The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-08-11
Jesse A. James, Newtown; Joseph Atohl-
son, Woodbury..
The Shelton Trolley Horror


CRUSH OUT LIVES, OF PASSENGERS
NINE PERSONS ESCAPE WITH INJURIES.
\ Monday merning' q papers brought she
of one OF the worst accidents
that has taken place in Connecticut In re-
cent years, when trolley car bound
from Bridgeport to Shelton left the rails
at Peck's Mil bridge and plunged so feet
to the ground. The news was received
in Newtown with sorrow by everyone
and every newspaper that Postmaster
Duncombe had for sale ON his stand was
greedily snapped up. -
It appears that the car which caused
the slaughter left the lower bridge at /
Bridgeport for Shelton at little after
2.30 O'Clock. The exact number OF pas
sengers aboard cannot be learned, but
the Indicator showed 40 fares rung up.
In addition to the 40 who paid fare on the
car there were the nnotorman,, the con-
ductor and an extra conductor who was
learning the road, besides three or four
children too small to be charged fare.
The car had nine seats and afforded room
for 45 people. Ii is probable that that
number of persons was aboard. Conduc-
tor John, Carroll and Motorman George
Hamilton were in charge of the car. The
best known of the passengers who board
ed the Car were Henry G. Cogswell, gem
eral freight agent of the Berkshire divi-
zion of the Consolidated road; Ex-Fire
Marshal Joseph Hotchklss, Peter Ring,
contractor and builder, and Patrick Nc
Dermott, until recently sexton at st
Mary's church, East Bridgeport. All of
these are numbered among the dead. =
The Farmer In the story of the sad
event said; The Car sped along at the
usual rate until Paradise green was
reached, stopping along the way to pick
up passengers The indicator Of the car
showed that 40 persons had paid fares.
About two miles north Of Paradise green
ia Peck,s5 mill so-called.~ Until work
upon the massive iron structure, where
the tragedy occurred, was first commence
ed there was stream ofiwater, varying In
depth, flowing by the mill. This body
of water was called Peck's stream.
When the contractors were ready to start
work upon the bridge, It was necessary
to draw the water off, to permit building
the big abutments OF masonry.
Since the completion of the bridge
there has not been drop of water in the
| stream, other than that which collected
in the ruts and hollowa of the boys, low
lands. From the bed OF the stream to
the highest portion OF the bridge is 3
distance of 30 feet on the east side and 40
feet on the west. It was to the former
side the car fell. e. t..e''' 49,
The approach to the bridge is q straight,
direct course, the line DETECTING scarcely
foot until the bridge 10 passed. The
structure Is $50 feet long, and is pro-
nounced by engineers to be one of finest
pieces of electric road construction in the
1 world. 1t was built so finely that
freight cars might pass over 1t with per-
feet safety. The rails are what are
known in railroad circles as 90 pound
T'' rails. The ties st the southern ex-
tremity are much longer than are usually
utilized, but in constructing the bridge
President Rsdel gave orders chat no ex-
pense should be spared to make it safe.
The ends of the ties project beyond the
rails on either side, commencing at the
southern end Of the bridge, a distance OF
fully five feet. There are two sizes OF
ties, the larger ones being used until
within short distance of the northern
end of the trestle. Parrallelling the
rails on either side are timbers, 1Ox1G
inch guard, intended as q preventive
1 against just such occurrences as yester.
day. The distance between the rails and
these string pieces is ten inches. This
forms q groove between the rails and
stringers. --... -, ,- .... Fl
As the Inflated car drew near the
bridge, it was boarded by one of the spe-
L GE61 4OkAC VA AAeRENpOAS GAbS .bAS4C
and the motorman cautioned to cross the
structure at the siowest possible speed
Accounts differ as to just what speed the
car was making, eye witnesses giving CON
Trajectory accounts. Miss Fanny Peck,
daughter Of Treat Peck. who lives just
east Of the bridge, said the car was going
fast, while William Kelly, who was one
I of the fortunate survivors who saved hill
life by jumping, says the car WAS not
running fast. -
At all events the car had scarcely
reached the bridge before it jumped the
track. Then ensued what is admitted By
comprehension. After leaving the rails
the car plougheds along on the ties for &
distance Of fully 100 feet, when it literally
climbed over the heavy stringers and CON
tinued on itg fatal flight until the forward
right wheel left the ends of the project
ing ties. Suddenly the car swayed frs
to the right, and then as IL impelled By
come irresistible weight, rolled to chs
left and pitched into the air. It landed
in the gully In reversed position. The
top OF the car, which. struck the soft
marshy land first, was buried several fee
in the soft earth. 5000
The frame work of the car, connecting
top with bottom, more notably the two
ends, snapped into splinters and the Inn
prisoned passengers were literally sand
wiched between the top and bottom OF
the, car. twas as If the aides had been
taken out OF a freight car, and top ans
bottom were damned together.
George Hamilton, motorman of TIM
fatal car, No. 2, that plunged from Peck
bridge, was arraigned before Justice
Charles Ell. Peck.at the Stratford tow
hall at 6 80 Monday evening, to plead Il
the charge Of manslaughter and negli
gently and carelessiy Running an electric
street car, resulting in the death OF Will
liam Osborn and divers other persons
The warrant was issued by Grand Juro
4 David Il. Rhoades. Moterman Hamfltoi
entered plea of 4not guilty." and ex
planned that he applied the brake will
all force, but that It failed to have effect
Hamilton was not represented by conn
sci. The hearing was adjourned unit
August Il, Hamilton being released
under bonds OF $1,000! Druggist w. B
Tuttle of Strstford furnished the bond
When In court Motorman Hamilton
showed evidence Of having been in tn
accident, his face being bandaged. Fol
/ THE DEAD.
Henry G. Cogswell, age IS. b74 Washington
irving Doris. age IT. IS Franklin street
Mrs Arthur Holmes. age 10. DAT Helensstreet
Bridgeport.
i Osmer 3 Wells age IS. 2es North avenue
bridgeport. s
william H. Harvey, age 40, III Madison, av
enue, Bridgeport.
Mrs william RI. Harvey, age 40, 112 Madiso,
1 avenue, Bridgeport.
John 10 Carroll, ags ID, stratford avenu,
and Broome street, Bridgeport.
Miss Bessie Toomey. age 81. % Rever,
street, Bridgeport.
Elias u. Bradley, town agent. Milford, ct.
MRS Elias e. Bradley, Milford, ct.
Sidney A. Pitt age22, 200 Main street Bridge
port.
Sidney A. Pitt, Jr., age months and days
200 Main street, Bridgeport.
1 Victor Anderson, coachman, So Park place
4 n :