Connecticut western news., 1883-07-18

sen the force of the collision The en- zines when they Tapped together, so apped and twisted their machinery, that the brave engineer found himself pinioned firmly in front of his furnace and unable to get free. Then quickly came the terrible explosion. The engi- neer's lifeless body was found beside the road long distance up the track. In the baggage car, when it was thrown from the track over the tele- graph poles, were two persons, James Church of Willimantic the express mes- senger and Charles Griswold of New York, passenger. While the car was in the air their dead bodies fell from an open door to the ground. Both men were badly bruised and Griswold, who was lad scarcely IF years old, board ing for the summer near Brisol with his parents, had his face deeply gashed. He had apparently been struck by some missile thrown out from the engine by the explosion. Among the passengers there was an indescribable scene of ex- citement and confusion. Two passen- gers were dangerously hurt, one having both legs broken and his head cut, while the other suffered internal injuries which are expected to result fatally. Among those less seriously hurt, were Samuel Andrews of Bristol, cut on face; Albert Andrews of Bristol, leg hurt Charles Thompson of Plainville, leg sprained, and Charles Matthewson of Bristol, arm cut
 Engineer Knickerbocker was one of the oldest men in the New England road's employ. The officers of the com pany lay no blame to his account. A dispatch was sent to Plainville direct ing the station agent there to hold the passenger train on switch until the ar rival of the gravel train running as a special from New Britain. Telegraph operator Welch neglected the message, and the passenger was allowed to rush on to destruction. The engine of the Il 6A0'OA W cs1A WdS uOU ICfcISCu dS U1c machinery showed. The Springfield Republican of July II, says :-
 "P w Welch, the Plainville telegraph operator, who neglected to hold the train he was ordered to hold Monday night, thus causing collision, and the death of two men, is 19 years old. He received directly after the order to hold the train, call to go to Bristol for the night, which took up his attention. Speaking of shifting the whole respon- sibility upon this boys shoulders, an old railroad employee writes to the Hartford Times :-s'No careful manager would order train, irregular or other wise, to run to any station against 8 train having the right of way, without first giving the order to the train hay ing such right, and after having receiv- ed an acknowledgement of the order, signed by both the engineer and con- ductor of such train, then, and not un- til then, could the order be safely given to the train which had no right to the road, except by special order.''
 Engineer Knickerbocker's funera occurred last Thursday. The Rev w E Nichols of Hartford, rector of Christ church, conducted the exercises at the Episcopal church in Bristol, which were attended by large number of friends, including many railroad men. The re- mains were enclosed in in black broad l clotheeoserod- caslket with plain silver
 trimmings, and the plate bore the name
 and age-47 years-of the deceased. A
 very touching part of the exercises was
 the baptism of Tuba Mabel, the little daughter of the deceased, and 8 son and the wife of the dead engineer, the Rev
 MT Nichols performing the sacred rite.
 The bearers were James Mulligan, George Small, Frank Vogt, Charles
 Newton, Henry Darling and V N Che ney, all brother engineers. A specia. car was furnished by the New England road to convey the remains to Hartford
 the interment being at Spring Grove The Hartford Evening Post of July 13 , devoted one-half column to an account , of the funeral services and closes witt
 this tribute to MT Knickerbocker:- , Until the brakes are turned on time, Life's throttle-valve shut down;
 He wakes to pilot in the crew
 That wear the martyrs crown. On schedule time on upper grade.
 Along the homeward section;
 He lands his train at Gods round-house qE The morn of resurrection.
 : His time all full, no wages docked,
 His name on Gods payroll;
 And transportation through to heaven,
 A free pass for his soul.
 II Just Married.
 How loving they are this is always g. sure sign. After the first year some
 times it don't hold good. When Charles comes home to you grouty and cross snapping and snarling, unable to relish