York Harbor, New Hampshire

Train Wreck

April 30, 1900

BAD ACCIDENT ON Y. H.& B. RAILROAD.

Passenger and Baggage Cars go Into The York River.

Only Two Men Hurt---One Very Badly.

Train Broke Apart Just After it Had Crossed the Bridge.

Wrecking Train and Surgeons Gone From This City to Assist---Only Nine Passengers and all Escape Serious Injuries.

The first accident of any consequence to happen on the York Harbor & Beach railroad since the line was put into operation, occurred at the bridge over the York river, just this side of the York Harbor station, this morning. A passenger car and a baggage car are now at the bottom of the York river. Nine passengers were on the car at the time of the accident. The names of all cannot be learned at the present writing. Two men were hurt, one of them very badly. The damage to the rolling stock will be heavy.

The injured are:
FRED EMERY, Boston, both legs crushed, head gashed and otherwise hurt.

CYRUS SMITH, residence not known, wrist badly hurt and he is seriously shaken up.

The train left this city at 7:30 this morning, the trip being the first regular to be run over the road, today being the opening day of the season on the line.

The train was made up of a passenger car and five freight and baggage cars. The train was in charge of Conductor Parsons of this city. The engineer was M. E. Stone and the fireman was H. S. Billings of Kittery Point. The train had just before crossed the bridge and was pulling into the York Harbor station, when it broke apart between the fifth and sixth cars on the forward end.

It is a down grade from the York Harbor station to the bridge over York river. Just after the train had crossed the bridge the draw tender opened the draw to admit the tug H. A. Mathes of this city with a tow up the river.

The draw had swung wide open when the coupling pin between the cars snapped and the section that had broken away begun to back toward the bridge. In some manner three of the cars were stopped before they could plunge into the river, but the passenger car and the combination baggage car, the two rear cars, got beyond the control of the trainmen, backed out on the bridge and went into the draw.

The passenger coach went to the bottom of the river and rolled over on it side and the combination car went down on its end and is now in this position near the passenger car.

Both cars are of course wrecked. The bridge is smashed in the vicinity of the draw. The tug Mathes had just passed through when the cars fell into the river and it is fortunate for the crew that it had.

Word of the accident was at once telegraphed to this city and a special train was sent over the line to bring the wounded back, it was understood. In the meantime the wrecking train was gotten in readiness to go to the scene of the accident and while it was waiting on the siding here the ambulance was sent to the depot and Drs. Heffenger, Lance and Cheever were summoned to be on hand at the arrival back of the special.

For some reason, the injured were not brought on the train, and as soon as it arrived here the physicans [sic] were ordered to board the train for York. They were also told that Drs. Hawkes, Smith and Cook of York were at the wreck.

Emery was brought to this city and taken to Cottage hospital in the ambulance and was accompanied by the Portsmouth physicians. It was understood that his leg would have to be amputated. He is otherwise hurt, but stood the trip as well as could be expected.

A probable terrible loss of life was prevented by one of the passengers turning around in his seat when the train broke apart and seeing the open draw of the bridge he shouted, “For God’s sake, jump for your lives.

His advice was quickly followed and before the car reached the open draw all of the men were able to jump.

Emery is employed as an agent of the road and went over this morning with a lot of supplies to be distributed along the line. He moved his family from York the past winter and was employed as a fireman at the navy yard during the winter months.

The wrecking train went over this afternoon to clear the track. It was in charge of Foreman James Corey and a large gang of men will be set to work.

Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH 30 Apr 1900

CLEANING UP THE WRECK.

Gang of Trainmen Work all Night on the York Bridge.

The Freight Car is Pulled Over in the River Channel.

Fred Emery is Very Low at the Cottage Hospital This Afternoon.

A gang of trainmen under Foreman James Corey of this city worked all Monday night on the wreck at the York Harbor & Beach railroad bridge over the York river at York Harbor. They succeeded in clearing up a large opening in the draw by pulling the freight car that stood on its end, into the river and released the drawbridge, which will be repaired and placed in position as soon as possible.

The passenger car is still at the bottom of the river and is completely wrecked. The glass in the windows are smashed, the trucks are torn off and one side is partially splintered.

If the draw tender could have had but two minutes more, before the cars reached the bridge, the worst part of the accident would have been averted, He had closed the draw within two or three feet when the car rushed upon it. The enormous weight broke down the drawbridge before the moving end swung into position and with a terrific crash of breaking timbers and iron the passenger car plunged into the channel. The freight car followed and wedged the drawbridge against the York end of the bridge. A second freight car also came near going, too, but the trucks dropped off and the end fell on the bridge. This brace of the truckless car served as the first check and stopped the two cars following from going further. All of the cars were heavily loaded with general merchandize, the most of which was intended for the hotels.

The car was pulled back onto the bridge late Monday afternoon. It was hauled back by the engine that headed the ill-fated train in the morning. The work was watched by an enormous crowd, many from this city being present. The electric cars were crowded all the afternoon.

The spot where the cars broke away is about six or seven hundred yards from the draw of the bridge where, the cars went in. They increased their momentum every minute on the down grade and before they reached the bridge had attained considerable speed.

Fred Emery, the unfortunate American Express agent is reported to be very low at the Cottage hospital this afternoon. The surgeons amputated his leg just above the knee and will endeavor to save the other foot which is crushed. His wife is with him at the hospital. It is very doubtful if he survives.

Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH 1 May 1900

Transcribed by Helen Coughlin.  Thank you, Helen!

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