Litchfield enquirer., 1865-08-24
WING & sRuMwAY Proprietors.
Litchfield, Conn, Thursday Aug "A, 1865
The Catastrophe.

| ne taCe fearful flSaStef on the 1OuSaIOntC Railroad, some ofthe particulars of which were chronced in last weeks Enquirer, has prtduc- ed q most painful sensation throughout our county. Several citizens of our western towns were on board the train. and few were fatally or seriously injured by the collision. Geo. w. Mansfield of Falls Village, a returned soldier of the Second Artillery, was so terribly scalded that he died the same night. Willie Mammott of West Cornwall little boy of 10 years of age, was killed, and his uncle, who was accom- panying him to his home, was so dreadfully bruised and scalded that he is not expected 10 survive. His case is one that will not fail to excite the most profound sympathy for his af- flicted father, Willie was visiting his uncle in Wanesboro', NY. A week ago last Thursday his mother died, after an illness of less than three hours. His father telegraphcd to his uncle to bring him home immediately, but the telegram was not received till Monday. They hastcncd to the cars and started for West Cornwall, hut were overtaken by the fatal ac- cident.
 Myron A. Nickerson of Cornwall, was also so badly wounded, that he died on Wednesday. He was very promising young man. and leaves a large circle of monrners.
 Michael Dunn, a returned soldier of the 1th Regiment, Co. F, Was severely bruised in the leg. He was in the rear car, and had his head out of the window. He saw the engine coming and jumped out of the window and saved him self
 Mir Wm. Slosson, of Kent, was sitting on the seat, just opposite Mrs. Wakeman and Mrs. Iamberton, who were killed He was injured by brrusing
 Mir. John II. Hurlburt, of Lime Rock, wife and baby, accom panied by his sister, were in the rear car, and sat on the fifth or sixth seat from the rear. The se,ts were turned over, facing each other, and Mir. Hurlburt was riding backwards. He saw the engine as it was ap- proaching. and tried to get out of the window, but could not. Mir. Hurlburt and sister escap. ed with a little bruising. Mrs. Hurlburt and child were both badly scalded. They had been on a visit to Norwalk and Wilton, and were returning home to Lime Rock. Besides these in our own county, Mrs Enan i Of Newtown and Mrs Charlotte Cable of Stock bridge, Mass, have died of their injuries,
 As We stated last week. We have always con sidered this road us one of the safest and best conducted routes in the state The track, for several years, has invariably been kept in good 1 repair. The conductors to the extent of oul acquaintance, are gentlemen of nerve, of sound judgement and Of dignity of character Mir
 Plumb especially is man of stirling worth and has acquired an enviable popularity as public servant There has been promptness and system exhibited in the whole management of the road, that has won the confidence of the public. The accidents on this route had been few and slight, only one passenger, we believe
 having been killed since it's completion iu ls42. r-s- -# ] With the first excitement that spread witt the news of the catastrophe, many nasty anl unjust judgements were passed upon the con. ductor of the passenger train and the genera officers of the road. It is impossible to decide upon whom the responsibility of such disas ] ter rests, until the excitement and confusion is somewhat abated The evidence that wal brought out before the Jury of Inquest, tha
 was convened the following day in Bridgeport assists us to form most declded opinion. Mi Plumb appeared before the Jury and testified
 Was on the passenger train yesterday Jeff | about l0l5; a little behind time. We sen | out an extra freight train in the morning ahead 1 of the passenger train; the train broke down | We bitched on to the freight train just above Trumbull church. Mir. Hunt, president of the | road. asked me about the time. It was eleven o'clock. Commenced backing down. This was about six miles from Bridgeport. I told the engineer to back down slowly l went tc the rear end of the train to look out for cross fngs was with Mir. Hunt; I stood on the platform, he in the door. On coming around the Pequonnock mills about three quarters ol I ! from me reached up and pulled the bell rope for the engineer to stop l opened the door and jumped the side door; Mir. Hunt jumped also about as soon as I jumped, the engine struck the train. should judge we were back. ing down at the rate of ten miles an hour; should judge the engine coming up about fif- teen or twenty miles an hour. No signals were l sent ahead if had known about the engine I should have sent signal ahead. A freight train was expected, and we were looking out for it to signal it whea it was time the freight train left at HAS, MT. Hunt told us to back down to Bridgeport, as we could not reach Stepney. The whistles had been blown ut all the crossings in backing down, out of time, we give long whistle at crossings; this was done it is not customary to flag in backing down out of time, unless train is expected , I heard no whistle from the engine coming up.
 a Mir. Charles Hunt, President of the Housa- tonic R. R., was called, and made the following statements We went up and were stopped by the freight train, which had broken down, cylinder giv- ing out I inquired of the engineers if they could shove the train to Stepney they said they could not; asked Mir Plumb for the time, and he gave it to me as II o'clock. It would not be safe for the freight train to back down with one cylinder; MT Plumb said he had ample time to back down before the ll:45 freight train would leave Bridgeport; MT Plumb and l took our positions on the platform of the rear car, to look out for crossings I had bare,