The Washington herald., 1907-09-16

Concord. n H., Sept 15.-Twenty-fve
persons We're killed and about thirty
others We're more or less seriously in
jured in wreck on the Boston and Maine
Railroad al West Canaan six miles north
OF here, at 4:26 o'clock this morning. IL
was head-on collision between a freight
and passenger train. the latter being
bound from Quebec for Boston
The cause of the accident, according
10 statement given out by the railroad
officials here, was the misunderstanding
Of orders sent to the crew Of the freight
An original order had been issued to the
freight giving it a clear right of way
north out Of Canaan, but this order was
rescinded by a second one which called
for the freight taking a siding at Canaan
and allowing the passenger train the right
of way.
IN some unexplained manner the orders
were confused, the freight crew getting
The first one, and going on through
Canaan. while the passenger train got
E clearance from White River Junction.
VI. on the north
Crash I'm Dense Fog.
The two trains came together 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
were only 800 feet apart. Both engine
crews escaped by jumping the engineer
OF the passenger train spraining his
ankle
Both trains were going AT high speed
Inc freight on a down grade Of fifty feet
TO the mile. The impact was terrible
The engine of the passenger train teIe-
seoped the baggage car. day coach. and
part OF q smoking car. The engine and
SIX cars OF the freight were piled in q
heap.
The greatest loss OF life occurred in the |
coach OF the passenger train. the coach 4
being right behind the baggage car. As /
soon AS word Of the wreck reached this /
CITY two vrecifng trains were made IN I
and hurried 10 the scene On them were /
sent all the doctors and nurses available
The accident occurred in a sparselv set
tied section, and there were no places for
the injured. With the arrival Of the
wrecking trains, a lot Of them were hur-
Tied 10 this city. The more seriously in
jured were taken to the hospital at Han
over.
Returning from Fair.
The French Canadians killed and in /
jured in the wreck nearly all came from
towns in New Hampshire and Massacbr- 4
setts. They had been up to the Sher-
brooke Fair in Northern Vermont and 4
were returning on the last day that their
tickets were good. Two coaches filed |
with them had been added to the ree,1- /
lar train from Quebec. These French I
Canadians came originally from Sher- /
brooke and vicinity, and the fair each /
year IS the occasion for family reunions /
The occupants OF a combination smoking /
car and a sleeping car on the rear of /
the train escaped with only "A shaking ND
Those In the first coach behind the bag
gage car were all killed.
This car crumpled Ike paper when teIe- 1
scoped by the baggage car and engine. 1
and escape for the occupants was impos- |
slble.
The railroad officials gave out a long
statement to explain the accident and an
nounced that a rigid investigation would |
be made, in the hope OF fixing the blame.
Those on the train that escaped injury
at all. and many OF those slightly hurt.
pitched in and worked hard in doing all
that they could for the injured that were
pinned in the wreck. A fire that started
In the Wreckage was quickly put out.
Ii chopping and tearing az the wreckage
in an effort 10 release the injured pinned
in the debris.
Hasten TO Aid of Injured.
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 passenger
train from Quebec was not far behind /
the wrecked one This train. No. "a left Il
White River Junction at "A few minutes
after 3 o'clock with doctors and others
anxious 10 aid the injured
The track between the scene of the
wreck and the junction was kept clear.
and the second passenger train was able
TO bring the badly injured 10 White River
Junction and to the hospital at Hanover. /
The dead were removed TO Concord II
will probably be some days before all are
Identified
The wrecked passenger train left White
River Junction at 3;45 o'clock I'm the morn
ing. II was fOrty-five minutes late. which
was responsible for the shifting of the
orders. The freight was on time The
collision occurred on a stretch of, straight
track. Had the morning been clear. the
engine crews would have seen each other.
and very likely the wreck would have II
been averted.
The wreck tied up the railroad COM |,
pletely for almost the entire day. II was !
o'clock in the afternoon before the track I
was cleared sufficiently TO permit of a
train passing.
Never Too Old To Learn.
Butler. Pa, Sept. 15.-Abner James. aged