Kingston, RI Locomotive Boiler Explosion, June 1926

BOILER OF FREIGHT ENGINE EXPLOSES LONG ISLAND TODAY.

By Associated Press.
Kingston, R. I., June 26. -- Three railroad employees were killed today when the boiler of a locomotive hauling 60 cars exploded while passing over marshland near here. The wreckage of the freight train was thrown into the passenger tracks and few minutes later the New York, New Haven and Hartford's "Cape Cod Train" from New York for Cape Cod points crashed into the wreckage. The locomotive of the passenger train was thrown from the rails and the first car dived into the swamps.
Several passengers were slightly injured. That none was seriously injured is believed to have been due to the fact that none of the upper berths on the Flyer was occupied. The train which runs only on Saturday mornings, was making its first trip of the season.
The dead:
WILLIAM MOULTON, Roslindale, Mass., engineer of the freight train.
GEORGE HATHAWAY, New Bedford, Mass., fireman of the freight train.
JAMES J. MULVANEY, of Providence, a spare man employed by the Providence division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, who was riding in the cab of the freight locomotive.
The injured:
CHESTER FRAZIER, New Haven, Conn., engineer of the express train, injuries to back and severe shock.
ANDREW BENNETT, New Haven, Conn., left side scalded, back and hip injuries.
FRAZIER and BENNETT were taken to the Westerly Hospital where the latter's condition was said to be critical. MOUNTON'S body was hurled 10 cars back when the locomotive of the freight exploded. HATHAWAY was thrown 75 feet into the swamp. It was believed that MULVANEY has been blown to pieces.
The boiler of the freight locomotive was hurled many feet into the swamp. Many of the shattered cars of the freight train were filled with finished cloth and with bundles of American flags being shipped from the textile cities for this July 4th celebration.
For a great distance the track was strewn with oil-bedragged flags and bolts of cloth.
The cause of the explosion has not been determined.

Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light Texas 1926-07-02
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!