Terrible Railway Accident

A train of cars plunges through an open bridge into the Welland Canal.

[Waterford Star, April 28, 1876]

A terrible railway accident happened at the junction of the Canada Southern Railway and the Welland Canal, about a mile south of this town, last night about 10 o’clock.

About 10 o’clock last evening, the man in charge of the railway swing bridge, George Beams, had the bridge, which is double, open, to allow the tug Mary O’Laughlin to pass, and while it was thus open he saw a train coming from the west. The red signal light was up, and every precaution taken, but the engine gave no sign of stopping or even slacking speed. The bridge-tender waved his lamp, and did all he could to attract attention, but without avail. He, however, stuck manfully to his post, although warned by those standing on the opposite bank of the canal to leave the bridge or he would be killed. From the conductor it is learned that, just previous to the accident the fireman, H. Jones, had left the engine, going to the caboose for his lunch, his place being taken by John Vauhoughton, brakesman, aged twenty-six.At the rear of the train of 33 cars, they saw the danger, and did their best to arrest their progress, but unsuccessfully, for the engine did not lesson its speed, and they feared the driver was asleep, and saw from the light and sparks that the brakesman, Vanhoughton, was firing up.

On arriving at the pond, just before reaching the canal, the engine plunged into the water dragging after it eight of the cars loaded as they were with merchandise. Some of the cars passed over the engine, striking against the swing-bridge, pushing it almost six feet off the centre.

A wrecking car was promptly on the spot from the west, and a spare engine from Fort Erie, bringing with them W.K. Muir, General Manager; C.E. Burton, Master Mechanic and Chas. Carr, Bridge Superintendent.

John Vanhoughton was found by Conductor Ferguson on the bank a little down the track, nearly submerged in the water. He was carefully taken out, and it was found that life was not quite extinct. He died, however, shortly afterwards.

The driver it is supposed is buried in the debris of the engine. His body has not yet been recovered. His name is Aaron Cady, of Watertown, New York, but lately of Terre Haute, Ind.

It is supposed the line will not be open for traffic for about three days.

The Canada Southern have made arrangements with the Grand Trunk Company by which there will be no interruption to the through freight and passenger traffic on the former road. Their trains will take the Grand Trunk Railroad track at Canfield, to and from the East.