The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-07

pools OF stagnant water. Tho mud made hard
work :or the rescuers Within short time
the pools OF water we're red with the blood OF
those crushed In the car.
As fast as the bodies could be got out they
were carried up the steep bank. Those already
dead were laid out on a knoll in the yard OF the
Peck homestead. Those injured were placed
in such vehicles as were handy and taken to
the hospital In this city.
The knoll at the Peck homestead presented a
grucsome sight. Stretched upon It were the
bodies OF twenty-three persons. young and old
The injured had all been sent away and there
was no means OF taking away the dead until
the teams returned. The ambuances from
this city had all been pressed into service. as
had. also. the undertakers' wagons.
The news spread rapidly. and every trolley
car to Stratford from this city was crowded
The passengers rode as far as Paradise Green.
the end OF the line. and then walked two miles
to the place OF the accident.
Many physicians from this city hurried to the
bridge and rendered such service as they could
Medical Examiner Cogswel had the dead
taken to the town hall in Stratford. 1t was dusk
before the last body was removed. Before that
time fully 2OOO persons had gathered at the
bridge.
Miss Frances +. Peck. who lives at the south
end OF the bridge on the east bank OF the
stream. was the only actual witness OF the
accident She said
Shortly after 3 o clock was in my room on
the second floor From it can see the end OF
the bridge. and can see the bridge again
through an opening in the trees about 100 feet
further on All day the cars were so crowded
that watched for them. ! heard the car COM
ing down the track. and looked out. 1t went
on the bridge out OF my sight and the next mo-
ment heard loud pounding. l stayed at the
window. and in moment or two the car came
in sight again through the opening In the trees
could see the people standing up between the
seats. 1t made a plunge and went of the
bridge did not hear single scream until it
struck the bottom. and then cries Of agony
arose.
"Our house was turned into a hospital and
our yard into morgue Neighbors hurried
here bringing stmulants and bandages Then
they started to bring UP the dead and
wounded. One man with baby in his arms
rushed into the house and placed the little one
in my arms. He said he had taken it from the
arms OF a woman who was dead in the river.
The baby was all muddy but not hurt Bit
Asked IL the car was running rapidly. Miss
Peck said:
The car was running ve-y fast when it
reached the bridge. faster than any other car
that had passed. The doctors here told me
must not say that. but it is the truth"
The man who took the baby to Miss Peck is
Patrick Mclaughlin, a conductor on the Third
avenue road in New York. He found the
mother pinicned under car seat holding the
child to her breast When he returned to her
after giving the baby to Miss Peck, she was
dead.
The family of Frank Blew OF Stratford were
killed. Blew and his wife and two children.
Maud. aged g. and Melvin, aged .. removed
mi.
lived near Mrs. J. H. Rugg. a sister OF Mrs.
Blew. Mrs. Rugg and Mrs. Blew and the lat
ters two children and also two children OF
Mrs. Rugg were passengers on tho wrecked
car.
The body OF Mrs. Blew reached home first
Mrs. Rugg was brought in few minutes
later and she died without gaining conscious
ness. Later Blew went to the town hall In
Stratford and found the bodies OF his two
children. The two Rugg children escaped
with slight injuries.
William Kelly. OF Harroll avenue. was a pas
senger on tho car. He says the car was not
running fast but had swaying motion. When
he felt the wheels leave the track he jumped
of. He went of the trestle and fell into the
soft mud fifty feet below. He sank into the
mud nearly to his waist. He says he was the
only passenger who jumped from the car He
saw the car strike while he was lying in the
mud.
The Shelton Street Railway was built by An
drew Radel. president OF the Bridgeport Trac-
ton Company. and he is largely interested in it.
Newark. n. j.. capitalists are also interested.
An examination OF the trucks on the chr
showed them to be all in working order. There
are no guard rails on the bridge. but the ties
are extended out from the track on either side
fully five feet.
Coroner Doten will start an investigation at
10 o'clock TO- morrow morning. He will sum-
mon coroncr's jury. which is departure from
the ordinary practice In this state.
There was great crowd around the STRAIT
ford town hall tonight. many OF whom wanted
to see II they could identify any OF the twenty
three bodies laid out there.