The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-24
FATAL RAILROAD
ACCIDENT RIBS
MORNING
William W. Hopkins Of This
Town Died from Injuries
WRECK NEAR RBAlNARD, N. Y.
Brake Shoe Fell of Derailing Three
Cars and Caboose--M. C. Dryer
Injured

Brakeman William W. Hopkins of
Scott steet was fatally injured and
Conductor Matthew c. Dwyer of Rut-
land was seriously hurt in a freight
wreck near Brainard, n. Y, at 1890
O'Clock this morning. The wrecked
train, No. 2062, left this town last
night at 1880 as an extra in charge of
! Conductor Dwyer and Engineer Guy
Fletcher of Rutland. On the return
| trip near Brainard, a station ten
miles this side of Chatham, the train
was derailed by the dropping of a
brake shoe The last five cars and
caboose broke away from the engine
and tumbled down rs foot embank
ment.
The train had just crossed a long
trestle and was travelling about -
miles an hour. The broken shoe fell
from the third car derailing those be-
hind it. There is a steep embank-
ment at the place and wnen the ca
boose and cars went over they were
badly smashed The locomotive and
the rest of the train remained on the
track. In the engine were Engineer
Guy Fletcher of Rutland, Fireman
James Mitchell and Brakeman Hugh
h. Chase of this town. No one in this
section of the train was injured.
Both Conductor Dryer and Brake
man Hopkins were riding in the ca
boose when the accident happened.
AT first IL was not known how badly
hurt Hopkins was and it was thought
that his injuries would not prove
fatal. He died, however, shortly af-
ter o'clock from internal injuries.
The headquarters of the road at
Rutland were soon notified by wire
and wrecking train left that city
about 3 o'clock, reaching here at $50.
S. r. Kramer, trainmaster. and other
officials besides the crew were on
board. The train left Immediately
for the scene of the wreck.
To G. +. Roberts, the local ticket
agent anu VITvraUUr zen tI.v I..4y &c
notifying Mrs. Hopkins of her hus-
bands death. He learned of the acct
dent by telephone shortly before o.
clock and went at once to break the
news to Mrs. Hopkins. She became
nysterical and it was with difficulty
that she was restrained from injuring
Roberts.
Mr. Hopkins was born near SYRIA
cuse, n. Y. SO years ago. Besides
his wife he leaves his father who
lives in Dewitt, n. Y, and brothers.
He was a man of friendly disposition
and was favorite among his associ-
ates. His sad and untimely death is
mourned by all his acquaintance.
Before coming to this town he was
employed as an engineer on the main
lih> of the New York Central rail
road in western New York He came
nere about two years and a half ago
and acted as engineer on the engine
used in the construction of the North
Adams trolley road. Later he was
employed by Col Olin Scott in the
Bennington Machine works. About
three months ago he accepted a posi-
ton as brakeman on the Chatham di-
vision and was employed on extra
freights.
The engineer and the members of
the wrecked train who were not in
iuried arrived in this town shortly
before seven o'clock.
The extent OF Conductors DIVERS
injuries are not definitely known at
presentHe is badly bruised and may
be suffering from internal injuries.
The regular mail train due here at
1925 is not expected to arrive before
O'Clock this afternoon. This train
VIII bring the remains of Brakeman
Hopkins to this twon. 1t is also
thought that Mr.. Dwyer will arrive on
that train is possible. After the
wreck he was taken to nearby hotel
and treated by a physician.
No arrangements have yet been
made for the funeral of Mr. Hopkins,
but it will probably be neld Monday
For the benefit of his widow sub
scription is being raised among the
employees of the railroad and friends
of the deceased
| This is said to be the first. fatal ac-
cident which has occurred on the
Chatham division. since it was CON
structed in 1867. Considering its
curves this record seems remarkable.
1t was rumored about town today
that the cause of the accident was
the spreading of the rails. This
rumor does not seem plausible as
new ties and rails were laid in that
| section about q year ago.