Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-09-01
ENGINEER DIES OF BURNS
A. w. sHATTuck scALDED FA-
TALLY IN RAILROAD WRECK.
Locomotive, Tender and Freight Car
on West River Railroad Go Over
Embankn,ent between Newfane and
ack of Ballast.

amsville-lack of Ballast.
insufficient ballast ON the roadbed
of the West River railroad. which was
recently converted from narrow 10
standard gauge. was in part IL not
wholly responsible for an accident
which caused the death of Engineer
Almar w. Shattuck Monday after
noon. At a point about half mile
this side of Rand's Crossing. which
is situated between Newfane and Will
iamsville stations. section of the
track sunk under the weight of en-
gine 3O3. throwing the locomotive,
tender and one freight car nearly TO
the bottom of so foot embankment.
Shattuck was pinioned under the cab
and so terribly scalded by escaping
steam that he died about three hours
later at farm house nearby. Joseph
La Forrest, his fireman. also went down
the embankment and was buried be-
meath the coal which fell from the
tender but miraculously escaped any
serious injuries. The engine itself was
not badly damaged but lies In such a
position that it will be an extremely
difficult task to get 1t upon the iron
again.
The accident occurred at about 2:15
Monday afternoon just at the end
of the sharp curve which begins about
mile north of Williamsville station
The north bound mixed train left
Brattleboro at in the morning, con-
sisting of engine 303 and eleven cars,
Including the passenger coach. The
crew was made up of Engineer Shat
tuck. Fireman LaForrest. Conductor
Frank Clark and Brakemen william
Bemis and w. J. Allen. AT a point
only a short distance this side OF
where the fatality occurred the en-
gine left the iron causing delay OF
several hours, and II was found nee
essary to divide the train in order to
climb the grade between there ana
Newfane The first section had been
taken to the siding at Newfane ana
the engine was on its way 10 that
point with the second when the track
gave away.
According to statements from en-
ployes of the road some trouble had
been feared on account of the insu1-
ficient ballast between WilliamsVille
station and Rand's Crossing. although
the roadbed was In little worse shape
there than at numerous other points.
lin any case the train was running at
comparatively low speed on account
of the grade and a careful watch was
being kept because the engine nau
been so frequently derailed. just as
the train rounded the curve ana was
about to enter the stretch which leads
to Rands Crossing the track sudden
" sunk beneath the engine and 1t
plunged down the embankment at the
right. carrying with 1t the tender and
one freight car. The engine itself
turned nearly half over and struck
against some trees about 20 feet down
the embankment the tender making
complete somersault and landing on
/ its left side The freight car was tip
ped over but went down the embanK-
ment but a short distance.
When the accident happened Will
liam Bemis was standing on the steps
at the left side Of the cab, Keeping
| watch of the track ahead. He Went
down the bank short distance but
escaped unhurt. LaForrest was in the
act of putting away his coal shovel
and was standing on the platform be-
Tween the engine and tender. He Went
down with the wreck but in some m
explainable manner was not crusneu
although the coal from the tender bur-
lied him and it took him several sec
onds TO dig himself out. Shattuck was
sitting on the right side or the car
with his head out of the wlndoW ano
was unable to leave his seat Wheh hs
felt the engine falling. When the ma
chine overturned the right side OF tnt
cab was crushed and Shattuck's lef'
foot was caught under the reverse
lever in such way that he could no.
move Although fearfully scalded DA
steam and boiling water which escap
ed from a broken pipe directly IN iron
of his seat he was able to call Tor nell
and give directions for getting mn
out. Bemis, LaForrest and the othel
members of the crew at once came U
his assistance and after several iniii
utes of desperate work were apie y
extricate him. Shattuck was suner
ing terribly from his burns pul ne u,
not lose consciousness and expiaiIe'
to the other men that they would haV'
to move the reverse lever before III
couid he moved This was done b!
a crow-bar AS soon as ne wa
gotten out Shattuck asked to be takei
10 the home of Melvin Gates about
half mile north of the scene OF the ac
cident. He was carried there az once
lDrs. p. p. White and +. l.. Osgoo'
were summoned as quickly as possI
lille and they did all in their power Z
alleviate the engineers suHerinss a.
| though it was evident that MS purn
! we're so serious that recovery was ou
/, of the question. Shattuck's face. BODY
arms and legs were so badly Scalue'
that the skin came off in great patcn
es and he complained of pains in Tn
abdomen. He soon fell into stupo
, and died from the shock about 5:5
without fully regaining CONSCIOUSNESS,
Mrs. Shattuck and Station Agent ). n
l Burke left Brattleboro for the seen
/ of the accident in an automoblle apou
4 o'clock and arrived at the Gates iarI
shortly after 5. Shattuck was no
| wholly unconscious at that time bu
did not recognize his wife. The boa
I was brought to Brattleboro in TN
evening.
News of the accident was receive
Of the local station about 2:30 and
lwrecking train and crew left her
shortly after O'Clock. A force q
men was at once set at work on IN
, track. which was torn up for ois
8 tance of about rs feet. and oy l
d o'clock it was sufficiently repaired
r that the north bound passenger trai
}. could pass over it. The engine. tend
or and freight car will be righted sun
@ dav nv means of a steam derrick
The task of moving the engine WI
he a difficult one. for it is large ma
chine. weighing As tons. 1t is of tn
!, moeul type and had only been in us
on the road for about two weeks.
lies nearly bottom up inclining toWar
the top of the bank with the Gao : :
the lowest point. which is fully :
feet below the track. The right SID
of the cab is badly crushed ana IN
lsteam-pipe leading to the momtor
broken short off A curious featur
lof the accident is that rail was driv
en- through the ash-pan and air-drur
lof the locomotive. This leads to tn
lhe,ief that the engine left the iron be
: fore going down the embankment, an
. lit Is not impossible that the ran J
louestion was loose at one end. IN
Tender lies nearly bottom up. tippin
|. slightly 10 the left as IL IL turned owe
once more than the engine aithoug
1.-The coupling between the two Is nc