The New York herald., 1874-07-07
SUPERINTENDENT WILCOX KILLED.
Miraculous Escape of Many of
the Passengers.
LIST OF THE VICTIMS.
A Night Visit to the Wreck Statements of the
Conductor and Station Master
The Ccroner's Inquest.

NEW HAVEN Conn, June Q, 1874.
The greatest excitement prevailed in the city
this morning, caused by the announcement that
train OF SIX cars had been thrown from the track
at Stony Creek distant about eleven miles from
New Haven, and that a large number of persons,
superintendent Wilcox among the number, had
been killed. The telegraph office was at once be-
sieged Tor particulars OF the affair, and later 1t
was ascertained that the report. so far as Mr.. Will
cox was concerned was true, and that serious In
jury to body and limbs of large number OF passen-
gers had taken place. President William d. Bishop
and superintendent Reed of the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad were fortunately in
the city at the time the despatch was received
and they at once sent wrecking train with men
and tools to the scene, Mr.. Reed accompany ing to
see that all was done promptly. Arrived at stony
Creek they found a scene OF destruction which pen
Is hardly adequate to describe. A locomotive was
standing on the track, and by the side OF the track
near 1t, fifteen feet below, were q baggage and
smoking car and four passenger cars,
LITERALLY TORN IN PIECES,
and large numbers of men, women and children
striving in the vain attempt to free themselves
from the debris. The work of clearing away the
wreck was begun without delay, and seventy.fve
persons with broken legs, arms, ribs and all ter
ribly bruised. were taken to the depot at Cedar
Creek.
Superintendent wilcox, an efficient railroad
man, highly esteemed socially in this city, in
stantly killed. He was standing on the baggage
car at the time of the accident, lost his balance,
fell, and the car fell upon him, killing him in
stantly.
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT
came from misplaced switch. Passenger cars
had been left at Stony Creek on Saturday, and this
train, bound for New Haven from New London,
and due here at thirty-1ve minutes past seven,
stopped at Stony Creek to receive passengers and
take these cars. 1t will be understood that the
Shore Line road has but one track. The cars
stood on q turnout, and the train backed down TO
the cars. SwltChman Beach had attended to his duty
and when the tran moved on the forward truck
Of the last car struck the end Of rail- next the
end OF the switch rail. causing the switch to open
again. In a moment the wheels OF the car, for
ward and back, were running on the ground,
striking the wooden ties with force as the speed
OF the train increased. The train ran in this way
distance OF $50 feet. when a trestle bridge, ap-
preached by sharp curve, was reached. This
curve caused the hinder car to cant to one side,
roll from the track and fall fifteen feet to the marsh
below. The second followed aud SO on until SIX
cars were detached from the locomotive, which
remained on the track uninjured
CORONERs INQUEST.
Judge Harrison, OF Guilford arrived at Stony
Creek, at ten O'Clock, ana, in the capacity OF
Coroner, summed q jury of inquest. who inquired
into the of the accident and the death Of Mr..
Wilcox. They rendered verdict in accordance
with the facts, and censured Mr. Beach, the switch
man, for not attending more carefully TO his duties.
Mr.. Wilcox's remains were taken to Madison,
where they will be inferred.
For the space OF five hours no trains could pass
the scene of the accident as the tender Of the To-
comotve, one of the heaviest on the road, had
been thrown from the track and hung to the
bridge, in part supported by the iron coupler. 1t
was with difficulty that this ponderous mass Of
iron could be lifted back into position owing to the
narrowness Of the bridge This afternoon how
ever, all trains are running regularly again, the
Boston express being only about fifteen minutes
behind time.