The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-04
On Williamstown Branch
Track, Undermined by
Heavy Rainfall
FIREMAN SCALDED
BY ESCAPING STEAM
Fortunately the Derailed
Train Fell Away from
Steep Embankment

Train No. 81, with engine, tender, two
freight ears and passenger coach fig
ured in a wreck on the Williamstewn
branch of the Central Vermont road
carly this morning when strip of track
age measuring some forty feet, UNDER
mined by the heavy rains of yesterday,
gave way under the weight and sent
all but the lone passenger car aft the
rails. The lives of several men were
placed in jeopardy; young Tony Tapan.
die, the fireman was badly scalded about
the face and arms; and ten cows, three
horses and two calves We're subjected to
severe crowdng before the trainmen
could release them from the cars in
which they had been consigned to George
Colby at Williamstown. One of the
calves had to be killed. Tapandie was
brought to this city on special train at
o'clock and taken to the City hospital
where he was reported to be resting com
fortably at noon.
The accident occurred around $50
o'clock. after No. - had left the local
station at $40 on its regular trip TO
Williamstown. The train was in charge
of Conductor James kanaly, Engineer
Michael Mcmahon and the fireman. Tap.
andie. The derailment happened with
out any warning just as the train WAS
bend opposite the George Me-
Farland farm. There were no passen-
gers aboard and the train crew was seat
tered through three sections OF the train.
No one attempted TO jump when the en-
gine and locomotive was dumped uncere-
over onto the side of the
track the two freight cars following
after the washout had been gained. Botn
ears as We'll as the locomotive and ten
der We're fiattened to their sides on the
ground and almost as soon as the de-
tailment occurred the animals in the
stock car set up loud elamor.
Tony Tapandie stuck to his post in
the cab, as did the engineer, although
there was danger or escaping steam. ami
Tapandie afterwards crawled through
The cab door to learn that he had been
burned. Members OF the crew made
their way TO a nearby farmhouse and
the Central Vermont Offices
n this place but relief was already at
land when a score or more OF men lis-
ng in the vicinity responded to the call
or help
Tapandie was taken to nearby house
md the cattle and horses were released
rom the freight ear. Later they We're
emoved to a barn in South Barre. One
ide of the engine was found to be bad
Y demolished, although the freight ears
Uttered little damage To many who
.itnessed the accident off Wiley street
,st summer, the derailed locomotive ap.
cared to have been through similar
xperience as the freighter that went
yer the little trestle in an accident that
esulted fatally for one man. Portions
the boiler are badly jammed and the
ntire body is partially immersed in
lud
& wreeking train and crew from 81.
lbans arrived ON the scene near noon
nd the work of clearing the track and
auling the derailed ears back to the
ons was well under way this afternoon.
abroad men, who viewed the wreckage.
i'd that the locomotive would have to
, taken to the ear shops in st. Albans
II repairs. II was expected this fore
,on that the regular runs to Williams
wn would be resumed tomorrow after
)on. In the meantime, the Central Ner-
ont agent in Barre has arranged to
re for passengers and express traffic
the line by teams.
Trainmen Felt Track Sag.
The outcome of the accident may be
nsidered fortunate. indeed. Not until
e engine and tender had traversed the
ngerous section that caused the de-
ilment did the trainmen realize that
e incessant rain of Thursday night and
sterday had undermined the track. In
stigation afterwards showed where
ollen stream which emptigs into the
er below had washed away a consid.
lble portion of the soil Just few feet
st of the track. The train crew felt
: road bed sag soon after the engine
4 reached the strip. but stop could
be made in time to prevent the &c,
Under of the train from leaving the
ns. The track borders high bank.
the train had leaned toward the east
tead of the west il i quite likely
Il the engine and all three cars would
'e gone toppling down into the river.
'apandie, the fireman, is twenty-three
irs old and claims Montreal as his
ne. He has been employed on the
ire branch for several months. At the
pital to-day il was stated that his
rs were confined to the right side of
face. the nose. neck and both wrists.
was in considerable pain, although il
) believed his burns would not con
him for many days.
'rovisions for hauling the regular
us over the Barre branch were male
nediately on receipt OF the wreck in
nation this morning. Yard engine
1872 was put in commission for pas
ger service and until No. - Is re-
bed from the repair shops or other ar
gements made. the freight engine will
lsed on the trims % and from Mont
er Junction, Barre and Williams
n.