The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-09-17

CRUSHED OUT
WE'RE THE LIVES OF
TWENTY-FIVE
French Canadians Re-
turning From Reunion.
Many Others Seriously
lnjured-Wreck Took
Fire, But Survivors
Worked HeroicalIy to
Save Lives.

persons were killed and about thirty
others were more or less seriously In
jured in wreck on the Boston and
Maine railroad at West Canaan, 60
miles north OF here, at 4:26 o'clock
this morning. II was head-on COLI
sion between a freight and a passen-
ger train, the latter being bound from
Quebec for Boston. The cause OF the
accident, according to statement CIV
en- out by the railroad officials here,
was the misunderstanding OF orders
sent to the crew of the freight. An
original order had been issued giving
this freight clear right OF way north
out Of Canaan, but this order was res
cinded by second one which called
for the freight taking a siding at
Canaan and allowing the passenger
train the right Of way. In some un.
explainable manner the orders were
confused, the freight crew getting the
first one and going on through Canaan
while the passenger train got a cleae
ance from White River Junction, on
the north. The two trains came to-
gether in a dense fog. So thick was
the fog that the engine crews OF both
trains say they didn't get sight OF each
other until they we're only 200 feet
apart. Both engine crews escaped by
jhmping. Both trains were going at
high speed, the freight on down
grade OF 80 feet 10 the mile. The i'm.
pact was terrific. The engine OF the
passenger train telescoped the bag
gage car, day coach and part OF
smoking car arranged behind II in this
order. The engine and six cars OF the
freight were piled In a heap. The
greatest loss OF life occurred In the
day coach Of the passenger train, the
coach being right behind the baggage
car. The occupants OF this coach we're
for the most part lot OF French Can
adams bound for Manchester, Nashua
and Lowell to work in the mills OF
those places.
HELP SENT.
As soon as word OF the wreck reach
ed this place, two wrecking trains
were made up and hurried to the
scene. On them were sent all the doc.
tors and nurses available In this city
at the time. The accident occurred
in n sparsely settled section and there
were no places TO care for the Injured.
With the arrival OF the wrecking
trains. q lot OF them were hurried to
this city.
The French Canadians killed and In
,ured in the wreck nearly all came
from towns in New Hampshire ano
Massachusetts. They had been up 10
the Sherbrooke fair In Northern Yer
mont, and were returning on the last
day that their tickets we're good. Two
coaches filled with these people had
been added on TO the regular train
from Quebec. These French Canad-
ians all come originally from around
Sherbrooke and vicinity, and the fair
each year is the occasion for family re-
unions. The occupants Of a combina-
ton smoking car and OF a sleeping car
on the rear OF the train escaped with
only O shaking up. Those In the first
coach behind the baggage car were
all killed. This car crumpled up like
paper when telescoped by the bag
gege car and engines, and escape of
the occupants was impossible. Those
on the train that escaped injury and
many and those slightly hurt pitched
In and worked hard In doing all they
could for the injured that were pinned
In the wreck. A fire that started in.
the wreckage was quickly put out,
and men and even women worked he-
roically in chopping and tearing at the
wreckage In an effort TO release the
injured pinned In the debris.
Doctors and residents OF Canaan,
White River Junction, Hanover and
other towns In the vicinity and the
farmers from the adjacent territory
made for the scene OF the wreck in all
sorts OF conveyances as soon as they
learned OF the accident. They did
good work and had things In fair
shape when the specials from this city
arrived. Fortunately another pas
senger train from Quebec wasn't far
behind the wrecked one. This train,
No. "a, left White River Junction at
a few minutes after o'clock with
doctors and others anxious to aid the
injured. The track between the scene
Of the wreck and the junction was
kept clear and the second passenger
train was thus able to bring the
badly wounded back to White. River
Junction and then on to the hospital
at Hanover. The dead were all re-
moved to Concord. Many of the
bodies were in such condition that
is difficult II not impos-
sible. II will probably be some days |
before all are identified, and then
that will be done through clothing
md little trinkets and papers
On the bodies. The wrecked passen-
ger train left whito River Junction at
B: 55 O'Clock in the morning, She was
'orty-hve minutes late. Her being be- |
bind time 10 responsible for the shift !
ing of the orders. The freight was
mi.