Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-02
GOVERNORS STORY.
Gives His Experiences In the
 Wreck On the Naugatuck.

New Haven, March 2.--The mem- bers of the New Haven Grays who went through the collision of their train with regular passenger train at Waterbury, at an early hour, reached the city about o'clock on special electrics. Governor Woodruff was among the party in describing the accident, he said:
 "About dozen of us were sitting very near the middle of the car when the crash came. We were all thrown together, and I don't think any of us realized exactly what was going on for second or more.
 T was thrown forward. clean through the iron back of one of the seats. As soon as I collected my senses, I concluded that l must get the men out of there called to them to keep quiet and get out as soon as possible:
 "The accident occurred on slight curve. There was no embankment, and the car stayed close to the track, if not, in fact, still on it.
 "When the men got out, some by themselves, and some assisted by others. we found ourselves in utter darkness. We got together some kerosene torches, and looked over the scene.
 Both engines were in death-like embrace, and every piece of iron was bent and broken utterly beyond rec ognition. The mass looked no more like an engine than pile of pig iron in a mill yard. One engineer could be seen in the wreckage, only his feet sticking out from an immense mass of tangled steel and iron. When our car left he had not yet been extri- cated.
 "All the way into New Haven. Dr Hotchkiss, the surgeon general of my staff, worked over the injured whom We had on board. The men were throughout gallant and well be- haved.
 Tt was an awful experience.
 Captain w. B. Spencer. staff officer for Colonel Geddes of the 2nd infan- try, said: We were in one car, on our way to this city from Waterbury. We were piling along at good rate, when all of sudden there was a crash and everything and everybody in the car was piled in heap. The air was filled with the cries of the men who were pinned in the wreck i, age. It was the worst sight l ever saw and do not want to see another like 1t as long as live. Those of us who were not badly bunged up at once started to the rescue of those who were piled up in the front end"
 Charles E. Julin the, governors $ secretary, in describing the collision said: "The collision came in three distinct parts. First was the impact caused by the sudden application of the air brakes. This was followed almost immediately by the impact of the actual collision. Then. with scarcely an instants interval. came the explosion of the boilers The ap- plication of the emergency brakes, think, did about as much damage as any of the other shocks. Men were thrown in every conceivable direction and the woodwork of the car crashed and smashed and splintered. The actual collision came before we knew what was going on. It broke all the iron and steel of the car like tissue paper. The engine jumped into the air. and dropped steaming and angry into the embrace of the train in front"
 New Haven, March Ex-Governor Woodruff was unable to be seen at his home to-day to tell of his exper- fences in the wreck in Waterbury He is suffering from sprain of both arms, but Mrs Woodruff said he was resting comfortably.
 The Official Statement.
 New Haven. March 2.-The fol- lowing statement was issued from the railroad headquarters to-day. Tn the train orders the extra was instructed