Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-02
nine KILLED
And Five Injured ia Crash
at HorneIlsviiIe.
Sleighing Party Crashed Into
by Fast Express.
Dead Were Members of Ladies' Aid
Society-Dstails Of Accident.

HornellSvilla, n. V. Feb IA pas
senger train on the Pittsburg Shaw
NUT x Northern Railroad tonight.
crashed into . sleigh containing party
Of Is women. killing nire Of them and
seriously injuring the remaining four.
Some Of The latter are in a serious con-
dition. The accident O, CURED near Ark
mort. The slciSn was one or three car
church of this city.
The dead: Mrs. Mary Gillette. Mrs
Charles Thomas. Mr.. Eugene Shaw.
Mrs. Joseph Ha!l"tt, Mrs. G. c. Graves.
Mrs. Bert Mc""c. Mrs. Ruth Patchca
M:s. Coates. Mrs. Green. Mrs. F.
Euughton.
The injured: Mrs. r. r. Rowley, Mrs.
Pond, Wallace Clark.
The members Of the Ladies' Aid So
Cirty Of the Tn:versalist church went
to the Baldwin arm house near Ark
port to pass The afternoon 1t was neal
ly dark when they started on the re-
turn trip to IN city. The occupans of
the leading sleigh saw the train ap-
preaching as they ncarnd the Shawmut
crossing. The driver urged his horses
ahead and the sleigh PASSED over the
track ii safety. The women in the first
sl"igh then attempted tn warn those in
The one following Of the danger and
they did succeed in Greeting their at
t"ntior to ;he rapidly approaching
train. ric driver pulled Zip his horses.
hr't i" cGrld not check The heavy bob
sled quickly enough and when il came
I, 4 st.lnIstill The no Of the sleigh was
directly across the railroad track. The
pilot Gf the engine struck the sleigh
With great free. reducing il to splinters
and hu:ling thu women IL all directions.
ftt cry woman or the sleigh was killed
or injured.
The other InerlberS of the marty hur-
ri,d hack to the assistance of their I'M
fortunate companions and the train
vas stopped and backed up to the
crossing. The sight vas appalling. 1t
seemed impossible that any occupant
IF the sleigh could have CSC apcd death
Rcdies lay along side the track for i
distance OF 100 wards and great crimson
stains ulon the white surface of the
snow told plainly thai some of the wo-
men Lad received mortal injuries.
The bodies Of the dead were placed
upon the train and the injured were
tuderly laid upon irproviscd cots in the
baggage car. The train then proceeded
t. Horreilsville. Tho news Of the acct
cont had been telephone to the city
from farm house near the crossing
md hundreds of friends and relatives
If the unfortunate women were waiting
At the station. The scenes there were
heart -rcnding. The dead " ere at on,n
taken to the morgu" and the injured
We're quickly placed in ambuIanccs and
taken to the Mercy hospital Elisha
Quick. driver nf the second sleigh, was
badly hurt. but vas able to make the
following statement.
I vas driving along at sharp can
ter when ] suddenly saw the flash of
The headlight and heard the ladies in
the front sleigh cali out not to attempt
to cross. The women in my sleigh saw
the train at the sam" time and rcaliz-
ing their peril began to scream aud
snri"k for help Their cries and the
glare Of the light 50 frightened the
horses that was unable to stop them
and they sprdng upon the track. They
su"o coded in clearing it, but just as the
sleigh WIS half way across the engine
struck US with u terrible crash and /
remember nothing more until / found
myself being picked up out of the snow.
| simply could not control my horses.
The place where the accident occur
rcd is at the crossing Of what is known
lr the Airport road and on the Bab-
cock farm.