Maybrook, NY Train Fire at Freight Yards, Jan 1896

Narrow Escape of Four Railroad Men from Cremation in a Car Fire.

WINSTED, Conn., Jan. 9.---At the western terminus of the Philadelphia, Reading and New-England Railroad, at Maybrook, N. Y., shortly before 6 o'clock this morning, four trainmen had a narrow escape from death, and four car were burned.

The crew of the West End local freight occupies a car in the Maybrook yards for sleeping quarters. The interior of the car is filled with bunks, and in a corner is a stove, which furnished them with heat. These bunks last night were occupied by Brakemen John McGuire, Lake, Keenan, and Drum. They awoke this morning and found their bedclothing ablaze and themselves hemmed in by flames on all sides. Before they could escape all were badly burned. McGuire's nightclothes burned on his body, and it is thought his injuries will prove fatal. The other men will probably recover.

The men lost all their money and clothes, and before the fire was extinguished four cars were destroyed. The fire is supposed to have stared from the stove. McGuire's home is in Canaan, Conn.

The New York Times, New York, NY 10 Jan 1896
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!