Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-27
Many Slightly Injured and Every One
Had Narrow Escape.

Lewiston. Me-, Sept. 26.-Threc are
dead, nine others seriously injured ana
some 20 more cut and bruised rs the
result of passenger train No. n on the
Maine Central Railroad running into
an onen switch and crashing into a
freight tain opposite the State Fair
grounds, two and half miles east of
this city, late this afternoon. Engin Ger
Kmball and Fireman Chapman We're
thrown 40 feet from their cab. Chap
man was killed instantly and Engi-
neer kiniball survived but a few min
utes. The more seriously injured We're
removed to the Central Maine hospital
The dead:
William +. Kimball, Portland, engi-
neer.
William Chapman, Rockland. fire
man.
Amon Hodgdon. a government mail
Weisher. who received 4 scalp wound
ana fatal burns died al the hospital,
tonight.
John Il. Chase. Portland, baggage
master. badly burned about the face
ANA hands.
Ri Merriman. Portland, mail clerk,
body burned and legs laceratcd.
Frank NJ. Smell. Lewiston, car in
Spcctor, burned on boGy.
a. T. Clark, express messenger. legs
burned.
+, c. Hickford, express messenger
legs burned.
John W. Woodsum, Lewiston, car in
spector. burns on arms aud body.
Joseph T.. COOK. Portland. :ravcli"g
engineer ter the Maine Central Rail
ROAD. burns about the head and body.
Charles u. Dustin, Pennington. leg
broken.
}. 6. Brown. 81 Hroomfcld street,
l:o.ton. sid" and back Sprained.
AS the wreckaGt caught fire almost
Immediately those III the baggage. mail
ANA express ears suffered chiefly from
burns.
The train, which was in charge %
Conductor Edward l. Low, OF Portland.
left Pennington At 80 O'Clock. for
Portland. being due here ut 40 and 1T
vi tl.ili'! 1T boo VI. II NdS Hititl' up
of an express, combination and mail
car. smoker and TWO coaches.
The passenger train going ut speed |
Of about 80 miles an hour, took the
open switch and smashed into the
freight ears which mad just been UNI /
loaded Of stock for tOmorrOW'S fair. |
The engine and express car and sew
ernl freight cars We're practically de-
mulShed. The parlor car was thrown
on its side with the baggage and mail
car piled on top. The smoker was
turned at an angle of A. degrees. while
the passenger coaches remained up
right although derailed.
Every seat in the par1Or car was Oc-
cupi"d and the smOk az was filed.
When the wreckaGe caught fire from
the engine many of Inc passengers Were
mamie stricken a score or more pas
senr.rs in the smoker ANA day coaches
seeing Chc smoke broke out the win
doNs in an effort to escape. Some of L
them we're cut but not seriously. AL
hough the parlor car was overturned,
none Of its occupants was fatally in
jured.
Will REPORTS of large numbers killed
and Injured reached his city with the
first news of the wreck and the fire
all the ambulances and
everv doctor available were dispatched
&c soon as possible to the scene. The
.needy arrival of the fire department L
.ayad the wreck from conf1agration. III
Tho injured We're hurried to the Maine
Central hospitai.
conductor Lowe. who was not in
"a. L 4
others aided in extricating passengers
fron, these cars. Express Messengers
p;clford and Clark had miraculous es-
canes from the wreckage.
These upon the scene state that the
switch was not only open but locked. i