LB2016.15.625

LB2016.15.625

Train wreck on the Portland & Oxford Central Railroad, Buckfield, Maine. RAILROAD DISASTER IN MAINE The recent disaster which happened on the Portland and Oxford Central Railroad on the bridge at Buckfield, Maine early on the evening of April 29, 1869 involved considerable loss of property, but fortunately no loss of life or serious personal injury. The engine of the down train from Hartford to Buckfield had just run onto the first span of the bridge at Buckfield village, which crosses the mill pond just above the dam, when the whole span, about sixty feet in length, gave way, dropping the engine, tender and first car, loaded with wood, ten or twelve feet into the water below. The conductor, Mr. Ed. S. Burroughs; the engineer, Mr. O. P. Tucker; and a young Mr. L. Goutier, who happened to be supplying the place of the regular fireman, were in the cab of the engine, and found themselves dropped, without a moment's warning, under water dense with smoke, steam and ashes. Mr. Burroughs says that was, at first, conscious that he was under water in the cab and that the foot of another person on his neck. He then made a tremendous effort, disentangled himself from the other man, crawled through the cab window and got his head above water. He came out on the lower side next to the dam, over which the water was pouring with tremendous force, being very high at the time. At first, he thought to cling to the dam but the power of the water quickly carried him over, followed by fragments of timber and sticks of cord wood. He fell, with the water, several feet down among the rocks, and was carried down the stream several rods, till a Mister Bessee reached him a pole by wading out and drew him ashore completely prostrated with knocking about in the water and somewhat bruised, though not so much so but that he came down with his train the next day, as usual. The fireman and the engineer crawled out of the cab on the upper side and clambered up over the wreck to terra firma, not much hurt. The excitement was very great in the village and soon the scene of the wreck was lined with people. Fortunately, no other persons were on the train at the time of the accident. No blame whatever can be laid to the conductor or engineer as the engine was driven onto the bridge with the greatest caution. The bridge was thought to be entirely safe having been overhauled this spring and put in good repair. It was built upon stone piers on the X-work plan and considered sufficiently strong. From Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization, Volume XIII May 22, 1869, page 333.