Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-11
The PIainViIIe Accident.
The Dead Enrtneer-A Bov,s Fat

The Dead Engineer-A Boys Fate.
 The accident on the New England road Monday evening was very serious affair. The engine of the passenger train was ex- ploded by the collision, which forced two of the boiler tubes through the engineer. The fireman, a brother of the dead engineer, was not killed as reported, but Charles Griswold, seventeen years old, employed in the depot restaurant in Waterbury, was killed. He was going to Clayton's near New Britain to see the wreck of the train which met with an &C., cident on Sunday night when he met his death. He was riding in the baggage car and at the shock was thrown completely over the telegraph wire into a lot and instantly killed. Charles Church, the Adams Express messen- ger, was severely injured, but may recover. The damage done by the collision was esti- mated to be $8, 900.
 The accident WAS caused by the negligence of Charles W. Welch, the operator at Plain vile. The passenger train was somewhat late, and orders had been sent to ths engineer of the gravel train, as well as to Welch, for the trains to pass at Plainville. Welch for got to give the order to the conductor of the passenger train. He was only seventeen years old, and had received or ders to go to Bristol for duty Monday night He claims that this order so occupied his mind that he for the time being entirely forgot everything else. The order was received by him at sos and the passenger train left at 5:2S. Soon after it's departure Welch exclaimed excited ly: s'Gosh that train ought to have stay ed here" WeIch was arrested immediately
 The track was cleared in two hours and the delayed trains were moved as rapidly as possible.
 Additional facts are as follows: Engineer Knickerbocker was thrown to the right side of the track, his bowels being pierced by an sol 11av I,o1I of his wrecked engine. John Pollard, who works for Billings & Spencer, in Hartford, reached the poor fellow first and found him sensible and able to call for brandy. He was taken to Plainville and died in one hour. He leaves wife and two children. Mr. Wemett looked out and saw Engineer Knickerbocker pulling back the levers with all his strength, and another train right on them. He rushed to the other end of the car, and at that mo- ment the crash came. The Griswold boy was pitched out of the side of the car. His body was thrown 30 feet, striking the telegraph wires and then falling. He died in half an hour. Adams Express agent c. W. Church and Baggage Master Wemett went down the embankment with the baggage car. which was smashed to pieces. MT. Church being in the end of the car nearest the engine was badly crushed and cut in his legs and otherwise torn and bruised, but it is believed that he will live. These dead and wounded men were taken to Plainville, when physi- clans from all points began to arrive. MT. Church was brought to Hartford Monday evening. He lives on Edwards street and is unmarried.
 SCENE OF THE sMAsHUP.
 Superintendent Holbrook and large force of men and three trains went to the scene as soon as passible, and by great effort the track was cleared by 9 o'clock. The scene pre- sented after the accident, and when the es- caping steam would allow, WAS fearful. The boiler of the passenger engine, No. 46, Gin good order and formerly the Red Jacket), was smashed to pieces and the engine is total wreck, the largest piece weighing hardly more than a driving wheel. This engin was worth $8,OOO. The freight or dirt train engine was damaged probably $I, 800.
 TIMELY JUMP.
 The engineer and fireman on her jumped off into the sand-banks and so escaped injury The baggage car is what is called ttskele- ton, having no seats and was used entirely for baggage. This car plunged down the embankment and was badly wrecked. It was worth $1, ,O00.
 LUCKY PASSENGERS. None of the passenger cars left'the track, and the passengers only received little shaking up, few getting slight bruises. Conductor Jacobs at the moment of the collision was taking up tickets, and in another moment would have been in the baggage car. The tel | egraph wires hung low down, and the falling | cars broke down all of them; but the Vest 1 ern Union men left Clayton and soon had l one wire up, and an instrument working l Holbrook's orders
 Four platform dirt cars were wrekced, and | the full damage is estimated at $13,O0O.