Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-07
IN OUR OWN STATE
Three Killed, 80 Injured in Rail.
road Wreck at vergennes
Gravel Train Dashed into Passenger
Coaches--Alr Brakes Failed to Work.
Some orewsome Reports.

I
coaches-Alr Brakes Failed to Work.
Some crewsome Reports.
Three lives were lost and so or more
people were injured, several seriously, in
an accident on the Rutland railroad near
Vergennes Saturday morning about $40,
when gravel train running down grade
crashed into the mixed train from Rut-
land, hurled two coaches and several
freight cars down an embankment, where
they were destroyed by fire. The Off
cials of the railroad say that an angle
cock on the fifth car of the gravel train
was held open by piece of dirt, making
the air brake defective. There were 3S
passengers In the two passenger cars and
but few escaped unhurt. Among the pas
sengers were % members of the Drury
opera company an organization Of col
ored people, and IL of them were injured.
The entire wreckage caught fiji g and was
soon in flames but the injured were saved
through the heroic efforts of the train
men, the fire department of Vergennes
and other persons from the town, who
hurried to the scene of the accident
The Dead.
Mrs. w. A. Lawrence, 45, OF Bristol,
wife OF Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Of Ad-
Olson county.
Miss Corinna Stowe, 25, Of Bristol,
teacher in the Bristol graded schools.
Mrs. Nellie Barnard, As, Of Bristol
widow.
The Injured.
Miss Rosetta Faux, colorcd, leading
lady Of the Drury opera company, in
ternal injuries; not expected TO recover.
Taken to the Mary Fletcher hospital,
Burlington.
f. w. Savage of Rutland. manager
OF the Rutland opera house, bruised and
Ohah fat oil NIar
cher hospital, Burlington.
e. M. Dixie, assistant principal Of Bris-
tol high school, side crushed and internal
injuries; at Stevens House, Vergennes.
Theodore Drury. colored, manager OF
opera company, ribs broken and other in
turies considered serious; at hospital in
Burlington.
NJ. E. Van Houten, leader Of opera COM
pany band. hip dislocated; at hospital in
Burlington
Oscar Jenkins, colored. leg and foot
severely bruised; at Burlington hospital;
member Of opera company.
Richard II. Brooks, colored, member OF
opera company, leg crushed; at Burling-
ton hospital.
Roger Latterell of Bristol, severe burns
about the head and shoulders; taken to
hospital in Burlington.
Edna SimplSins. colored, member Of
opera company. broken collar bone and
gennes.
William Simpson Of Waterbury, right
leg broken; at Stevens House, Vergennes.
Mrs. William Simpson Of Waterbury,
severe body bruises; at Stevens House,
Vergennes.
w. w. Ryder. attorney, OF Bristol, Sc
riously burned about the head; removed
to his home.
Among those less seriously injured than
the foregoing but suffering from cuts and
bruises, are Harry Haynes, Harry Jack
son. Mrs. Anna Green, Mrs. Catherine
Johnson, William Richie and the latter's
wife. Mrs. Carrie Richie, all OF whom are
members OF the Drury opera company.
Three young women who are members OF
the opera company are at hotel in YER
gennes. suffering from bruises, but their
condition is not regarded as serious. They
are Carrie Francis, Daisy Allen and Annie
Queen. colored, OF New York city
The women killed were all in the front
car OF the train. When the bodies were
recovered from beneath fragments OF the
car. they were so charred as to be almost
unrecognizable. The wreckaRe was en-
tirely consumed. Those injured were
taken to a nearby farmhouse and to a
hotel in the village. Later in the day a
number OF those hurt were taken to Bur
lington on a special train. All the train
hands escaped injury.
A mixed train from Rutland due at Ver-
genneS at n. m. was taking to the sid
ing at the Vergennes station in order to
allow a south bound mail train TO pass
A heavy gravel train was following the
mixed train. With n terrific crash the
locomotive Of the gravel train struck the
mixed train which was composed Of two
passenger cars and n caboose. The
caboose was smashed and the passenger
cars were hurled on end then toppled
over the edge OF a 50-foot embankment
.Nal.
a small brook. The cars did not fall the
entire distance. however. remaining on
their sides on the slope. This position
made the work OF rescue very difficult
Almost Immediately the wrecked cars
caught fire and several OF the passengers
with difficulty escaped from the flames
The local fire department responded. but
as the station is three quarters OF a mile
from the village and there Is only one
hydrant near the scene OF the wreck.
their work was greatly delayed and ham
pered. The firemen and persons living
nearby made every effort to assist the
passengers, and those most seriously hurt
were taken to the home of d. G. Nets.
farmer, living just across a field from
the station. The less severely injured
were taken to the Stevens House I'm the
village.
The Burlington News Monday contained
the following in a despatch from Yer
gennes: THE finding Of womans right
hand proves conclusively that others than
the known dead were cremated in the
disaster. because It was the left hand of
Mrs. w. A Lawrence. bearing her we'd
ding and other rings, that was burned OF.
The discovery OF the right hand, together
with the admitted discovery Of the foot
OF an infant child. seems to confirm the
report that a woman and child were ere
mated before the eyes OF the onlookers.
AT this writing no one has the slightest
mixing as to who the woman and child
were. 1t is the opinion of those in this
city who are conversant with the details
OF the horror, that when the entire count
OF the dead is made the number of those
who were burned to cinders in the two
cars will approach nearer ~ than what Is
now figured on"
George w. Murray Of Rutland. engineer
OF the gravel train, was arrested Tuesday