Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-24
RUTLAND engine
BOILER ExPL0DES
Strange Accident at Beldens
Kills Tiremen-Locomo.
tive Is Wrecked.

Middlebury, Jan. 22.-Norbert S. Nc.
Cauley Of Rutland, a railroad fireman, lost
his life and r. w. Fuller, also Of Rut-
land. was severely injured about the back
at las this morning when the crown sheet
dropped from the boiler into the FIRE box
of the locomotive No. 2079 on train 81, the
sleeper from Montreal to New York, near
Beldens, the "Hoodoo'' station Of the
Rutland railroad The breaking away Of
a portion Of the boiler caused large
amount Of water to pour suddenly into the
frebox and there was an explosion. the
full force Of which reached the engine
crew and badly damaged the locomotive.
Train 81 which Is due to leave Burling-
ton at i1:N p. m, left last night at 1888
a. m. and at that time there was appar-
emily nothing the matter with the engine.
The train passed the other stations all
right, but when 1t got to Battell's woods
the engine exploded. most Of 1t going into
the nearby woods while the conclusion
threw fireman McCauley against the coal
doors. He was later found lying on the
coal, his forehead smashed In and every
bone in his body broken. 1t Is probable
that he was instantly killed. His coal
box door was open and It Is supposed he
was shoveling coal when the explosion
came. Engineer Fuller was found in the
cab, with his hand on the throttle, in q
dazed condition. He was bruised about
the body. His back and stomach were in
jured, but 1t is not known just how severe
his injuries are.
The cab was so badly damned and Mr..
Fuller's condition such that 1t took two
hours to get him out. He was then sent
to the Rutland City hospital in a special
train The fact that the coal-box door on
his side Of the engine was closed probably
saved him from more serious injury.
As the train Of eight cars was running at
high speed at the time, railroad men say
that 1t is little short Of miracle that
the cars behind the wrecked locomotive
did not become piled up. Every coach re-
manned on the rails and only two OF the
drivers of the locomotive were forced OF
the track
None Of the passengers on the train
was injured and many Of them did not
realize until later this morning that any
thing had happened. AS soon as news, Of
the accident reached Burlington an en-
CINE and crew In charge Of Conductor
c. w. McFarran and Engineer w. Man.
gan was sent down to keep the steam up
in the cars so the passengers would not
be cold while waiting for heavier
York. Beldens station had been closed
since last October and the people could
not look for heat there.
A special train and the wrecking train
also we're sent north from Rutland at
an early hour this morning and
Mr.. Fuller and the passengers OF the
sleeper train were taken to Rutland.
Later in the morning another special
train went to Beldens and took Mr.. Nc
Cauley's body home.
The cause Of the accident Is unknown.
Many theories have been offered, but up
to tonight nothing had been discovered
to clear up the mystery. Railroad men
said that the cause Of the explosion was
not an insufficient amount of water in
the boiler for Engineer Fuller has been
called the most particular man on the
road on the question Of keeping just
the right amount of water In his boiler.
As soon as he gained consciousness one
Of his first remarks was. II know had
plenty of water in the boiler" The
investigation will be continued tomorrow.
ACCIDENTS AT BELDENs.
About three years ago winooski man
named John Karki leaped from the New
York sleeper at Beldens when II was
going about 70 miles an hour. AS he was
only bruised a little he went into the
woods and hung himself. His body was
found next morning. In about the same
| spot several years ago Walter Stilson
| was struck by the noon flyer. His body
| was badly mangled and every bone was
| broken. Later a deaf man coming up the
| track near Battell's woods stopped to
| tie his shoe string. What was then
| called the White Mountain Flyer struck
and beheaded him. Near the same place
ton man. fell from his train and was
killed. Several suicides also have occur
red near the spot Of to-day's wreck.
In 1889. occurred perhaps the worst
wreck at this place. when hog and pas
senger train collided. Eight or nine
people were killed, as many injured, and
about 800 hogs killed. Debris was scat
tered around for miles, Old residents of
Beldens could tell Of countless other
accidents which have occurred near Bel
dens correctly giving 1t the name Of
the "Hoodoo" station.
| The station was closed last October
| for economy purposes, after 1t had been
running for about Is years.
It was explained at the railroad Of
fees in Rutland that the crown sheet
Is in the form of an arch over the Are
! box and on the under side of the boiler
so that when this dropped the water
had direct access to tho fre and great
amount Of steam was instantly formed
Mr.. McCauley was So years old. He
| 10 survived by his wife and daughter.
Margery. He was born in Crown
Point. N. Y. going to Rutland 8 years
| ago from Burlington to work for the
Rutland railroad.
Beldens has been called the Hoodoo
| station Of the Rutland railroad be-
| cause more terrible accidents have hap
pened there than anywhere else on the
road. This seems particularly true OF
BattelIs woods.
Poultry ChNw Awards