The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-16
Rescue Work Brings
Out Many HOrri-
bic Details.
Operators MiSunder-
standing of Orders
Cause of Wreck.

CONCORD, n. H, Sept. 16.-Ten
bodies, some only CHASTITY frag-
nents that may not be properly
assembled. await Identification here
today, and with the twenty-five
identified dead. bring the list of
ia -alities in yesterdays West
Canaan railroad wreck up to thirty
two. The injured, divided between
hospitals here and at Boston, num-
Der fifty. This probably viii com
plete the roll of victims of New
England's most disastrous railroad
wreck in years.
While the legal department of the
Boston and Maine railroad has is
sued a statement attributing the
collision to an error in sending or
reading train orders, al inyestiga-
ton was set on foot .oday 10 de-
termine where the mistake was
made.
Train Reported Late.
The conductor OF the wrecked pas
senEer train believed that the fast
freight coming IN the opposite uirsotion
on the same track was an hour and ten
minutes late. and that II would be well
out OF his way IN the neighborhood OF
West Canaan.
Instead, when the express from Que
bee TO sherbrooks rounded a curve ia
the fog of the early morning, the en-
zineer saw the freight approaching az
fun speed and so close that even though
both engineers reversed their levers and
applied the brakes. the locomotives met
at undiminlshed speed.
J Relatives and friends who expect to
/ find their loved ones among the uniden-
titled dead continued 10 arrive here to-
day. Since yesterday morning the
morgue has presented heart-rendering
scene as one mangled body after another
/ found a claimant.
Many Erroneous Reports.
/ From the morgue the crowd went back
and forth to the station. awaiting the
arrival OF more trains. some Of which
/ brought the survivors OF the wreck. IN
I the confusion which reigned yesterday
/ many were enormously reported dead
/ and several joyful reunions occurred on
/ tie station platform.
/ The brother and friends II Grattan
c. Sheridan, OF Lowell. who Was at frs
reported killed, failed TO find him in the
morgue, and shortly afterward met him
as he came in on train. only slightly
l injured.
Waited for News.
In the office of the train dispatcher
OF the Concord division men awaited
news Of the wreck. which they knew
was bound to come. Before word was
received that the two fast trains had
crashed together the operators had hur-
ried orders for wrecking crew. They
[ realized the mistake either in sending
tor receiving the orders, and made
! preparations for the worst.
] Another frightfully mangled body
/ from the West Canasn wreck was iden-
tined today. The victim is Leon Cady,
! Of West Lebanon, \. H.
Operators Summoned.
/ Night Operator James A. Browley. of
the local train dispatcher's office. was
summoned before Superintendent Ray
and the officials OF the Boston and
Maine railroad today as the first wit
ness in the investigation begun by the
State Railroad Commissioners are ex-
pected today for the official State in
List of Injured.
The following revised list of injured
was given out by the hospital author
tiles today:
Mrs. Rose Roger. Manchester. n. H.
/ Mrs Isabella. Moran. Nashau, \. II.
Ivon Noyes. Of North Pomenfret. Vt.
Frederick H. ST. Pierre Isle Verte,
Mrs Ella vindor. Lisbon. N. H.
E. A Batchelder. West Somerville.
Philip Gagnon, sehrbrooke. quebec.
John Barrett, Manchester, n. H.
John r. Ryan. White River Junction,
Mr. and Mrs. 4. Jaues, Milbury. Mass.
| Mrs. c. A. Dewey, Manchester, n. n.
William Cunningham, Hamilton. Mass.
Fast Speed at Crash.
The express was speeding along at
fifty miles an hour when the engineer,
John E Hallihan, saw the fash Of a
headlight ahead OF his locomotive. He
sppned the brakes, but there was not
the slightest chance to avert the crash.
The freight engineers B. Surtieff. also
put on brakes. Then 10Th engine crews
leaped and escaped injury.
In an instant the crash came Tbs
engines, one on the excursion and two
on the freight. we're. tangled together
and destroyed. The baggage car was
driven backward through the day coach
Continued On Second PsEe.l-