October 21, 1876: The Cheshire locomotive "Bellows Falls," Henry Graves, engineer, while running "wild" at great speed towards East Westmoreland, collided with a down freight near the Summit.
Graves and his fireman escaped serious injuries, but the engineer and fireman of the freight, Henry M.Staples and Lewis Phillips, were killed. Mr. Phillips instantly. Mr. Staples was crushed between the tender and fire-box of his engine, the "John Elliot," and was literally roasted to death, living about an hour and a half and suffering indescribable torture. Every effort was made to extricate him from the wreck which held him as in a vise, but it was several hours after his death before his body was removed. Mr. Staples began his railroad career as "water-boy" on the mail train of the Cheshire road, and was the first to serve in that capacity. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the 14th N. H. Regiment as principal musician, serving three years as drum major. sharing all the perils to which his regiment was subjected, and narrowly escaped death in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek. He was with the expedition which so narrowly escaped disaster off Cape Hatteras while on its way to New Orleans. He was also of the party which captured Jeff Davis and assisted in escorting that distinguished rebel to Union headquarters. After the close of the war he was employed as fireman and engineer on the Cheshire road. His age was thirty-four.- The Repertory October, 1925
Graves and his fireman escaped serious injuries, but the engineer and fireman of the freight, Henry M.Staples and Lewis Phillips, were killed. Mr. Phillips instantly. Mr. Staples was crushed between the tender and fire-box of his engine, the "John Elliot," and was literally roasted to death, living about an hour and a half and suffering indescribable torture. Every effort was made to extricate him from the wreck which held him as in a vise, but it was several hours after his death before his body was removed. Mr. Staples began his railroad career as "water-boy" on the mail train of the Cheshire road, and was the first to serve in that capacity. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the 14th N. H. Regiment as principal musician, serving three years as drum major. sharing all the perils to which his regiment was subjected, and narrowly escaped death in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek. He was with the expedition which so narrowly escaped disaster off Cape Hatteras while on its way to New Orleans. He was also of the party which captured Jeff Davis and assisted in escorting that distinguished rebel to Union headquarters. After the close of the war he was employed as fireman and engineer on the Cheshire road. His age was thirty-four.- The Repertory October, 1925
October 21, 1876: The Cheshire locomotive "Bellows Falls," Henry Graves, engineer, while running "wild" at great speed towards East Westmoreland, collided with a down freight near the Summit.
Graves and his fireman escaped serious injuries, but the engineer and fireman of the freight, Henry M.Staples and Lewis Phillips, were killed. Mr. Phillips instantly. Mr. Staples was crushed between the tender and fire-box of his engine, the "John Elliot," and was literally roasted to death, living about an hour and a half and suffering indescribable torture. Every effort was made to extricate him from the wreck which held him as in a vise, but it was several hours after his death before his body was removed. Mr. Staples began his railroad career as "water-boy" on the mail train of the Cheshire road, and was the first to serve in that capacity. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the 14th N. H. Regiment as principal musician, serving three years as drum major. sharing all the perils to which his regiment was subjected, and narrowly escaped death in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek. He was with the expedition which so narrowly escaped disaster off Cape Hatteras while on its way to New Orleans. He was also of the party which captured Jeff Davis and assisted in escorting that distinguished rebel to Union headquarters. After the close of the war he was employed as fireman and engineer on the Cheshire road. His age was thirty-four.- The Repertory October, 1925
Graves and his fireman escaped serious injuries, but the engineer and fireman of the freight, Henry M.Staples and Lewis Phillips, were killed. Mr. Phillips instantly. Mr. Staples was crushed between the tender and fire-box of his engine, the "John Elliot," and was literally roasted to death, living about an hour and a half and suffering indescribable torture. Every effort was made to extricate him from the wreck which held him as in a vise, but it was several hours after his death before his body was removed. Mr. Staples began his railroad career as "water-boy" on the mail train of the Cheshire road, and was the first to serve in that capacity. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the 14th N. H. Regiment as principal musician, serving three years as drum major. sharing all the perils to which his regiment was subjected, and narrowly escaped death in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek. He was with the expedition which so narrowly escaped disaster off Cape Hatteras while on its way to New Orleans. He was also of the party which captured Jeff Davis and assisted in escorting that distinguished rebel to Union headquarters. After the close of the war he was employed as fireman and engineer on the Cheshire road. His age was thirty-four.- The Repertory October, 1925
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