The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-24
SIX PER|sHED
IN WRECK ON
NEW HAVEN R.R.

Hartford Conn. June A.-In one OF the
worst wrecks In the history OF the High
land division OF the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford railroad. which occur
red here last night. six workmen were
killed, two injured beyond recovery and
40 hurt seriously. Scores OF passengers
were shaken up badly and some were cut
by flying glass.
Thousands OF people swarmed to the
scene and were horrihed by the shrieks
OF the injured and dying. who. pinned
down by mass OF iron and wood. were
for time menaced by a fire which broke
out In the wreckage
Most of the victims were on board n
work train which was backing into this
city from New Britain and had reached
the Sigourney street crossing when II
was met and demolished by a passenger
train. The impact was terrific and the
crash was heard a half mile away.
PRIESTS ON SCENE.
Half dozen priests were among the
first TO arrive. and seeing that many OF
the victims could not be extricated alive
began at once 10 administer the last rites
10 the sufferers, their voices In the sacred
office minging with groans and lamenta-
tions, and the din and confusion OF
cracking timbers as the rescuers worked
desperately. spurred by the plteous ap-
peals of the sufferers
The 7.10 express north bound, passed
on an adjoining track soon after the ac-
cident and "sideswiped" the wreckagc.
Its escape was marvellous. and onlook-
ers held their breath I'm horror, expect
ing IL to be piled I'm heap on top of the
tangled mass OF the other two trains.
Most OF the dead were mangled horribly.
In one instance II took an hour and q
half to rescue a workman who was PIN
ned between the trucks. His head was
han ri
suffering untold agonies. but the rescu-
ers kept encouraging him. while doctors
reached between the framework which
held him a prisoner. and treated the
wounds on his face and head.
DANGER ALL THE TIME.
When the news Of the accident reached
the city q squad of police were detailed
and they had hard work keeping in check
the thousands who Immediately collected.
There was danger all the time. because
the wrecked cars had TO be maintained
in an upright position by stays. while the
rescuers were underneath battling to
save the lives OF the victims
During the excitement fire broke out
and the department was summoned. Az
ter quenching the flames the firemen be-
came rescuers and with axes and saws
worked hard until the arrival OF a squad
OF 80 railroad wreckers.
At ST. Francis hospital there are 81
victims. The doctors say that two OF
them cannot live aSd they are unable 10
give any detailed information regarding
the condition OF the rest.
At the Hartford hospital there are four
Injured and none Of them fatally. Auto
mobiles, wagons OF all descriptions TO-
gether with all the ambulances In the
city. were used to hurry the injured to
the hospitals The names OF the victims
on the work train, by reason OF all being
Italians, could not be learned.
When the train left New Britain there
were So workmen aboard.
REPORTS OF CAUSE DIFFER
There are three unofficial versions OF
the manner in which the wreck occurred
One Is that the passenger train for New
Britain went out on track No. 2, instead
of track No. l. The second is that the
work train had the right OF way until
I O'Clock, should have had a clear track
and that the passenger train was ahead
OF time at that point. The third is that
the work train opened a switch and failed
TO close 1t, thus making the collision pos
sible but this version is generally dis
credited.
Supt Pollock when seen at the wreck
st late hour, where he was superintend-
ing the work of clearing the wreckage
away said that no formal investigation
would be made until today. He added
the statement that the passenger train
was apparently on the wrong track and
that the blame for the catastrophe would
probably rest there.
The engineer of the work train claims
that he had the right OF way and his
statements are borne out by others on
the same train.
Wilson the engineer of the passenger
train, jumped in time to escape injury
The o'clock express from New York
was held up about half an hour directly
abreast OF the wreck.