The Portland daily press., 1901-01-14
COLLISION ON n. G. r:
ssrioas Head ON coni.lsa At Auburn
Saturday.


Auburn. Me-, January IA serious
headon collision between two freight
trains occurred on the Maine Central rail-
road about a mile south OF this city this
afternoon. Although the trains were
running at speed Of 25 miles an hour
when they came together, none of the
train crews was injured, the engineers
and firsmen on both engines seeing the
threatened danger In time 10 jump. The
other trainmen were on cars which did
not suffer seriously from the shock. Both
engines were very badly wrecked.
The trains which were In collision wsrs
No 30 Of the Maine Central and No. 2Oi
OF the Portland and Rumord Falls road,
Ito same line OF track being used by both
companies at this point. The Maine Gen.
trail train left Portland about nine
o'clock this forenoon and with frequent
stops and the drifting snow did not make
very good time on the run. At the point
W there the accident occurred there IL q
long, swinging turn in the track, and
ss the trains approached each othe
running at q fairly good speed. the en-
gineers did not see the danger until they
were within a short distance OF each
other. Levers were reversed and whsn
every effort had been made to bring the
trains TO a stop the engineers and their
fremen sought safety In jumping. The
trains came together with a crash, to,h
engines being almost demolished. SIEVE u
cars on the Maine Central train also weI g
wrecked, but none Of the five Portland
and Rumford Falls cars was even de-
rallied. wreckiny trains were dispatched
to the scene OF the accident at once, but
1t was not until nearly eight o'clock to-
night that the track was cleared suffio-
iently to allow ira flo to be resumed.
. How the two trains running in opposite
directions happened to be at this point
at the same time has not been explained
and an Investigation win be made.
The Maine Central train was under
charge OF Conductor w. Russell Conduc-
ter hsrlss Smith was In charge Of the
PortIan and Rumford Falls train.
The fireman OF the Maine Central train
had a ciase call, having somewhat delayed
his jump. He landed between two OF the
derailed cars Immediately behind his en-
CINE. and narrowly escaped being crushed
between them.
or the seven cars wrecked, three vera
open cars and four closed box care. Two
of the open cars were tadly smashed but
remained on the rails One OF the box
cars was forced of Its trucks and was
showed ahead onto one OF the opsn cars
as precisely and prsttily as though It had
been lifted by derrick and placed in
position. Under the car In the rear OF
this one were two sets OF trucks, the set
belonging there and that or the displaced
car. The whole appearance Of the CON-
blnation was that OF method aud order.
But disorder reigned amid tn Q rest OF
the wIecE. Two box cara we're forced
from the track and were hurled at right
angles up steep embankment. Spiiuters
and fragments were everywhere strewn
atout. Axles were twisted and bent as
though made OF wire, and tie whole as.
poet OF the scene was desolats In the OK
trsme.
At the Maine Central Offices in this oity
no inform nation could be obtained as to
how the trains happened TO be on the
"a mo traoE