Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-26
THE FAMOUS "coLD FRIDAY"
Alderman PooIer Has Vivid Recollec
tons of That Cold Snap.

| Alderman Fred Pooler has very
vivid recollection OF the famous "Cold
| Friday" which was 43 years ago this
coming eighth day of February. At
that time he was employed on the rail-
road and, in company with Louis Rom
co, Fred King, Peter Lessor and
George Tallouse, had been sent down
| the line of what is now commonly
called the back road to saw some wood
| for the company neaV Belgrade. This
was on Thursday preceding the cold
Friday and the men at first intended
to go on the regular passenger, but as
there was a freight following close be-
| hind they decided to go on that.
Near Belgrade the freight overlook
the passenger stalled and unable to
move. The freight engine was I'M
coupled and attached to the rear of the
passenger to push, the freight train
being left standing on the track with
out any engine. The men were COM
fortably housed in the caboose and
were satisfied to wait until an engine
could be sent back to bring them in.
But plow train with the pillow ahead
came bowling along and before il could
be stopped crashed into the caboose Of
the freight, smashing it and overturn-
ing it into the ditch. The men heard
the pillow train coming and did their |
best to signal it but their light was |
not noticed although the lanterns were
thrown into the tender of the engine as |
it passed. Just as the engineer was all !
but on the stationary freight he saw it |
and shut off steam. but it was then too |
late and the collision occurred. 1t had |
been raining some and showing some,
Thursday. but along toward night |
cleared off and rapidly became intense
ly cold.
The collision left the men stalled in
the country a good distance from any
habitation and without any shelter on
the coolest night that probably has
ever been known in Maine. They did
not dare leave the train to go any dis
lance for fear of freezing on the way.l
and the engine of the pillow train was
disabled 1t was Il pretty tough situa-
ton even for hardly railroad men OF
those days.
They started big fire and kept it
going all night with the wrecked ca
bose. Huddled around it their faces
fairly roasted while the backs fairly
froze. They could keep but one side of
their bodies warm at one time and be-
tween being half roasted and half fro
zen at the same time. they did not pass
a very comfortable night.
Mr.. Pooler remembers that Robert
Austin was the engineer and Thomas
Lackam the fireman of the plow train,
while Zedor Tallouse who was after
wards pushed from the railroad bridge |
here. was handling the flange digger.
The conductor of the freight was Mr..
Dodge, for so many years a conductor
on the road, and Tim O'DonneH and
Grin Towne. brakemen. Nearly all of
these men are now dead, only four-of |
the II Remembered by Mr.. Pooler now
being alive. Il
On the Cold Friday" following the
railroad wreck, thermometers refused |
to register the degree of cold. harbors
all along the Maine coast froze where
they had never been known to before
nor since. and many lives We're lost |
throughout the State from freezing.
While Mr.. Poolers experience was not
exactly Il comfortable one he and his
companions considered themselves for;
innate to have lived through it after
hearing the reports from other places
of the extreme cold.