Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
BRAKEMAN KILLED
IN FREIGHT WRECK
Tracks of Central Vermont near
Randolph Blocked for Near
ly Twelve Hours.
SEVEN CARS KINDLING WOOD
Theory That Train 401 Was Los
ing Time while No. 81 Was
Gaining and Caught
Up Easily.
SEVEN CARS KINDLING WOOD

st. Adams. Jan. IA disastrous
wreck of two freight trains occurred
on the line Of the Central Vermont
railway near Fords crossing. two and
one-half miles north OF Randolph. at
I :O7 this morning when one life was
snufed out that Of Enoch l.. White or
St Adams. brakeman. who was burn
cd to death, while one train was al
most completely telescoped.
The accident was a rear-end coll
llision to train 81. the fast north
bound freight train from New York,
hauled by Grand Trunk engine No.
70S, in charge Of Engineer D. A. Mac
Donald and Conductor W. L. Wright,
both of this city. This train running
at a high rate of speed. crashed into
the rear end of extra freight No. 40i.
hauled by engine 401. and in charge
of Engineer pinkston and Conductor
l.. o. Gibbons. which Rad left Randolph
nine minutes ahead Of No. 81 and was
said to be proceeding at Is miles per
hour 1t is evident that the engineer
of the fast train never even saw the
tail lights of the train ahead. for he
rammed into IL at top speed and In
an instant, both trains were piled up
engine 7oS plowing It's mighty way
through the freight cars ahead. split.
ting them apart and tossing their
aside In the ditch. where she finally
landed herself; fire almost instantly
added to the calamity. the caboose ir
which White was riding catching
from engine 10S. and with the two car.
preceding 1t. being totally destroyed.
WRECKING TRAIN DELAYED.
News Of the wreck was hurried TO head
quarters, and the wrecking train and crew
from White River was rushed to tn,
scene. Owing to the poor and inadequate
equipment from that point. with chains
and ropes continually breaking. but littl
could be done toward clearing away tn
wreck. The headquarters wrecking trail
and crew were a Cambridge where 1
had been sent to get a car OF coal ba Il
on the track. and Ter some unexplaine
reason this equipment. so badly needr'
at the wreck, was still at Essex juno
, ton a. SEQ q. m. while both passenge
and freight trains were waiting in con
gested mass OIL either side of the wreck
The northbound Bost ton Montreal sleepe
was behind the wreck. at Randolph sta
'cn for yearly IL hours. while the south
bound Montreal Boston sleeper was tie
nm al Roxbury for a similar period. TIL
, track was finally cleared at 1880 O'clock
aud the untanglng and re-openng of IN
main line, which had been tied up 70
nearly II hours. was commenced. Tra
No. |, due in this city at sos a. III. ar
rived ~ 40 p. m, being nearly "out
lnwed." as a train is chara cterized whic
. loses u hours.
The fault for the accident. IL there b
any that humans could prevent. will b
hard 10 fix. for seemingly there il no on
= to blame. Train extra %01, with 4 cars
70 l6 Of which were loaded. pulled out O
Randolph at 1850 o'clock and was dom
! the best she could TO get over the lin
\ ana up the hill with a big load on a biz
n ter cold morning. when it's difficult I
make engines steam.
TRAIN BEHIND THE FASTER.
Train 81 from White River juno iol
a fast train of through freight with n
local stops TO make. came. hustling alon
TO Randolph a. one o'clock. about
minutes behind its predecessor Of heavis
load ard lesser speed. and withou, stor
ping kept on north. II Is the theory the
train i0l was not steaming we'll and los
' time. while the ms was gaining very fas
U and the crash followed. Seven cars M
said TO be completely destroyed Will
= In tram +l all drawbars were broke
l. ami the cars telescoped,
Enoch l.. White. the brakeman, wh
was killed on the 401. was riding
, the cnboosc. His few scattered re
mains are burned beyond recognition
being found IN the ruins OF his ca
White, who entered the employ OF ii
road December |. had recently bee
: farming in Georgia. but had befol
@ been In the railroad service. lie wa
e 80 years old. and Is survived by vii
n and two young children. Mrs Whit
: is in a delicate condition. White RI
" Gently moved to this city, buying
IS house at 1871 South Main street. II
y remains arrived this evening
= An investigation into the accidel
i has been started by the railroad off
Z cials.