The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-16


was injured few escaped but those
VINO were In the sleeping car in the rear
were saved from death by the more
sturdy qualities of their car
The accident occurred at 5.94 M
Just as the dawn was showing in the
east The moment after it haDpened
train hands who had escaped injury
and passengers in the sleeping car
We're looking upon one of the worst
wrecks ever seen in New Hampshire
The locomotives lay in a tangled pile
The baggage car, partly derailed. was
held nearly upright by the wreckage
of the demolished day coach. one side
of which had been completely ripped
off, while the remainder was ground
to splinters by the force of the shock.
A smoker behind the day coach stood
on the rails with ends demolished and
windows broken. The sleeper was
practically undamaged.
Under the Wreckage.
In the debris of the passenger coach
lay more dead and injured than could
be estimated at the moment At once
those who had escaped harm saw their
task The cries and means of the in
jured prompted speedy action. Out
from under broken beams and splint-
cred joistS, bleeding forms were
dragged and laid on broken backs of
seats or blankets from the sleeping
car. Wounds were hastily bound up
with torn sheets from the berths and
provided was given. An hour elapsed
before physicians could be brought
from Hanover, White River Junction
and Canaan.
The dead were placed beside the
track to await more satisfactory dis
position.
As the sun arose the full horror of
the disaster became apparent. Along
the side of the track lay the dead yet
uncovered. A little further off were
the living. some stretched on the
ground with relatives, friends or
strangers binding their wounds and
encouraging them. There were COM
parativeiy few in that crowd or
rescuers who did not show some
wound from the disaster.
The accident was not without It's
heroes, and one of these was Frank
Ryan, a brakeman on the express.
Ryan was caught in the wreck and had
an artery severed. He was unconscious
for nearly Is minutes and when he re-
gained his senses his first thought was
of the Montreal express, which he knew
was laundering down on the wreck. In
a few words Ryan told of the approach
ing danger and the Montreal express
was stopped only quarter of a mile
from the rear of the wrecked train.
The passengers on the Montreal express
also assisted in the work of rescue and
West Canaan farmers, who aided was
Benjamin Briggs, who was one of the
first at the scene. and two hours later
he drew out the body Of a woman On
turning up the face Mr.. Briggs looked
into the features of his mother and al
most collapsed from grief. Mrs. Briggs
had been visiting friends in the north
and was on her way to Boston.
Story of Passenger.
One of the passengers who was in the
smoking car to the rear of the Inflated
passenger coach. described the accident
as follows:
IT had one of the seats in the middle
Of the car when the train left White
River Junction, and like every one else,
was doing, when some one woke up
and began to sing. This aroused nearly
every one else in the car and some of
the men decided to go back to the next
car for a smoke. I Joined the little pro-
cession. My companion in the seat
stayed and was killed. We had scarce
y taken our seats in the smoker when |
he brakes were suddenly set and we
we're thrown out of our seats. The next
minute there was a crash and 1 found |
myself on the floor covered with glass
rom the windows. but unhurt. We
,rawled out from under the seats and |
stumbled out of the rear door. The |
,ront one was completely blocked by |
he end of the passenger coach. Every |
)ne seemed dazed for what seemed five
minutes. 1t was probably only a few |
seconds. There was not a sound. Then
We heard groans, means and finally |
,hrieks from the front of the train and |
forward we saw the wreck of |
he passenger car. 1t was just light |
enough to see a little, but 1t made one
sick to see that much. Every one then |
began to work hard, and it seemed |
hours before help came"
AS soon as possible after the collision |
wo of the passenger trainmen who had |
escaped were sent to Canaan, the near
st station, for help, while others
fought nearby cottages and farm houses
or assistance. In the western New |
mountains doctors are few |
md an hour went by before the first |
physician arrived.
A hospital train was dispatched from |
lere within a few minutes after news |
# the accident was received and by ) |
o'clock the first of the most seriously
injured had reached here. Seven were |
Lfterward sent to Hanover to avoid |
the local hospitals.
began to assemble and by |
he middle of the forenoon wrecking
rains were sent from White River
junction and Concord and put to work
md the track was cleared early in the
fternoon, although 10 of the 80 freight
ars which had comprised that train
we're derailed, and the track was torn
Ip for a quarter of a mile BY noon
he work of rescue had been completed
nd 1t became known that the number
Eere taken by train to Concord and two
noval, II had been identified.