.
A few minutes after the collision fire
broke out in the wreckage and it was
impossible to go near the scene he
cause of the explosives. Word was
sent to Portland for assistance and
wrecking train was sent at once. y call
sent to Berlin. n. H.. for fire appara
tus brought an engine, but in the hur-
ry to reach the scene, an important
portion of the machinery had been left
behind and the engine was useless.
All through the forenoon the fire
ragged in the wreckage and it was near
ly the middle of the afternoon before
4 stream of water was turned on the
flames and preparations made for
clearing the tracks.
This work probably will take a num-
her Of hours, and it mi.y be late TO-
night before trains can pass over the
road.
According to a statement made by
Superintendent Jones of the Grand
Trunk the cause Of the accident, 50
far rs known. was negligence on the
part Of a telegraph operator at Shell
brlrnc who, it is claimed, failed to de-
liver the proper order. OF course 1t IS
not possible to state the exact cause
until after thorough examination
has been made.
The money loss caused by the wreck
will be very heavy. Besides the four
engines and u cars which were wholly
DESTROYED, there was Il large amount
of freight. 13 full carloads, burned