Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-08-11
TROLLEY CAR TRAGEDY,
Thirty-Six People Killed Near
Bridgeport, Conn.

Car Jumped the Tracks, Went on
TrestIe into Mud Bank 10 Feet Be
IoNv---Car Turned over aud Heavy
Motor Crushed People.
Thirty six people were killed and several in
iured on the stratford extension of the Shelton
street railway company, when a loaded car went
off the treste over Peck's pond at Oronoque,
about six miles from Bridgeport, Conn, Sunday.
Il is believed that there 43 passengers in the
car, but the exact number is not known, as the
Indicator was carried away by the conductor of
another car.
The scene OF the accident Is dway betw en-
Shelton and Bridgeport. The car was north
bound, running toward Shelton. twas in charge
of Conductor Johd Carroll of Bridgeport, (who
was among the killed. and Motorman Hamilton
of bridgeport. He escaped by jumping.
The trestle is 440 feet long, made OF iron, with
stone foundations, and not protected ny any
guard rails. South of the treste is an incline on
which the car runs down at a very last rate OF
speed. After It on to the treste for ab ut 10
feet the trucks LEFT the rails ana theh the car
continued on the ties for about IS feet, when It
went off the trestle and dropped into the pond
below When the car struck, the motor, which
weighed four tons and the heavy trucks crushed
into it, Instantly killing many of the passengers
| Drs. j. G. Lynch, r ". Ivors and j. NJ, John
son of Bridgeport, who were passengers on car
| a short distance behind, were quickly on the
scene, and rendered all possible assistance to the
| injured. Word was quill ky sent to Bridgeport,
and three ambulances and police wagon were
| hurried to the scene, and the injured were taken
| to the Bridgeport general hospital. Medical Ex
| aminer Coggswell of Stratford improvlsed a
morgue in the main room Of the town hall at
Stratford. and in very short time 20 bodies were
| laid out, awaiting identtficaiion.
The accident was witnessed by Miss Frances
| Peck, who lives about 400 feet from the bridge
She claims that the car was running at an unusu-
| ally high rate of speed. Frank Cramer, who was
| bathing near the bridge, states that the people
| were all singing and in the most Joyous manner
| 8 thew passed.
The road, which is practically controlled by
| the Bridgeport Traction company, was opened
| for traffic last Thursday. Presi ent Radel was
| in Derby when he received news of re catastro-
phe, aud Immediately drove TO the scene. He
was completely Frustrated when ne saw the eA
tent OF the disaster. He was at loss TO accouh
for the accident, and denied that the cars wer'
being run at a high rate of speed ana CLAIMED
that every possible pre-, aution had been taken u
nrevent an n an occurrence Seven Inspector
were put on to VI tch the running of the cars an!
a time allowance OF half an hour was allowed
and extra cars put on to provide Tor TINS .
The car after 'upepding." soon settled on II
side and there was difficulty in removing IN,
bodies Of the dead as well as assisting Vne Wounu
ed. Nearly all the persons killed sustained IrHc
tured skulls Those who were notkilled Wer
unconscious. , T., $50,
many with a Miss Farrell of New York, who wa
! killed escaped death by jumping from the car
as he felt it Waying, to the flats below. he slal
} ed that the car was not running unusually tasl
, but that the car was swaying considerably whe
il struck the trestle and he realized the DANCE
and knew his only safety was in Jumping.
George Willis superintendent ut the f. N Bas
: sett company. Shelf on, was on the highway nc
more than 100 feet from the scene and witnessed
the car toppliug over He said that there wa
! one uneai thly shrek as 1t went down and aite
that silence. II. - no
one of the pathetic scenes was that OF a life
less baby reclining IN the arms OF ueau , IA =
J and the infant seemed to be smiling and aslteI
Another sad scene was when a three ear old so
of Mrs j. H. Ruggles was frantlcauy nppeailn
| TO his mother, who was one OF the victims hi
l. sister five Years old, had her lett arm broker
J | Nearly all OF the people on the car nveu
I Bridgeport, but several passengers were frol
< STAFFORD.
; A coroners jury was imp anneled at Bridgeport
| Monday A visit TO the scene of the disaster shoN
ed that the car ran SIS feet after 1t left the rails
fore il toppled over into the mud fats. The gre
g loss of life was undoubtedly due to the fact IN!
$ the car turned complete over in railing, ana u
IS heavy motor crashed through the car ana crhs
ed the occupants. An examination OF the g
showed that the power was turned on ana u
brakes set at the time OF the accident. II
bridge was in first class condition. Bridge e
psrts said that the car on going rapidly down q
!, incline would acquire a springy motion on accou
! of the elasticity Of the earth, and that when q
car struck the bridge the elasticity OF the tound
il | tion would be removed and there would be da
ger that the car would jump from the rails: L
Bridge port Traction company denies tnat IL &C
ar troled the road An official of the Shelton sire
railway company says a contract had been plac
for puttinR steel guard rails inside the rails n
Oh ming over the Ireste. George Hamilton, {
g. motorman was arrested, charged with ms
n. slaughter. He was relea sed after $1,000 bail
L. fur ished, and his case was continued one wee