Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1890 — A BAD RAILWAY WRECK [ARTICLE]

A BAD RAILWAY WRECK

TWENTY PEOPLE KILLED IN A CANADA HORROR. An Entire Train Hurled from a Bridge Thirty-five Feet to the Ground Below—°ver * Score Killed and Many Pacsengers Injured Beyond Hope Of Recovery —How tho Accident Occurred. [St. Joseph De Levis (Que.) dispatch.] A terrible railway wreck occurred here to-day, on the opposite side of the river from which the town is built. The Halifax express, No. 33, going to Montreal by the Intercolonial Railway, was due at 11:15 o'clock this forenoon, but was reported twenty minutes late. On approaching the town, and when a few yards from the bridge which crosses the principal street near the parish church, the entire train, with the exception of the engine and baggage-car, was precipitated over the bridge into the street below, carrying with it ali of its occupants. So far as can be ascertained, the number of killed will exceed twenty. The names are not all obtainable, but the dead bodies which have so far been extricated number fifteen. Among the dead recognizable are: Captain Belanger, of Bathurst, New Brunswick; Joseph P, Blais, Kamouraska; Joseph Leclaire, Levis; Blaunlein, brakeman: Lecierc, a boy of Levis; Dronne, Gauvln, Winner. Tho last three belong to Quebec. * The following received injuries: Mr. and Miss Fuller, of Halifax, severe internal injuries; Mrs. Fuller, fatally hurt; Mr. Cote, of St. Gervais Rimouskl, internal injuries; Newsboy Michaud, of Levis, badly bruised; Thomas Foley, of Halifax, large hole in his head, and badly bruised'about tho body; Miss Foley, itfs daughter, slightly bruised; Michael Le* Bet, aged 78, of Kamouraska, fatally injured; Brakeman Peaulcu, fatally injured; Everißto Coyett. St. Claire, seriously injured about body and Internally; Mrs. G. Gagnon, Levis, right leg badly crushed and internal injuries; Dionne,'

merchant from St. Denis, contusions about Read and body and interal injuries; Simpson, MQjjtrpal, -insensible when seen, bruised In face and legs; Mr. and Mrs. Peaulcu, from St,. 1 , Anne de la; Pocotlere, severely injured; T. Wilson, from Nova Scctfa, right leg fractured and bruises in faisd; Mrs. Beauchemln, from St Perpetue, idjured Internally, leg broken, and face horribly mangled; Yermigetide Gagnon* from St Felicite. leg broken and head cut In several places; E. J. Farrell, Dundas, Ont., internally injured, removed to Jeffrey Hale Hospital; Halstin of Nova Scotia, bruised; Dr. Morrissette, fi;om Stj. Henedine, bruised; Alfred Dobson of Oampbellton, N. 8., legs broken; Thomas Pelltetier, 3calp wound; Dr. Tanuauay, from Gervais, bruised In face and on legs; Abel Migncault of Sandy Bay, rtbs broken and other internal injuries; dying; Aresencault of Levis, badly bruised; the Rev. M. Gerneau, cure of Beaumont, slightly bruised; O. Brochu and M. Plante, slightly bruised; a priest of the Redemptory Order, badly cut about the head; Alfred Anson, leg fractured In several places; Mrs. Caron, of St Claire, scalp wound; George Walker, conductor of the train, bruised face; Ferdinand Marceau, of Levis, scalp wound and broken fingers: M. Lavoie, baggageman, dislocated shoulder; Eugene Robetaille, of Lorette, hands mashed and fractured leg. Tho cars which went over the bridge turned completely over on top of each other and were smashed to splinters, having fallen a distance of thirty-five feet. Crowds of people gathered round tho scene, and at once set to work to clear up the wreck. The piteous lamentations of the wounded and dying and their feeble attempts to extricate themselves from among the debris were affecting in the extreme. Those of'the passengers who had miraculously escaped gallantly set to work to aid their suffering fellow travelers. A special train from Quebec with a staff of doctors scon arrived, and as one by one the’ Injured and mangled were brought fbOm the wreck they wore attended to and their wofmds dressed.

The accident happened on the loop line running in from St. Charles Junction to Levis, a distance of eighteen miles. At Horlake Junction connection is made with the Quebec Central, an'd from there to Levis, a distance of six miles, there is a heavy down grade coming west, as tho track comes down from the heights to nearly the river’s level. Passing through the village of St. Joseph the roadbed is high above the street on a solid earth embankment, and across the river is an iron bridge about twenty-five feet long and thirty feet above the street. The embankment continues beyond the bridge some distance, and along here the track makes a number of short curves with heavy down grades. At a short distance above Levis the road strikes the bank of the St. Lawrence and then runs along on crib-work at a considerable elevation above the river until Levis Station is reached. The real cause of the accident has not been definitely ascertained, but it is generally thought that it was caused by the breaking of an axle bn the baggage-car and an endeavor ;to make up lost time. The train was mac|e up of baggage and mail car, one second-class, one firstclass car, and-one, sleeper. Fortunately the curve on which they were running threw the cars away fro™ each other, and though tho heavy slebper was carried half the length of the first-class car it ran along side of it instead of crushing through it, as it would have done in a straight line. The sleeper was not so badly smashed as the; other cars. The engine, still drawing the baggage and mail cars, passed over the bridge, the timbers of whichi were badly broken up by the two cars derailed by the plunge of those In the rear. After passing tho bridge the mail car went down the embankment, having apparently turned completely over In its descent The engine and derailed baggage-car continued on, passing over a second road bridge safely, and were brought to a standstill a few hundred yards further on. f

“O, no!” said the giddy young woman, “I never expect to adopt music as a profession: I merely,make ita means of killing time.” “I have no doubt,” replied the unamiable old gentleman, “that in your hands the weapon proves as effective as could be desired.” —Washington Post. • • ' » Clebicus (clinching the argument)— Worth makes the man and want of ljl the fellow. Cynicus—Yes? How much does he have to be worth? —New York Herald. . * • ; “