Acadian and King's Co. Times, The (July 17, 1896) Wolfville Crash

Acadian and King's Co. Times, The (July 17, 1896) Wolfville Crash

Train Collision in Wolfville

An account of a train collision which occurred on July 14, 1896 in Wolfville was printed in a local paper. Pictures of the wreck are at File:Wolfville Collision 2.jpg and File:Wolfville Collision.jpg. Photos and article were found by Chris Gertridge. A digital copy of the article appears below, while a transcription of the text is shown here for search purposes.

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[The Acadian and King's Co. Times, July 17, 1896]

CRASH! "The Bluenose and the freight have collided." On Tuesday afternoon last the citizens of Wolfville were started out of their after-dinner slumbers by hearing the crash of the locomotives of the west bound Bluenose and the east bound freight as they came together at the Wharf Crossing, about two hundred yards east of the Wolfville station. The freight was in charge of Conductor Jacques and Driver Harry Ward, while the Bluenose was under the command of Conductor Corbett and Driver Copeland. The former was about an hour and a half late, and had been shunting about for some time preparatory to entering the arrival of the Bluenose. But before this could be effected, along came the latter, a little ahead of time. Driver Copeland, however had observed the freight when he was some little distance away, and reversed his engine and put on the air brakes, and at the time of the collision was going at the rate of about fifteen miles an hour. The freight was at a standstill. Both drivers jumped when their engines were within a few yards of each other, and with the exception of a few scratches received by Driver Copeland, escaped unhurt. The tenders of both engines were considerably damaged, while the cowcatchers were shivered to atoms. The steam pipes of the freight were also badly strained. The wrecking train was at once telegraphed for, and arrived on the scene as soon as possible, bringing down a gang of men in charge of Mechanical Superintendent Yould, and the work of clearing up the track was proceeded with. In less than two hours from the time of the accident the disabled engines had been run into the siding and the Bluenose started on her journey. The freight cars were taken out later on. The townspeople took a half holiday, there being at least five hundred people about the scene of the disaster.

PHOTOGRAPHS of above Bluenose collision can be had at the Wolfville Drug Store. Two views, from north and south sides, sent post paid to any address—ordinary 26c. ; platinum, (black and white) 35 cents each.

Reference Tag

Please use this tag when referring to this article: Acadian_and_King's_Co._Times,_The_(July_17,_1896)_Wolfville_Crash

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