Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-02-20

Brakes Failure to Work Thought to be the
Cause of the Accident = Engineer Pinned
Under the Cab.
One of the worst wrecks which have
occurred on the narrow gauge railroad
recently took place about 2 O clock last
Friday afternoon at point known as
Rand's crossing between Newfane and
Williamsville stations The accident
was serious on account of the havoc it
wrought to the rolling stock OF the road
but it had an extremely fortunate
feature in that all of the crew es-
capped with slight injuries. An extra
freight made up of Engine No 2 and
six cars loaded with lumber was run
ming toward Brattleboro about an hour
| behind schedule time. From Newfane
station there is down grade of several
miles and the train gained unusual
speed. Just before the sharp curve near
Rands crossing was reached Engineer
George Clough whistled for brakes but
they failed to work properly, although
it is not known for Just what reason.
1t is stated on good authority that the
lumber was piled So high that the brakes
could not be reached, and it is also
said that the air brakes on the engine
we're not in working order.
At any rate the signal for brakes had
no effect on the train's speed and when
the curve was reached the engine scared
off the rails into the air, turning com
pletely over and landing upside down
at the foot of the embankment. Five
of the cars followed the engine and
shot down the embankment, scattering
| lumber over an area of several square
rods and smashing themselves into
fragments The miraculous part of the
whole affair is the fact that none
of the crew was killed. Engineer
Clough was found after the accident
pinned beneath one corner of the cab,
his left leg being held between the
woodwork and piece OF wreckage- lie
was released by means of a lever con-
structed from piece of lumber and
was brought to BrattleboIo. His left
leg is badly crushed and sprained, the
small bone in his left forearm is split
and he has numerous cuts and bruises.
He will be unable to work for at least
two months.
G.. A. Larrabee, the fireman, was
thrown from the cab for considerable
distance but badly sprained left leg
| is his most serious injury. Conductor
II. p. Reed and Brakeman Frank Snay
were on top of one of the cars at the
| time of the accident. The former was
thrown between two cars, landing near
the foot of the embankment where he
Law while two cars shot over him into
the field beyond. The latter struck in
| the midst of the wreckage. Neither
Reed or Snay met with any more Sc
rious injuries than generous supply
of bruises and severe shaking-up.
The engine came to standstill at
the foot of the embankment with its
driving wheels in the air. 1t was COM
pletely stripped of all outside parts
| including smokestack, sandbox, bell
and whistle valve All of the wood
work about the cab was demolished
| and the front truck was found some
distance away in the field. The ten
der, which belonged to engine No. 3,
was also badly demolished, the tank
being torn from the base. The five
cars which left the track. three fiat
cars and two box cars, were heavily
loaded with lumber and their contents
was strewn about over a large area.
Some of the lumber was found in
| field, distance of II rods away. The
cars themselves were smashed beyond
repair.
News of the accident reached Brattle-
boro about 3 O'Clock Friday afternoon,
and Station Agent Burke and force of
men started for the scene Immediately
in teams. By 7 80 the track was sutfi
ciently cleared to allow the regular
mixed train to pass and it reached
Brattleboro shortly after s o'clock. En-
gine No A, which brought in the
mixed train, was obliged to turn
around and start north with the regu-
lar evening passenger, leaving Brattle-
boro about 10 O'Clock.
The work of clearing away the wreck
age was continued all day Saturday
and Sunday under the direction of
Supt. f. d. Nash of New London, CT,
who came to Brattleboro Friday night.
Late Sunday afternoon the wrecked
engine was pulled upon the rails and it
was drawn to Brattleboro Sunday even
ing for shipment to the repair shops at
st. Albans. Engine No. 3 which has
been at st. Albans for the past several
weelss arrived here Sunday afternoon.