Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-05
ENGINEER FISHER.
Will Tell His Side of the Accident
 Story to Coroner.

Engineer William Fisher. who has been located in Cheshire, will it is expected, make a statement before coroner Mix, in which he will endea- vor to show that he is blameless for the wreck on Saturday morning in which three lives were lost. Fisher, who Is still suffering from shock be- cause or the accident and the trip he made through streams and brush un- Ill he reached Cheshire, is of the opinion that the railroad officials are at fault more than he. He secs no | reason why q special should have been sent out with d man who was not familiar with the sidings along the route and moreover declares that he had only four minutes to make Hill siding on the morning the en- zines cOllided.
 Fisher claims that he understood his orders thoroughly and was watch ing out for the signals which would lead him onto the siding. He had Brakeman Fitzsimmons in the cab With him and warned the latter to watch closely as the siding of late had been changed. Although Fisher had been over the route often. be- cause of the Improvements going on. he was not aware just where Hill siding started.
 As the engine approached the acid factory Fisher and Fitzsimmons both saw the switch lights. but they were Of the opinion that the lights were for the siding running into the fac tory, while in reality they were the warning that Hill siding was at hand. The engineer continued along the tracks, but moment later he per ceived that they were running along side of another track and it then dawned upon them that they were on the main track. The brakes were applied as quickly as possible, but the regular which was approaching rapidly, Engineer Norton thinking that he had a clear track, was upon them in another minute.
 Fisher says he was hurled from his cab after the crash and although partly stunned started on q run. He according to his own statements. waded through stream nearby and went along needless of where his steps would take him. About 10 o'clock Saturday evening he arrived in Cheshire and when he saw where he was, he went to the house of a friend. who hardly recognized him, such was the condition of his cloth ing.
 The past couple of days Fisher has been unable to appear before the cor oner. He asserts that he is blameless and does not understand why he should be charged with carelessness. when he was endeavoring to obey the orders to the letter. He is of the im- pression that the special should he held in Waterbury until the regular arrived as any engineer was taking a chance on reaching Hill siding with only four minutes to spare. especially since there are many sidings before that point is reached.
 Since the day of the accident there has been much criticism because of the special leaving the Naugatuck station before the regular arrived. as the delay would have been only a few minutes. if the military boys had awaited for the ''owl- train to get in.
 It is doubtful if the members of the militia thought that the banquet would he over So soon. and up to the time that their special started must have been thinking they would have a clear track on the way back. It certainly seems strange the more one considers it that orders should bc giv- en to start for New Haven when the wait at ihe station at the most. would hardly be a half hour Fisher may have bungled, but it appears as though there were others who did not ,.Sr rou.I. ftrd.rsnant