Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-28
LIVES LOST BY cARELEssNEss.

A Collision on the Housatonfc Causes
 the Death of Engineer Looke and
 Brakeman Olds-The station Agent
 at Stepney Blamed for the Accident.
 BRIDGEPORT, May 2S.-The worst rail road accident Connecticut has had for wears occurred on the Housatonic road a few miles from here about o'clock this morning and resulted in the loss of two lives and thousands of dollars worth of property.
 About 12 o'clock last night freight train in charge of Conductor Ben Hart and Engineer William Looke and drawn by locomotive No ,one of the new moguls left here having ordersto cross the down freight at Stepney. The train consisted of eleven cars loaded with potatoes, flour, etc., and was running at the rate of twenty miles an hour. About five miles from this city at a point known as Iron Ledge, the up train was met upon sharp curve; To avert the collision was impossible ana Engineer McDermott, who with Con ductor Nathan Curtiss were ln charge or the down freight, reversed his engine and with his brakeman jumped for their lives An instant later the crash e and both engines were reduced to the worst wreck that was ever seen in this vicinity. Four cars were thrown down steep embankment and portions of the cab of one ot the locomotives and the headlight were thrown into the woods one hundred feet away.
 Engineer William Looke of the up train remained at his post and was n- stantlv killed His body was found Ill cled. His fireman, John Lamont, | jumped and saved his life, but received a broken wrist and badly | wrenched ankle. Brakeman Charles | Olds was buried in the wreck and so badly injured that he died shortly after being rescued. "Oh, what will my wife d?." was all he could say when taken | from the wreck.
 Conductor Nathan Curtiss received at l New Milford instructions to proceed with his train to Stepney, where he would receive further orders. There was no one in the station when the train arrived at Stepney and he thought the road would be clear to Bridgeport. Train dispatcher James Flynn of Bridge port notified Agent McGuinncss at Step nev to hold the regular train until the arrival of the special McGuinness repeated the message and 1 the dispatcher supposed everything was all right until news of the accident was flashed into the office. From present accounts both the agent at Stepney and the conductor of the regular tram are responsible for the accident. When news of the accident reached this city hundreds of people went to the scene ot
 the wreck. The location is one of the
 very worst on the road. On one side is
 a steep embanbment and sharp curve
 prevents view of long section of the
 road.
 The bodies of the two victims were
 taken to Bishops undertaking establish
 ment in this city. X wrecking train is
 at work clearing the track.
 Engineer Looke was regarded as on.
 of the most careful drivers on the road
 Ten years ago he was fireman on the
 train which was wrecked at Parlor Rocl
 in which accident Engineer William
 Bristol was killed. Looke was B year
 of age and leaves a young wife ln Grea
 Barrington. Mass. He was selected tt
 run the train last night being regarde'
 as an extra careful man.