The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-11
Thus far shirty-six people are known to
be dead and several more injured
The identified dead are:

wife, Milford.
WILLIAM OSBORNE. stratford.
DANIEL CALVIN, Asonia.
CoNDUcToR JOHN CARROLL. Bridge
port Me.
MRS M'DONALD, Bridgeport.
Bridgeport Traction company.
T09NEY AGED AGED y BridgepoTt
MRS. J. H. RUGG, Stratford.
MRS. FRANK BLEW and two children.
boy aged and girl aged s. Stratford.
WM: M.CULLOCH. Stratford.
MRS. ARTHUR HOLMES, Bridgeport.
THOMAS M'NALLY, aged 30, Bridgeport;
identification not positive.
PETER RING, aged 2S. Bridgeport.
PATRICK M'DERMoTT, aged 50. Bridge
Mrs PATRICK BRENNAN, aged so,
Bridgeport.
ALFkED PITT, aged %, B Bridgeport. M
identification not positive.
IRVING DOuRISE. aged 25. Bridgeport
MRS. WM. II. HARVEY, Bridgeport
Among the serious injured at the Bridge
port hospital are:
Margaret Brennan, scalp wound
Mrs Sidney A. Hit, Bridgeport. right leg
fractured twice.
Margaret Farrell, right leg amputated
above knee; will probably die.
George Hamilton. scalp wound, injury to
leg.
Frank hratt, bridgeport, Injury about
Arthur Holmes. Bridgeport, contusions
about the body, left leg crushed.
Fred Hillerus. scalp wound, bruised about
the body.
Matthew olvin, scalp wound. cut and
Margaret Farrell, New York.
William Kelly, Bridgeport, sprained arm.
Mabel Rugg, aged S. arm broken.
Charles Delany, New York stock broker,
Injured internally.
Only two persons are known to have
escaped unharmed. 1t is believed that
there were fifty three passengers on the
car. but the conductor was removed by
the conductor of another car and spirited
away. SO that at present it is impossible
to state accurately the number aboard.
The scene Of the accident is midway be-
tween Shelton and Bridgeport The car
was northbound. running toward Shelton.
1t was in charge OF Conductor John Car
roll. OF Bridgeport. who was among the
injured. and Motorman Hamilton, OF
Bridgeport. who escaped by jumping
The trestle is 440 feet long. made of iron
with stone foundations and was not pro.
tected by guard rails. South OF the trestle
- oi AhSfilS dONu WHICH CQ6 car Cal at q
high rate OF speed. After it ran onto the
trestle for about ten feet the trucks left
the rails and then the car continued on
the ties for about seventy-five feet when
it went off the tFestle and dropped into
the pond below. overturning completely
and Impending. Three physicians WAC
were passengers on a car short distance
behind arrived Immediately on the scene
and rendered all possible assistance to the
injured. Word was sent to Bridgeport
and three ambulances and police wagon
were hurried to the scene and the injured
were taken to the Bridgeport general hos
pttal. A morgue was improvised in the
main room of the town hall at Stratford
and in very short time twenty three
bodies were laid out awaiting identifca-
tion. The accident was witnessed by Miss
Frances Peck who resides about 400 feet
from the bridge. She was upstairs at
her home as the car was passing and she
fast rate. Frank Cramer, who was bathing
near the bridge. states that the passengers
were all singing and in the most jovial
mood as they passed him.
The road, which is practically con-
trelled by the Bridgeport Traction
company, was opened for traffic last
Thursday.
All sustained fractured Skulls.
All the persons killed sustained fractured
skulls. William Kelly, Of Bridgeport. who
was in company with Miss Farrell, escaped
death by jumping from the car as he
felt it swaying to the flats below. He
sustained severe shock but was other
wise uninjured. He stated tonight that
the cars were not running unusually fast,
but that the car was swaying considerably
when 1t left the trestle and he realized the
danger and knew his only safety was in
jumping.
George Willis, OF Shelton, was on the
highway not more than 100 feet from the
scene and Witnessed the car topping over.
He said that there was one unearthly
Shrek as it went down and after that sill
ence.
The Stratford town hail. where the
bodies were taken, was soon besieged by
more than 1000 persons. some of whom
had relatives OF friends among the dead.
and the deputy sheriffs in charge had
much difficulty in handling the crowd OF
weeping women and anxious men.
All the bodies of the Bridgeport dead
and the few unidentified were taken to the
morgue at Bridgeport late tonight. 1t has
been ascertained that forty fares were reg
istered and these with the young children
that did not have to pay the motorman
and an extra notorman who was being
taught, make the probable number on the
car A.
Cause Is n Mystery.
Nearly the entire medical force of
Bridgeport responded to the telephone calls
sent in. but when the doctors arrived they
were unable to render much assistance, so
few passengers escaped instant death The
car. after ending, soon settled over on its
side. and there was little difficulty in re-
moving the bodies of the dead. as we'll as
assisting the wounded.
Motorman Hamilton is suffering from
such a severe shock that it was impossible
to learn anything from him tonight. Pres-
dent Andrew Radel. of the railway COM
pany, stated that it was impossible for
him to account for the accident. Imme-
diately after his arrival at the scene he
made thorough inspection of the tracks
and trestle, and could see nothing wrong.
and cars were running over the trestle as
usual. afterwards. He denied that the cars
were being run at a high rate of speed.
and claimed that every precaution had been
taken TO prevent accidents.
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