September 12, 1843 ~ Tuesday

Sept 12^th

I left Boston at 5 oclock in the
express train of cars for Portland and about
10 oclock while passeing through the Chesterwoods
6 miles south of Kennebunk the engine was
thrown from the track in consequence of a rail
being raised 8 inches by some designing miscrant
The force was such that It drove the engine
about 5 rods ahead and smashed it to peaces
with the Baggage cars piled top of it & the first
passengers cars followed in their ^its^ train & mounted the
pile ^about 8 feet high throwing the passenger from [her] seat^ and instantly killed. One Lady was brused but
not dangerous, another was slightly injured. The
lives of many were in danger, & it seemed a mystery
that so little injury comparatively was done. Four
cars were filled with passengers & had not the
force been broaken by the baggage cars many
lives would have been lost. The Baggage car
soon was on fire which was with difficulty
extinguished. The ruins had The fireman
was thrown about 3 rods & escaped with a slight
injury. But the engineer Mr Adams from
Portland was buried beneath the pile & instantly
Killed, the ruins had to be removed before the
body of the engineer could be obtained he has left
a wife & one child to mourn his loss No blame
could possibly be attached to him as the rail was
raised in such a manner that no warning was
given untill the engine & Baggage car was a pile of
ruins. Mr Thomas Hall opened his house for the
reception of the passengers & much praise is due to
the whol household for the attention that was paid
them. I spent most of the night here in the woods
& got chilled through, they sent to Portland
for another engine, which arived in time to
take us to portland in the morning on my arival

September 12, 1843 ~ Tuesday

Sept 12th I left Boston at 5 oclock in the express train of cars for Portland and about 10 oclock while passing through the Chesterwoods 6 miles south of Kennebunk the engine was thrown from the track in consequence of a rail being raised 8 inches by some designing miscrant The force was such that It drove the engine about 5 rods ahead and smashed it to peaces with the Baggage cars piled top of it & the first passengers cars followed in its train & mounted the pile about 8 feet high throwing the passenge 2 illegible words. One Lady was brused but not dangerous, another was slightly injured. The lives of many were in danger, & it seemed a mystery that so little injury comparatively was done. Four cars were filled with passengers & had not the force been broaken by the baggage cars many lives would have been lost. The Baggage car soon was on fire which was with difficulty extinguished. The fireman was thrown about 3 rods & escaped with a slight injury. But the engineer Mr Adams from Portland was buried beneath the pile & instantly Killed, the ruins had to be removed before the body of the enigneer could be obtained he has left a wife & one child to mourn his loss. No blame could possibly be attached to him as the rail was raised in such a manner that no warning was given untill the engine & Baggage car was a pile of ruins. Mr Thomas Hall opened his house for the reception of the passengers & much praise is due to the whol household for the attention that was paid them. I spent most of the night here in the woods & got chilled through, they sent to Portland for another engine, which arived in time to take us to portland in the morning on my arrival