The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
DIE IN BLAZING WRECK
Montreal Express, on Boston and
Maine, Hits Local Train,
COLLISION DUE TO THICK FOG

or the Dead q Dozen Were Passengers in
Two Rear. Cars of the Local Train
Heavy Weather Hid Lights of the
Standing Train-Qulck Rescue by Sur
v~ivors-OnIy Few of Dead Identified
Lincoln, Mass.-SiXteen persons were
killed, twenty-five were badly injured,
and probably a score of. others received
minor hurts in a railroad wreck which
occurred at 8.15 o'clock at night at Ba-
ker's Bridge Station, a mile and a half
west of Lincoln, on the main line of the
Fitchburg Division Of the Boston and
Maine Railroad. The regular night eX.
press which left Boston at 7.4j o'clock
for Montreal, by way of the Rutland
system, crashed into the rear of an ar
commodation train bound for points Oh.
the Marlboro branch line. and which
started from Boston at 7.15 o'clock.
Of the dead a dozen were Passengers
in the two rear cars Of the Marlboro
train. The other two were Engineer
Barnard, of the Montreal. express. and
his fireman. No passenger on the e1-
press vas injured. OF those who lost
their lives a number were apparently
killed instantly in the collision, while
others were either burned to death by
the fire which ensued, or died from suf-
location.
A partial list Of the dead is as fol.
lows:
William J. Barris, Maynard.
Three-year-old child of Mr.. Barris.
Eugene Barnard, engineer of the
Montreal train.
- Lyons. fireman Of the Montreal
train.
Anna Hillbridge, aged five years.
Acton; died in Pullman car of the eX-
press shortly after being taken from
w%reckage.
Daniel Weatherbe, Acton.
May Campbell, Maynard.
May Collins, Concord Junction.
Nellie Sweeney, Concord.
- Magano. Concord.
Seven unidentified bodies.
On account of the heavy traffic the
local train was delayed, and it was
about six minutes behind time when it
stopped at. the little station. 1t was
known that the Montreal express was
due. and persons who were at the sta
ton say that a trainman was sent back
to set a'torped0 and a red light.
The night was unusually dark, part
ly owing to a dense mist which came
up the Sudbury River. According to
those at the station at the time, the
light had not been set more than a
minute before the roar Of a heavy
train around the curve a short distance
from the station was heard. Within a.
few seconds the headlight of an on
rushing locomotive penetrated the mist
and the two ponderous engines Of the
express train travelling at an estimated
speed Of thirty-three miles an hour,
with nine cars behind them. crashed
into the local train.
The impact was so'terri6c that it was
heard by persons living a mile distant.
The leading locomotive telescoped the
real car of the Marlboro train and the
second engine forced the dem olished
mass against the third car of the local
and completely wrecked it. In those
two cars ali but two of the fatalities
occurred and practically all of the inju-
ries.
The forward locomotive Of the Mon
treal train was destroyed. The engine
following, although considerably DAM
aged, did not leave the rails. One of
the cars of the express was thrown
from the track, but the collision appar-
emily had little effect upon the passen-
gers. They stated afterward that the
shock was comparatively slight.
Passengers from both trains, railroad
employees and villagers rushed to the
wrecked cars and assisted many per-
sons to escape.
After some delay messages were sent
to Boston, Waltham and Concord for
doctors, nurses, surgical appliances and
wrecking trains.
Several Of the bodies were badly dis
figured.
The majority of those injured were
women.
All the sixteen bodies have been TAX
ell from the wreck. Three Of the six
teen were alive when taken out, but
death ensued soon afterward.