The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-01
THE ENTIRE FAMILY KILLED
Il alexander CRAIG, HIS WIFE AND
TWO DAUGHTERS,

N. J.-Formcrly Well Known Resi-.
dents of New Haven-They Were on
the Way to Take Thanksgiving Din.
ner With Relatives ia BrOokIyn-Ths
Remains Brought to This city.
The large number of New Haven
friends and acquaintances of Mr.. and
Mrs. Alexander Craig, who resided here
for a number Of years and until they re-
moved to Scranton, Pa, about two and
a half years ago were greatly shocked
when it became known in this city yes
tarday that Mr.. and Mrs. Craig and
their two children had been killed in
the wreck of the Buffalo express on the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
railroad at Paterson, N. j., Wednesday
evening. The first reports of the
wreck Wednesday night stated that a
Mr.. Miller Craig had been killed, but no
other persons of that name were men
toned as having being killed or injur-
ed. The first information received here
as to the deaths of Alexander Craig and
the members of his family was in a
telegram received about o'clock yes
terday morning by Mr.. Craigs brother,
James r. Craig, who resides at No. IA
University Place, from the Scranton,
Pa, Tribune, of which paper Alexander
Craig was business manager
Mr.. Craig was walked up early yester-
day morning by the messenger who de-
livered the message and upon reading
it he was nearly overcome by the
shock of the terrible news. He left for
New York ON the 8 o'clock train, hop
ing against the worst that he would
find some members of his brothers
family still alive. When he arrived at
Paterson, however, he ascertained that
his brother and the other three MEM
bers of the family had been almost in
stantly killed. He was able to identify
his brother and one of the children, but
could not identify his sisterin-law and
the other child, so distorted were their
features, as result of their terrible
experience. These two had been iden-
titled, however, earlier in the morning
by Mrs. Hernia Quackenbush Of Brook
lyn, cousin of Mrs. Craig, at whose
home the unfortunate family were to
nave ldheI l. IHdHhSSlFluS uilHci'
The relatives of the family ascertain
ed that Mr.. Craig had endeavored to
get seats in a chair car. but found all
these seats taken. The train was
crowded with a large number of pas
sengers, and they went through the
train upon getting aboard at Scranton
and were only able to fnd seats in the
rear of the last coach of the train. 1t
was this rear car which received the
main force of the shock of collision
when the way train dashed into the
rear end of the Buffalo express and
consequently the Craig family were in
an especially perilous position when the
crash came. Mr.. and Mrs. Craig were
found crushed between two seats and
the two little girls were found near by
All four were badly burned by escaping
steam.
AS soon as he had received news of
the sad accident James Craig in
formed Captain John S. Sanford, who
lives at the corner of Exchange and
East Pearl streets, in Fair Haven. and
whose daughter Mrs. Craig was. Cap
tain Sanford also went to Patterson yes
terday forenoon and assisted Mr. Craig
in having the bodies removed. Mr..
Craig when he left New Haven yester-
day morning took with him Dr. Willis
Fl. Grove in order to be prepared If he
should find any of his relatives injured
but alive. He also took with him
George A. Maycock, of the undertaking
firm of Lewis & Maycock.
The remains of the four members of
the Craig family were brought |
to this city yesterday afternoon, aad |
are now at the undertaking rooms of |
Lewis & Maycock. Arrangements for
the funeral will be made to-day. 1t |
will probably be held Sunday.
Mrs. Sanford, mother of Mrs. Craig, !
Yesterday morning received telegram
from Mrs Quackenbush in Brooklyn,
informing her. of the catastrophe and |
soon after that received a letter written
to her by her daughter Wednesday, |
lust before she started for Brooklyn.
In that letter Mrs. Craig stated that
her family had received pressing in
vitation from Mrs. Quackenbush who,
she said, had written that If the invi-
Lation was not accepted she would not
accept no for an answer at New Years.
The Craigs were, however, intending to
,pend the Christmas holidays with their
relatiyes in New Haven, and so decid-
I'd to spend Thanksgiving in Brooklyn.
Mr.. Craig was in his fortysecond
year, and was son of Robert Craig,
,or many years a well known merchant
n New Haven. When a boy he at
ended Eaton school, and later the high
school. He was for a number Of years
business manager of the Morning
News of this city, and about two years
md a half ago accepted position as
business manager of the Scranton Tri-
,une. He formerly lived OH Whitney
venue, but later removed to East Ha-
zen. where he lived for two years just
,rior to going to Scranton. He leaves
,is mother, a brother and sister all
# whom live at No. IA University
Place. this CITY, The brother is james
r Craig, and the sister is Mrs. Harger,
widow of Oscar Harger, who was libra
v assistant at Yale university. The
eed mother bore up bravely under her
,reat affliction, as did the other rela
ives in this city. Mr.. Craig was well
,nown man here, and was highly re-
pected citizen during his long resi-
ence in New Haven. He was mem
er of the Typothetae
Mrs. Craig was the daughter Of Cap
ain and Mrs. John S. Sanford of Fair !