A Terrible Railroad Accident.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 154, 15 May 1886, Page 6

A Terrible Railroad Accident.

A terrible disaster occurred on the Fitchburg railway, on April Bth, midway between BarnweU's ferry and West Deerfield station, Mass. The east-bound passenger train, duo at Greenfield at 6 05, went over on embankment 200 ft. high. Six bodies have already been taken out of the ruin?, and it is not known how many others were killed. The train wa3 the Eastern express, and consisted of a baggage-car, a smoking car, a mail-car, and two ordinary passenger cars. Tho^ train was in charge of Conductor Forster, with Littlejobn as engineer. The point where the accident occurred U the most dangerous one on the road. The train rune on the edge of an embankment 200 feet above Deerfield JEtiver. The bank ia steep, and covered with huge boulders and a mass of rock, Whea the train arrived at this point, the track commenced to fettle under it for a distance covering ita entire length. The coaches broke from their trucks, and went rolling over and over down tho precipice. The engine broke from the tender, tearing up the track for twenty feet. Below rolled the Deerfield river, on the very edge of which the care were thrown. Ab soon as they struck they caught fire from tho stoves. The eleeping-car was an entire wreck. One man, whose name is unknown, was imprisoned in the wreck of the sleeper, where he was burned alive. One little girl was picked up dead. The train at the time of the accident was going at the rate of about twenty miles an hour. HFraok Lank, of Boston, a salesman for a New York firm, jumped from the train, and is believed to be the only person who saw the care go down the embankment. He saya there were three passengers in the drawing-room enrs. „- Later— lt is thought that twenty persons have been, seriously injured and seven

killed, with a score of others more or less injured. Merritfc Seeley, Superintendent of the National Express Company, injured laat night in the accident, died this morning. The body of Whitehouse was found in the river under a car, A body has just been found at the wreck, and is believed to be that of Aeent Whitehouse, of the New England andlßoston line. Edward Whitehouse probably never knew 'what killed him. The wound over the eye waa a terrible one, and must have produced utter unconsciousness. When the car struck the water, he was buried under its weight, and his bcdy was found in about six feet of water. E. E. Haydeu must have died in frightful agony. When found, his right arm was raised above his head, as though he had attempted to clutch some support. The fingers of his hand were burned to a crisp, and the top of his head was literally roasted. His mouth was open, as though he had been shrieking with agony. As viewed by daylight, the scene is worse than reported last night. It is considered marvellous that any one escaped alive. The descent is 130 ft. by actual measurement.