The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-18
CONNECTICUT NEWS ITEMS
a BIG WASHOUT A R4RrFORD ON
THE CONSOLIDATED Road.


Msjor Seward to Return Soon From Hawai-.
--Mlddetown Business Men Want Better
Mail Service Connecticut River Rising
Farmers Institute at Ciinton-Rev, Mr..
Miles, Formerly of New Haven, to be In
stalled as Pastor in Hartford To-day
Fire In wethersfiald.
Hartford, March 17.-One of the most
serious washouts which has occurred
on the Consolidated road lines in this
state for many months took place op-
posite the entrance to Charter Oak
Park tonight. One hundred and fifty
feet Of earthwork has caved in and
sunk completely out Of sight in the
water of Piper Brook, or Hog river,
pended thirty feet in the air The
ernbankment at this place Is from TWEEN
ty-fve to thirty feet in height, and is
built along the bank of the stream,
which curves alongside, but does not
pass under the tracks. AS a result OF
the washout no trains are passing in
either direction on the Consolidated,
the south bound track being so weak
ened that it Is not considered safe for
travel
Just what caused the accident is
not clear, but it is believed the rapid
current In the river during the floods
of February and March wore away the
base of the embankment, which is ar
tificial, and that it has since been grad
uaily. sinking. The. New England road
tracks, which parallel those of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford at this
point, are on natural ground, and are
not affected. The train from New Ha-
ven, due at Hartford at 4:40 passed
over the site of the washout in safety,
and the accident was not discovered
until the passage of a New England
train at $40 Traffic will probably not
be resumed tonight. Passengers are
transferred at the washout, but freight
and baggage will not be sent over the
road tonight. A switch track from the
Consolidated road to the New England
tracks is being built that. trains may
be sent through tonight.
MAJOR SEWARD TO RETURN
SOON.
Guilford, March 17.-Mrs. Seward,
wife of Major Seward, who came into
prominence during the disturbances in
Hawaii at the overthrow of Queen Lili-
uukalani, has received letter from the
major, dated at San Francisco, saying
that the writer will not reach Guilford
before the first of April. He is weak
and nervous at present, and will not
take the journey by rail for few days.
He will leave shortly, however, via
the southern route stopping ut Beau
fort. s, c., where he has a daughter,
and will spend several days with her.
He will also stop off at Washington to
call on General Hawley, ana several
other Connecticut friends now at the
national capital.
FOR BETTER NAIL SERVICE.
Middletown, March 17.--Several of the
business men of this city have started
a movement to have more through
mails between here and New Britain.
AT present the great bulk of mail mat
ter travelling between MiddletoWn and
New B1itatn goes by way of Hartford.
The business people think that there
is too much time between the mailing
and the delivery OF letters by this ar
rangement and argue that an extra
mail bag or two could be thrown on
board some of the many trains traffic
ing between the two cities. Steps were
taken this afternoon towards getting a
list of names of those who would lend
their assistance to secure a change such
as is wanted.
THE NEW FOG BELL.
New London. March t7.-Word was
sent here from Castle Hill light station,
which is located or the west side of
Castle Hill. that tomorrow or the next