Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-08-03
HUMAN LIFE SACRIFICED.

Details of Yesterdays Awful Accident
At the Washington Avenue Crossing.
Thomas NJ. Shea, aged IA years, an
account of whose death at the deadly
Washington avenue crossing, appeared
in last nights DEMOCRAT. was the son
of Michael D. Shea, of 102 South Leon
ard street. Yesterday afternoon he was
driving the delivery team of Joseph F.
Cronin and in the team was Mrs Mary
kinnane, MIR Cronin's sister. They
were going from South Main street and
did not hear the approaching train.
Some women sitting on the doorsteps of
the house at the corner of Simon street
and Washington avenue saw the
danger, and endeavored to stop the
team. Mrs Kinnane was the first to
realize the danger and jumped from the
wagon. The horse kept along and had
Just reached the middle of the main
track when the engine struck him.
Just before the crssh came Shea jumped
from the wagon and was holding the
| lines endeavoring to turn the horse to
one side, when he was struck. The top
of the boys head was taken off, the
brain dropping out. The horse was
carried along some seventy-five feet be-
fore being thrown from the engine
The train was stopped and the boys
| body taken 20 the baggage room at the
station Medical Examiner Axtelle
made an examination and said that
death was instantaneous. The left col
| lar bone was broken and the left leg
was also broken in two places, but the
body was not at all mutilated except the
given in charge of Undertaken Mulville
and removed to the home of the unfor-
tunate boys parents.
| Another son of Mr. and Mrs Shea was
killed by the cars in Hartford three
wears ago last June. Two more SOM
are employed on railroads. The mother
is frantic with grief. Mrs Kinnane was
taken to the home of her father, Michae
| Cronin. s South Riverside street, and
she still lies in semi-conscIous condi
ton, and is greatly Frustrated. Her
right leg is broken and her side is badly
bruised She was not aware this morn
ing that the Shea boy was dead.
The'Washington avenue crossing is 6
| death trap and disgrace to the city and
no delay should made in having som.
safe guards placed at this point Year,
ago an application was brought before
the railroad commissioners to have il
abolished. The application was granted
and the expense apportioned, in 6
| manner that was considered favorable
| The city, however, took an appeal and
the matt r has been pending ever since
| Alderman Gregory called the attention
of the council to the subject a short
time ago and a committee was appoint
ed to ask the railroad authorities thai
they place flagman there as temper
AIRY expedient. The officials have moi
done so as the commissioners haG
ordered the removal of the crossing
1t is high time, no Iever, that de
cisive steps be taken to protect human
life at this point. Thousands Of people
have to pass there during the day, anC
many narrow escape happens. Las
Tues ay a wagon wheel was struck, anc
almost every day people in the vicinity
have to warn the drivers of teams of thu
approach of trains. Let the appeal Of
the city then be withdrawn at once 81
that the order of the commissioner
may become operative.