Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
TROOP TRAIN is WRECKED
Governor Of Connecticut and Company o.
Militia in Railroad Collision.
PARTY WAS RETURNING FROM BAtQUz
Blame is Placed on Engineer
of the Special, who Has Dis
appeared-Three Men
Killed.

NEW HAVEN, March 2-On the evidence
presented to him this afternoon, Coroner
Mix has made a preliminary finding that
Engineer William 70. Fisher of the special
train. by disobeying orders, is responsible
for the wreck on the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad early today at
Waterbury The special train ran into a
regular passenger train fom New Haven,
resulting in the death of three persons, the
probable fatal injury of two national
guardsmen and the serious injury of a
score OF other passengers.
The debris was cleared away this after
noon and, as no trace of Fishers body was
found the coroner has decided that he
jumped from the cab and fed. An order
has been issued TO the police to arrest him.
Impact Is Terrific.
with an impact Of sufficient force to crush
the ponderous locomotives together like pa
per twist and bend them and toppie them
from the track down an embankment and
into ditch beside the track, two passenger
trains, a regular and a special, met In
head-on collision early today on the Manga
tuck division of the New York, New Haven
& Hartford railroad at Platts Mills about
a mile and half below this city. resulting
| in the death OF four men, the serious
wounding of two more and lesser injuries
| the crews of the two engines.
The special was made up of an engine
and one coach, which was a party of about
| sixty-hve members of Company F, Second
| regiment Connecticut National Guard
known as the Grays, and Governor Wood
rum and members OF his STAFF. The gov
ernor escaped injury. They had been II
attendance at a banquet given In theil
honor in this city by Company A OF th'
same regiment and were on their way
home at the time Of the accident The
train left Waterbury at 40, and as thu
regular train was then late, orders were
given the special, 1t is understood to rur
TO Hillside crossing, there take the sidinl
and wait until the regular went by. Tit
special. however, is said TO have run be
yond that point and so met the regular a
Platts Mills.
Many Persons Injured.
The tenders OF the locomotives did no
leave the rails, but were hurled backward
into the coaches behind them. Almost al
OF the occupants OF the special coach re
ceived some hurt. The baggage car OF TIT
regular was telescoped
The most seriously injured OF the passen
gers are;
Fred G, Russell of New Haven. a private
In company e, and o. V. Champlin, musi
clan. also OF New Haven. Both received
internal hurts
In addition Russell is bruised about thu
head, ears and nose, and one eye Is IN
jured. Champlin had his elbow fractured
face cuts and minor bruises about the body
BY order OF Coroner Mix. 1t is under
stood. warrants are being prepared for TIT
arrest of Conductor George Eaton Of New
Haven, who was in charge OF the speeia
train OF the New Haven Grays, and TO
Engineer william T. Fisher OF the special
It was supposed that Fisher was killed
but as the wreckage is being cleared ava!
no trace Of his body has been found an'
the belief is growing that he jumped from
the engine cab and fed. His name how
ever, remains in the list Of dead as mad
up