The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-05-19
LOCAL MAN VICTIM
OF FREIGHT WRECK
Edwin F. Kendall. Killed Near
White River Sunday.
RALPH FAIRMAN ALSO A VICTIM
Two Other Railroad Men Met Death in
Head-on Collision That Took Place on
Central Vermont Single Track Near
Evarts Station-Error in Orders.

Evarts Station-Err0r in Orders.
In one of the worst freight wrecks occur
ring on the Central Vermont railroad IN a
number of years two Windham county
men were instantly killed near White
River Junction Sunday morning, when
Boston Il Maine freight and Central Yer
mont freight met in a head-on collision IN
the fog. Two other trainmen were killed.
A fifth employee received fatal injuries
while at work Sunday with wrecking
crew. An error in issuing orders by
Train Dispatcher Richard Sweeney at
st. Adams is officially given as the cause
of the accident The Windham county
men killed were Edwin +. Kendall OF
Brattleboro and Ralph III. Fairman OF
Vernon. Kendall was Central Vermont
brakeman and Farman was employed
in a like capacity by the Boston d
Maine. The other men killed were
James Nj. Livingstone, a Boston ~ Maine
brakeman Of Greenfield, and II. l. Weber
Of Ware, Mass, Boston X Maine fireman.
James Mckay of Concord, n. H., was the
member of the wrecking crew receiving
fatal injuries. The badly injured were
William T. Pellissier Of Northampton,
Mass, engineer of the Boston Il Maine
locomotive, who received bad cuts upon
the head and whose back and arms were
seriously injured; s. Mcdonald of New
London, Conn, Central Vermont engl-
neer, badly burned and cut about the face
and body; W. G. Wrench of New London,
Central Vermont fireman, who received
injuries to his face and body.
The Central Vermont train was bound
south from White River Junction and had
orders to meet the Boston 4 Maine train
at Evarts, q small station in the town of
| Hartand The b. Il NJ. train was pro-
ceeding north and its orders gave IT a
clear track TO White River junction. The
| collision occurred about 5:l5 a. m. Train
| Dispatcher Sweeney realized his mistake
when the northbound train was reported
passing Evarts. He ordered wreck-trains
| and physicians TO start Immediately.
Within few minutes came the report OF
| the collision. The scene of the accident
| was on a double curve about two miles
south of White River Junction on the
single track road of the Central Vermont.
The, wreckage caught fire and the fire
department from White River Junction
| responded to an alarm. 1t required sew
eral hours of drenching before the bodies
Of the dead men could be removed from
the wreckage.
Traffic was tied up for several hours
and it was nearly II o. clock before Brake
man kendall's body was found under
ear. The tender of the Boston x
Maine engine was thrown bottom up on
top of the Central Vermont locomotive.
The Central Vermont engine, which was
going south, was completely reversed by
the force of the collision. About 80 ears
were derailed and piled into a mass of
tangled iron and splintered timber.
Edwin f. Kendall OF Brattleboro, who
had been employed by the Central YER
mont road at various times during the
past 10 years, was 35 years old. He
leaves wife and four small children rang
ing from seven years to three months in
age He was born in Shirley, Mass, and
was a son Of Edward F. Kendall of Mel
rose Highlands, Mass. His mother died
several years ago. MIR. Kendall spent
his early life in Boston with his parents
and attended the public schools of that
city. He was married 10 years ago to
Miss Maud Gotta, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Il. G.. Gotta Of Brattleboro, and had
made his home in this village most of the |
time since. With his family he lived on
Forest street. Mr.. Kendall had only |
recently recovered from an attack of diph- |
liberia which confined him to the Memorial |
hospital for number of weeks. He had
been at work for the Central Vermont |
road about two and a half months since |
his illness though he had worked for the |
road much of the time since his marriage |
Mr. Kendall S body was brought to Brat
tleboro on the early train Monday and
funeral services were held at Moran S |
funeral parlors Tuesday afternoon.
Ralph H. Fairman of Vernon, the Bos-
ton & Maine brakeman, was about %
years old. He was unmarried and was |
the son of Mr. and Mrs. II. W. Fairman
of Vernon, being born in that town, where
he attended school. He had been en-
ployed on the Boston d Maine road about |
five years and was a member of the Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen, Besides
his parents he leaves sister, Ruth, and a
brother, Raymond His body was taken
to Vernon Monday.
Both Kendall and Fairman were we'll
known among railroad men between
Springfield, Mass and White River June
ton, which was Fairman 5 run and Brat
tleboro and New London, Kendall S run.
Kendall was ordered to run to White
River Junction the day before he was
killed and lay over there, He had planned
to spend Sunday with his family at home