St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-10-16
A Fatal Freight Wreck.
B. H. Corey of LittIetOm Killed Near
Passumpsic.

PRssumpsic.
A rear end collision OF two freight
| trains at the iron railroad bridge about
halt a mile below Passumpsic Monday
! afternoon Just before FIVE O'Clock resulted
in the death OF B. 7. Corey, aged "a, oi
Littleton, and the injury of Engineer A.
c. Eastman of Lyndonville and Fireman
Walden Ryther of Newport. The regular
way freight north with E. H. Brown,
conductor, and E. w. Ruggles, engineer,
stopped at the bridge while the engine
was uncoupled for the purpose OF NOV
ing some cars which were in the gravel
pit at that point.
The caboose and about one-half of the
next car were in the bridge. A hagman
was sent back to stop the extra freight
which was known to be coming, but this
train was following so closely that there
was no time and it dashed around the
curve Just below the bridge at full head
and crashed into the cars on the bridge,
smashing the caboose into splinters and
throwing it down the steep embankment
to the river, where it took fire from the
stove and was soon mass of flames.
Two other cars were derailed and over
turned, and the second car of the extra
from the engine stopped opposite the
burning caboose and the fire was COM
municated to it. As the extra ap-
preached the bridge Engineer Eastman
and Fireman Ryther jumped, the former
striking the bridge, sustained a severe
scalp wound and fell into the river and
swan ashore. The latter struck the
| bridge abutment, broke his left arm near
the wrist, sprained his right ankle, re-
ceived a severe cut or the head and other
minor injuries. He was taken to near
| by house received medical attendance,
and was taken to his home in Newport
yesterday.
After reaching the shore Engineer East
man pluckily mounted his disabled engine
and backed it out of the wreck, setting
out the burning car, thus saving the en-
gine, bridge and remainder OF his train
from danger OF fire. The property loss
will not be great; the coliding engine
was but slightly damaged. The burned
freight car was loaded with figs and the
overturned cars carried assortment
of mercht ndise The wreck train from
Lyndonville was soon at the scene and
a special from St. Johnsbury carried
physicians to care for the wounded.
The circumstances attending the death
of Mr.. Corey were particularly sad. He
came in August from West Virginia,
where he had spent the winter, and for
the past six weeks has been in the employ
of Swift Bros. of this place as driver. He
closed his engagement there Saturday
and went to White River Junction in
search of employment, but decided to go
to Lyndonville Monday and apply Tor a
position on the railroad. His brother
is a brakeman on the way freight and he
was riding as a passenger in the caboose
when the collision occurred.
A search was made for the body Mon
day night but the heat would not allow
a close examination of the wreck. The
body was found about ten O'Clock yes
terday in the water near the bank
completely covered with wreckage
Death was instantaneous as there was (
deep cut and severe bruise on his heat
and there were no evidences of drowning
The body was brought to st. Johnsbury
and will be taken to his home in Little
ton this morning.