Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-08
C0ND. RUSSELL ADMITS FAULT
Supt. Mcdonald Says Inexcusable
==-Her0iC Work of Doctors and
Others to Save Victims.

Of the wrecked cars. Eight of those
of the extra train mounted the engines
and We're piled either beyond or on
top of them. But few Of the % cars
in the regular freight We're damaged
and none of them left the rails. The
engines did not leave the tracks They
We're practically demolished. 1t was
expected the traffic might be resumed
by noon. Meantime passengers ana
mails were transferred around the
Wreckage.
Fireman Freeman was taken to the
Maine General hospital at Portland. 1t
was found that the injuries to the two
brakemen did not nccesSitatc their go-
ing to Il hospital.
While the regular under full head Of
steam had started up the grade into
Monmouth ana was making good speed
the special came rushing down hill ana
The first either of the engineers knew of
tine others whereabouts the headlight
of an on-ruSning locomotive was flash
ed INTO his eyes rs he rounded a curve.
1hGr" was one brief second of dazeI
| surprise End then came the terrific i'm
pact Into The brief instant. however
was crowded an example Of Il quick
an unSciHsh herOiSm. With the flash
! ing of the bright light of the special
| into his tr-cS and as his hands worked
with swift instinct at the levers. Flctch
| or':' first thought was Of his cab-mlt,.
| Jump. Charley" he cried
| Freeman obcyCi on the instant ana.
| although n" GneS not understand how.
| he cleared the engine before the trains
| ilct Immediately behind the engine of
| nc regular train WAS Il car loaded with
| Lumber. Freeman had scarcely landed
| in MS S0nrraHJilt through SPACE before
! tie lu.rh"" Of TIL; ear came rafting
about hlm. buryirg him deep beneath
| the debris. Stunnt d for q moment but
siurrcd IN by the cxcruriatia-, pain If
| the depressing, pl,inks and the steam.
which he'd already begun to penetrate
to him from his wrecked engine. ne
worked frnnticaIly to save himself from
| being Scaldrd to death. one arm was
| crushed ana managed the entire length
i,ut with the strength Of desperation
| he worked himself clear and rolled out
| Of til" way of the torturing steam.
| Doctors say that while he must lose
| his arm fnr tie entire length he viii
probably survive.
tn first medical assistance to ar
ny" WAS from the ncighJoring ;"wn
Of Monmouth. one Of the hrakencn
| who escan-d after Il quick review ~
| tn" situation. ran along the track -
the toxin and fastening to the house
| of Or. u NJ Blake aroused him from
| led. Dr.. Randlcttc of the same town
was also aroused and the physicians
| with the brakeman found n hardcar at
| the vila@" station and pumping this to
| is top speed. raced back for the rescue
| work. An ambulance train was rush
| cd from Portland with "ar doctor as
| Sn0I. as word of tn" extent of the acct
dent was learned ANA u wrco king tr ,in
| with three physicians was DISPATCHED
| from Wat"rvillc.
| In the inlrsrrihlbl" confusion Of the
piled up Hr-, kaGe. deep beneath which
' W"i" the Imprisoned mon. the work Of
| rescue proceeded slowly.
| Fireman Hodges Of the special was
wcdged 50 tightly between The engine
and the tender that it was imposSihl1
to remove him. Ii vas honrl that his
wounds had rendered him unconscious
at tn" first impact. for the live Goals Of
his machine slowly roasted his head to
a crisp.
Engineer Hartman was also pinned
| down where it was hard to reach him.
He bore his sufferings with great for
titud" but after lingering for four
| hours he died.
| Al of the bodies We're brought to
| Lewiston and will be forwarded 10
Portland. Coroner Henry Plummcr of
| Augusta arrived during the day and
began an investigation.
| brakeman Lowe was % years old
married and had one daughter in this
city. He was the son of Fred Lowe of
| North Paris.