Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-12-01
CAUSE OF The WRECK.
Condition of the Men Injured on TIL
New England Road,

OOholCAon OF the Men Injured on the
New England Road.
The official reports of Sunday nights
accident on the New York & New Eng
land road have not yet been filed, but
the railroad accounts of the affair are
substantially as follows: The first Sec
ton of the freight train, under charge
of Conductor Russell and Engineer
Morris Newton, left New Britain at
11:2O on Sunday night and Fraser's
section passed there twenty minutes
later. The first section was running at
about fifteen to twenty miles an hour.
the regular schedule time. 1t is
claimed that, to overtake the first seq
ton, Engineer Lameraux must have
run his section. at the rate of nearly
forty miles an hour. Conductor Russell
says that, when he heard the train fol-
lowing him so closely, he stood on the
steps of his caboose and swung a red
lantern. Fraser's presence in the cab
| of the engine was in violation of orders
and one theory of the collision is that
Fraser, LamerauX and Fireman Water
man were talking and thus did not
| observe their nearness to the train in
| advance of them. 1t seems entirely
probable, if not an established fact, that
lIameraux was running at higher rate
of speed than allowed and possibly
much faster than he supposed.
Conductor John Fraser, who was in
charge of the rear section, says that as
| his train approached New Britain he
saw white light displayed at the sta
ton indicating that the preceding sec
ton had passed at least ten minutes
and probably twelve minutes before,
and was then seven or eight miles in
advance. The light was burning
brightly as the train ran by the New
| RrItoin station Thar h.
running about twenty miles an hour
which was reduced to sixteen miles be
fore they reached Clayton. Noticing
that the smoke of the first section was
trailing in front of them, Fraser, who
was riding on the left side of the cab OF
the engine opposite Engineer Lameraux
suggested to the engineer that he had
better keep a sharp look out as the first
section might be delayed by a hot box
and be nearer than they thought
Lameraux replied that there was nc
danger, the first section was far enough
ahead and would not be seen again that
night. Fraser kept sharp look out anc
soon saw dimly through the smoke the
red light on the rear of the forward
train. LamerauX reversed his engine
put on the air brakes and whistled fol
| the hand brakes, which were promptly
applied. But the train had too much
impetus, the distance was too short anc
a collision was inevitable. Lamerauz
jumped from his side of the engine, the
fireman, Waterhouse, started for the
left and Fraser followed. The fireman
hesitated SO long that when Fraser
| jumped he fell over him and struck hi:
head on the west bound track.
| Engineer Lameraux is slowly failing
at the Hartford hospital. He canno
live many hours. He has wife anc
family living in East Hartford Mrs
| Lameraux is with him.
Conductor Fraser has a very baC
scalp wound and is painfully bruised
about the body and arms.
| Fireman Waterhouse is badly cut il
the head and several places. He Ira!
also deep cut on his face but no frac
ture of the skull, and his injuries are
not considered serious.
Brakeman Chubb was on top of ont
of the freight cars when the collision
occurred, and either jumped or wa
thrown off. He is doing we'll at hi
home in East Hartford, and his hurt
are not serious.