The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-20
MANY PASSENGERS
WERE BADLY SCALDED
Mrs. Mary MCGEE of Lowell,
Mass, Was the Most Serious
" Injured, Although Dozen
More Were Taken to the
Hospital For Treatment.

/ Randolph June 90 Twenty passen-
gers were scalded by steam, thirteen Of
them 50 badly that they had TO be TAX
en- to the local sapatorium, when the
north bound night express on the Gen.
tral Vermont railroad side-swiped
freight train, also north bonnd, which
projected from sidetrack on the main
line The track was blocked for hours
to-day
Among those most seriously burned
were the following:
MRS. MARY MCGEE, Lowell, Mass,
scalded about head and chest and in bad
condition
FRED J. HERBERT, Pawtucket. r. l.,
scalded.
MRS. FRED J. HERBERT, Pawtuck-
ct, H l.. seriously burned.
FRED yERGLESToNE, Boston, hands
badly burned.
i A. BEAN, Montpelier.
It is thought that none Of the injured
win die, although it was stated that Of
the thirteen who were taken to the san
atorium, Mrs. MCGEE was in bad shape
Most OF the injured were persons in
transit from points in Massachusetts to
/ Canada, many being mill workers going
to their homes In Canada for visit.
| Engineer Harry Palmer Of the freight
train pulled into Randolph and took.
the siding in order to let the north bound
express pass, and in so doing, he al
lowed his train to extend slightly on
the main line. Seeing the position Of
his train, be made efforts to back onto
the siding, but was unable to do 50
before the express pulled alongside. Tho
two engines rubbed their sides together,
the freight locomotive being badly dam.
aged, but neither being thrown from
the rails. The momentum of the ex-
press train carried the engine and three
cars past the freight locomotive, and
when the express was brought to a
stop, the smoking car of the latter was
resting against the broken freight loco
motive
The occupants of the smoking car
were sleeping at the time Of the col
lsion and they were thrown into con-
sternation by the noise OF the scrap
ing, their fear being heightened when
steam from the disabled freight loeomo-
tive began pouring into their car. Then
there was wild rush for the exits, with
something like panic ensuing. II was
some minutes before all the passengers
got out of the steam-filled car; and
when the accounting was taken, it was
found that twenty of them were suf-
fering from burns. 1t was then decided
to take thirteen to the hospital for
treatment,
IT is somewhat remarkable that neith-
er the locomotives nor any OF the cars
we're derailed. The trucks of one OF
the engines did go of the iron, but not
enough to throw the engine off Tho
accident happened at point near the
local Central Vermont station,
The express train, which left Boston
at 7 80 last night. was 55 minutes late
and was running at high speed to make
up time. Railroad officials are author
ity for the statement that the freight
engineer, after pulling onto the siding,
loosened the brakes when he saw the ex-
press approaching and that bis train
being on slight down grade, gently
slid onto the main line without Pal
mer's knowing it. His frantic efforts
to get back failing, the engines ploughed
together, the steamchests and air tanks
being ripped off, and the air tank Of
the express ploughed the entire length
Of the mail car, which was crushed
against the smoking ear
Immediately everything in the neigh
borhood Of the two locomotives was
smothered in clouds of escaping steam
OF flooded under sealding water When
the occupants of the smoking car en-
ieayored to get out the door could noe
be opened. adding to their terror. Tho
express train consisted of mail ear,
the smoking car, baggage car, FIVE
coaches and two sleeping cars. With
the exception Of one OF the mail clerks.
II the injured were riding in the smok-
ng car.