The New York herald., 1878-01-17

home safely this afternoon, having remained In
Hartford over night
In addition to these there are score or minor
cases.
THE WOUNDED CLERGYMAN.
| The person most terribly wounded was the Rev.
Mr. Thomas, OF winsted couch had been ar.
ranged for him on two seats. He had suffered
fracture OF both limbs and severe internal n uries
He bore his pain with heroic fortitude, convcrsng
calmly about the catastrophe and describing how
he crawed out Of the wreck. lie made his way
through the roof OF the car to the ice and
then toward the Shore where he received aid.
SAD INCIDENT
One OF the lady passengers lar advanced In preg-
nancy was shocked by the accident that she
gave premature birth to a child few hours after.
ward.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS ON THE TRAIN.
President Camp and superintendent Jones, OF the
Connecticut Western Railroad Company, were on
the train at the time OF the disaster but the latter
CHANGED 10 be in rear car. Mr.. Jones was in
baggage car. and escaped with no damage other
than dacking IN the icy water. Procuring
change OF clothing he returned and .;nued
through the night to direct the efforts 0. e res
cueys
THE CoSprcr0Rs EXPERIENCE
The experience OF Conductor T. NJ. Elmer is
much ike that of many passengers. He describes
the accident follows :-"I had been IN the mail
compartment of the baggage car where left Super.
intendent Jones asserting tickets lad started
TO so through the train anl had Just got by .he
IRONS door Of the baggage cur. which was about
70 open, when felt the end settling and heard
loud crash. Ny hapd was almost on the door
knob Close by In corner Of the car TO my r!gh.
was the stove in which there was very hot fire.
Ny hrst thought was TO get away from the fire SO
as not t0 oe burned, The rear end of the car wen;
dAuu Ia fnvur
then the whole car dropped down, with
but very little pitching on one side
and struck. had jumped back from the
door and was a lew seats back, close to window,
when the car brought up Just as 1t struck
heavy beam fell down upon the roof anu came
through striking me on the head and knocking me
down. tThere Is cut near his left temple. but not
o serious one) | was stunned by the blow, but
soon saw what the stua ton was There were
three other me n IN the car, all passengers, whom
l did not know. 1t was very dark in the car. so
that could see nothing excepting streak OF
light which came through the hole the roof made
by the beam. This beam had come down end first
and crushed in the roof so that there was plenty OF
room Tor man to craw, through. 1he other men
saw the opening and tried to get out, but found
we could not reach the roof Meanwhile the water
was coming into the car through the noor and win.
dows and was rapidly rising. 1t got up to Il point
above our waists and stopped, when we
knew the car had struck bottom and telt
safer There was no expression OF alarm by any
OF us We waited for the time being without max
ing an effort to get out through the holc but when
everything came to a standst we went to work to
ourselves. which was accomplished by lifting
oDe man up to the roof who assisted another alter
he got through, and then the others were helped
out. After getting out We went to a car ben,nd,
which was lying cornerwisc, out OF which passen-
gers were crawling through the windows This
car was pitched down, and IT appeared as II more
OF the passengers must be jammed in the lower
end The cries were heartrending OF men and
women. many OF whom appeared to be suffering
from extreme pain Some were crying piteously-
.Oh, don't step on mew .Gct on, for my legs are
brokenr ..Help us, do r' and all such cries and
appeals We assisted several ladies out and got
out one young man who was up TO his neck in
water. After doing this ] was so thoroughly
chilled through that became numb and had to
give up.'
MI Elmer was about his regular business to-day
and ran tho trains back and forth to Tarirville
lie wears patch over tlie out IN his head.
THE PfHEMAN's STATEMENT.
Fireman Augustus Smith, who was on the leading
engine, states that there was no warning what
ever of the disaster. The first thing that he heard
was the crash and then the engine toppled over, ,
pitching him headl0ng into the river. lie ques
toned the accuracy Of the statement Of one OF the
passengers that the train ran or the track before
breaking the bridge, and says he could not have
Jailed to notice the unus ua noise this would have
occasioned.
AK AWFUL SENSATION.
Mr.. Joseph C. Riggs, Of Norfolk, corrobo rates this
by statement that the 1rst sensation he expert
enced that OF sinking. After this came the
crash, AMI IN an ins stant Mr. Riggs found himself up
TO his ncck In the water and with dreadful pain
In his leg, winch subsequently proved TO be frac-
tured above the ankle. He managed TO escape
from the wreck, and, disabled as he was, help his
friends, Dwight S. Case and wife. OF Barkhamsted
to escape they both being badly Injured and their
senses half gone with pain.
GOODNESS AND COURAGE.
Mr. s. G. Becklcy was one OF the occupants Of the
third car, the crushed roof OF which pressed down
upon the passengers when the others ran over It
Just in front OF him was woman bound down by a
fragment Of timber. and in imminent danger of
being submerged. Mr.. Beckley held her head up
until aid arrived and she was released with himself
A Mr.. Williams, on first feeling the sensation OF
falling, with rare presence OF mind grasped the
hat bracket and thus cascd the shock. When the
struck he sustained no injury. The lady sitting
back OF him, Mrs BENJAMIN Carman OF winsted
was hurled forward against the back OF his seat
with terrific force, striking her neck. She was
subsequently taken from the wreck drowned.
THE WRECK
Nearly all OF the dead were In the first passenger
oar, which liz almost complete wreck. on Tues.
day evening one BODY was taken from the second
car where 1t was found caught under broken seat.
To the fact that this car and the third car did
not fall clear OF the wreck OF the bridge,
but remained with one end resting thereon, many
of the passengers doubtless owe their lives n.
drowning was perhaps one OF the chief causes OF
the loss OF life. but the nearly perpendicular posi-
ton OF the coaches after making the fearful
plunge. hurled the occupants over the seats in
front OF them, so that great number are more or
less injured Of course the forward end OF the sec.
ond coach was completely smashed as II crashed
into the car IN front OF IL, and some OF the occu