Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-09-27
BIG FREIGHT WRECK.
Train Drawn by New Moeul Ran into
Rear of Standing Train.

1CdF VI Stoh1b9
A rear-end collision occurred on the
Central Vermont railway IN the lodges
one mile north of Bethel village at 1880
o'clock Sunday morning. The forward
train was running extra with engine No.
800. NJ. Domey, engineer, and A. +. Spauld-
ing, conductor. The engine on the rear
train was No. All, one of the new moguls,
and was making its fourth trip. Z. p.
Kelley was the engineer of the rear train,
and j. G. Harvey, the conductor. The
forward train had been obliged to stop on
account of broken eccentric bolt, and
Engineer D1mey was under bis engine
trying to make repairs when the crash
came. Mr.. Domey heard the clicking
noise of the cars coming together and,
with rare presence OF mind, grasped a rod
and was dragged several cars length hold
ing onto this rod, but escaped without
any serious injury. In the cab OF No. Az
train were the engineer, fireman and for
ward brakeman. The engineer applied
the ai-brakes and all hands jumped.
The river is but a few feet from the
track on the side from which Engineer
Kelley jumped, and he brought up in its
waters. No one was hurt at all. Six cars
were practically ruined, the roadbed was
turned up for several rods and engine Az
was considerably damaged, going down
an embankment and landing on its side.
Wreck trains were sent from ST. Adams
and White River Junction. The track
was cleared at.11 O'Clock and the north
bound express from Boston and New
York came through on schedule. The
New England States limited express south
bound was sent over the Montpelier and
Wells River railroad, also train of nine
cars filled with Massachusetts, Odd Fell
lows returning from a convention in
Toronto. The passengers took the delay
in holiday spirit and posed for group
photographs. The injured engines and
cars were taken to st. Adams.
Responsibility for the accident rests
somewhere between the rear brakeman Of
the first train, who may not have tagged
the coming train at the proper distance;
the engineer OF the second train, who may
not have seen the signals, or have stopped
soon enough; and the brakes of the second
train, which may not have worked right.
There have been great many train acct
dents and collisions betW Bethel and
Randolph and about half a dozen can be
readily recalled. Old residents will re-
member head-on collision that occurred
in practically the same situation as the ac-
cidsnt of last Sunday. II was about 1867
when the late Charles c. Stearns was sta
tion agent at Bethel. The trains that met
were the northbound mail in the after
noon and a southbound freight. Capt
the conductor was new man not familiar
with the route, One Webster was engi-
neer OF the freight. The mail had orders
TO let freight pass at Bethel station.
There was then freight train in Bethel
yard that was supposed by the conductor
to be the train intended, whereas that
train had been previously disposed OF by
order and the train meant was then on its
way from Randolph.
As the story is told. the mail pulled out
of Bethel and when Mr.. Stearns saw what
they we're doing he tried to stop them but
was unable. Milo Goss, an old railroad
man, was living where his son, Bert Goss,
now lives, just across the river from the
railroad. At about the same time be heard
the freight whistle at Eindley bridge
crossing and the mail whistle out OF Bethel
village. lie knew that meant trouble and
he hastened out and tried to attract the
attention Of the engineers but was unable,
and the trains met. The express messen-
ger was instantly killed, his brains being
spilled out on the ground, and Engineer
Webster was severely scalded. He was
removed to the old Bethel House then
kept by Samuel Archer NOV known as
the Bethel TAVERN and there soon died.