The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-09-17
Is DEAD N WRECK
Express and Freight Train Col
Tide Near Canaan. VI.
81 OTHERS WERE INJURED
Confusion Of Orders Caused Fearful
+tsd-on Crash On Boston & Maine
Railroad. Killing and wounains Ex.
cursionists.

White River Junction. VI. Sept u.
A fearful head-on collision between
the southbOund Quebec express and 4
northbound freight train on the Con-
ord division OF the Boston 4 Maine
railroad occurred four miles north OF
Canaan station. due 10 a mistake in
train dispatchers' orders. and from a
demolished passenger coach there were
taken O6t p dead and - other passcn-
gers. most Of them seriously wounded.
Nearly all those who were in the death
,ar were returning from a fair at Sher-
brooke. Quebec
The conductor of the freight train
vas given TO understand that he had
plenty Of time TO reach a siding BY
the night operator AZ Canaan station.
receiving. according 20 the superinten-
dent Of the division. a copy Of tele-
graph order from the train dispatcher
IT Concord. which confused the train
numbers 80 and "a
The wreck occurred on long grade.
Both engineers set their brakes aud
then jumped. while the two great lo,o-
motives crashed into each otner. and.
locked In firm embrace. rolled into
the ditch.
The baggage car in the rear was
hurled back into the passenger coach
like a great ram. and tore il asunder
from end 70 end As Il did so the rear
end Of the car rose M so that when II
stopped at the forward and OF the
smoker. which was behind the passen-
ger coach. Only few windows were
broken In the smoking car. and none
Of the Pullmans was damaged
But the Inflated passenger coach was
crowded with more than 50 people.
Shortly before the accident a few Of
the men had eone back into the smok-
ing car in the rear leaving the women
TO get n little sleep in the straight
seats. Those who were I'm the other
cars recovered their dazed senses.
Jumped ont 10 the side OF the track
and hurried 10 the demolished passen-
ger coach. where groans. cries and
shrleks were rending the air.
Fortunately. with the engines on %
one side. the wrecksge did not take
FIRE and add further horror TO the al
ready dreadful scene. The train hands.
ably seconded by the passen -. crop
cd their way among the ruins and be-
gan the work of rescue. The bodies
Of the dead were laid beside the track
quickly. while the rescuers turned their
attention 20 those who needed aid.
Great beams were lifted. broken joists
we're thrown aside. and the bleeding
and manElcd forms were dragged ont
and laid on the backs OF broken seats
Or upon blankets from the sleeping
'ars. Wounds We're hastily bound IN
and cuts staunched by strips Of bed
ling from the slcepcrs.
The accident was not without its
heroes. and one OF these was Frank
Ryan. a brakeman on the express.
Ryan was caught in the wreck and had
IN artery severed. He was uncou-
'cious for nearly Il minutes. and when
he regaincd his senses his first thought
vas OF the Montreal express. which he
knew was numbering down on the
wreck with no brakeman in the rear
20 wave n warning signal In "A few
words Ryan told OF the approaching
LANCER. and the Montreal express was
topped only a quarter OF a mile from
he rear Of the wrecked train.
Among the West Canaan farmers
Who aided was benjamin Briggs. who
vas one of tho first at the scene. and
wo hours later he drew out the body
II woman. On turning up the face |
dr. briggs looked into the features Of /
his mother. and almost collapsed from
'rief. Mrs. Briggs had been visiting
friends in the north, and was or her
way TO Boston.