New-York tribune., 1907-06-24
SIX KILLED IN CRASH
SCORES ARE INJURED.
Engine Ploughs Into TrainIoad of
Laborers at Hartford
CBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]


Hartford, Conn, June 23.-With terrific
crash, the report of which was heard for nearly
quarter of mile work train of four cars,
filled with Italian laborers. crashed into one or
the local "dinkey" trains which make half
hourly trips to New Britain, shortly before
o'clock tonight. At least six persons were
killed and scores were injured The response
bility for the accident has not been officially
determined, but from the various unofficial re-
ports and rumors it is believed that a dispatcher
of the Highland Division of the Consolidated
road will be held
The dead are Bona Vincenzo. Carlo Cravagli.
Domenick Scavallo. Tony Marcina, all Italians.
living in Hartford: Patrick Clancy, of Burnside,
and one man not identified
When President Mellen removed the third
rail between this city and New Britain and
Bristol he substituted the New Rochelle din
key" engines. and they ran on the same single
track Recently. however, large sized locomo-
tives were put on. and to-nght's crash
test between one of these heavy engines and O
hight wooden work of the old style. the
engine of the work train being in the rear and
running backward at the time of the accident.
The regular "dinkey'' track was closed to-day.
The work train started back TO this city and
planned to arrive at $50 tonight. All day long
the "dinkey" locals have used the Highland
Division freight track. but for some reason not
yet explained the local which left here for New
Britain and Bristol at GAS p. m. used it's regular
track AS IT approached the long curve at the
Sigourney street grade crossing the engineer
saw the work train approaching. He applied
the brakes, and with his fireman jumped 10
safety.
The passengers had just recovered their equi-
librium when they thrown helter skelter
throughout the cars by the force OF the collision
No one was killed on the local train. but a large
number hurried the various HOSPITALS
and private houses in carriages, automobiles.
improvised ambulances and on stretchers There
were about sixty Italians on the work train. and
those IN the first who failed TO jump TO
reach the other were killed instantly. Few
identihcations have been made tonight. All Of
those killed were Italians. The first car was
split In two and the second car. after telescoping
II. landed in a heap OF wrecked kindings.
The work engine and the car next II only
remained intact At q late hour tonight nine
dead had been taken from the wreckage, and It
is believed that several more will be found be-
meath the mass OF twisted iron and trucks. A
number Of the volunteer workers and some of
the trainmen tainted when they lit torches and
for the numerous doctors and nurses who ar
rived soon after the accident The headlight Of
the passenger train hurled into the wreck
age. and soon the debris was afire. The Fire
Department was called out and. after extinguish-
ing the blaze, did good work assisting the police
force.
Both branches OF the civic service aided the
trainmen in lacking up the cars and releasing
the dead and dying. Rocco Calavose. OF this
city, pinned beneath the trucks of one OF
the cars and remained there for moro than an
hour before the cars were lacked up. He cried
piteously for help and was taken out from be-
meath the journals soon as possible and hur-
ried with the others 10 ST. Francs's Hospital One
of his legs severed and his scalp was almost
torn from his head. II is believed that he and
four or five others. who are seriously hurt, can
survive their injuries.
Local detectives and railroad detectives were
on the scene early and Coroner J. Gilbert Cal
houn, Of this county. held a brief preliminary
inquest Immediately. The regular inquest will
be held tomorrow. when attempt will be
made to fix the responsibility.
The O'Clock express from New York was held
up about half hour directly abreast of the
wreck The 7:l0 o'clock express, north. passed
on an adjoining track soon after the accident
and side swiped" the wreckage. When the
news of the accident reached the city squad
of police detailed. and the men had hard
work keeping the thousands of persons who
swarmed from all directions away from the
scene. There was danger all OF the time. be-
cause the wrecked cars had 10 be maintained In
an upright position by stays. while the rescuers
underneath battling to save the lives OF the
victims.
Half 4 dozen priests early at the scene
and administered the last rites 10 some OF the
sufferers Soon after the wreck. while in
vestigation was being made ascertain the
whereabouts of the living victims. man
derneath several tons OF debris waving
a red flag. Some reached in with bottle
Of whskey and gave him draft He remarked:
THE first drink in twelve years, and God knows
| need IT."
At St Francs's Hospital there thirty-one
victims tonight The doctors say that two OF
them cannot live and they unable 10 give
any detailed information regarding the condi-
ton of the rest