Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-02-01
ALMOST A CATASTROPHE.
Providence Foils Dsstsrdly Attempt
to Wreck Express Tram.

q 10 NFEGGh GApFGSS
The northbound "New England State
/ Limited express train OF the Central Yer
mont Railway company had a miraculou
escape from complete wreck while RUNNING
lat fun speed past Bolton at 6;55 o'cloci
/ last Friday evening Apparently som'
miscreant had set the switch 50 tha
i the tram would run into the siding, hat
+ removed the switch lamp from It's socke
land fastened IL ia such a position that y
bowed the main line to be clear. IN OH
+ sr words II was made false signal.
| None OF the passengers were injured, the
cars all remained in an upright posltion-
and the damage 10 the engine and cars ,,
such hat 10 can be repaired at q nominal
expense and 10 few days. The main lime
was not blocked. Such Was the fortunate
outcome Of the accident 20 the finest train
on he Central Vermont railway.
This wreck Is almost parallel with the
wr ok which occurred Jan. 6th near Wall
lo1msac, \. y, BY which the Rutland
train was thrown into a siding and c1lild-
ed with freight cars by reason OF the
switch being tampered with. In the latter
case the lamp was removed and no light
left At the switch.
The train was fifteen minutes late and
was running at full speed 10 make up as
much time as possible. The first siding
y
siding from the main line is what is known
rs the split switch which is in general use
for sidings leading from the main line.
Several car lengths from this switch
another switch, known as a stub switch,
leads TO a second siding. Still another
siding. known as loading siding, runs
nearly parallel to this second siding, and
on this loading siding were three freight
cars.
When the engine struck this first switch
1t gave a lurch and the engineer instantly
applied he emergency air brakes. The
train followed the engine on the siding an
right. When the second switch was
reached the engine followed the first sid
ing but the tender jumped and took the
second siding, turning it in a diagonal
direction. This broke the engine from the
tender and derailed il and the ears m tHe
train. The tender and mail ear struck the
freight cars on the loading siding. dam
aging two Of them considerably. The
train ran a considerable distance from the
first switch before il was stopped
The engineer and fireman stuck 70 their
posts and were uniniured. Doubtless the
application OF the emergency brakes before
the engine left the rails materially les
sened the serious results OF the accident
For time great excitement and con-
fusion prevailed as everything was in
aud it was expected that q large
number Of people would be found dead or
injured. The station agent was at his
home for supper, having left everything
IN order and expecting the train would
pass the station as usual ID was some
time before he was found 10 open the sta
ton aud send news OF the wreck to head
quarters.
The shock to the passengers was great
az the smoothly running train left the
main line, the emergency brakes were
applied and then the cars went bumpiug
over the ties for several hundred feet The
passengers we're badly shaken up and
frightened.
One OF the mail clerks stood at the car
door TO take in mail bag, but was not
injured, although both the clerks
~ me car were thrown quite a distance
md somewhat bruised.
careful canvass OF all the passengers
ihOwed that no one receive1 any injury
In consequence OF the whole
rain entering the siding the main line
Fas not ObstruCted at ALL That no one
houid be injured aud that the cars should |
III retain their upright position is little
hort OF miracle
The train was ia charge Of John Dono- /
an, engineer; II. c. Bell, fireman: and
Dan Church, conductor.
W. r. Mullins, superintendent of trans- |
for the Central Vermont Rail-
way Co., makes the following official /
tatement
"fhere appears 10 be no question but 1
hat the mishap to train No. was the /
work Of some miscreaHt. Tue hagman Of |
ne freight train last 20 make use OF The
lding IN question positively states that he
losed ana locked the switch, and his con-
uetor says that he personally watched
Iim perform such work IN addition PAS
enger train No. 10. south bound. passed
yer the switch some time after tue freight
rain had departed The agent afirms
hat after the last train cleared. he placed
ne light upon tile switch iu its proper
osiuon, and that the switch was then
ropeHy locked Cor the main line. A res
lent OF the vicinity who was walking
long the track and observed the RpDroaq6
! No. 3 siates tina The light on the switch
moved clear. Immediately after he acai-
emf an examination deveiOped the fact
hat TIE switch lamp had been removed
rom ms socket turned around, and fas-
sned by wires 50 that il showed main line
osilion, while the switch was set for M
ding The switch lock was found omen
p the ground short distance from fbe
Nltch stand. The resident before re-
rfeq 70 claims 20 have beard someone
ihhihE from the scene as the train ap-
oacheQ No stone is being left NM
ifheu ~ be company TO locate where
le responsibility rests