The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-04
MIX BLAMES SPECIAL CREW
PRELIMINARY FINDING SHOWS
 ORDERS WERE NOT OBEYED.

4 AAAAAhINAhI FLNDING SHOWS ORDERS WERE NOT OBEYED. Engineer Fisher of the Special still Fugitive-COnductor Eaton DeIiriOus -Edivence Thus Far Tends to Ex- onerute Him from Blame-WrecIz One of the Worst in Years-Injured Grays Are mprOving-Russen and Cham plin Much Better.
 Coroner Mix stated last night that he would resume, at his office at Il o'clock this morning, his inquiry into the wrecking of the Grays' special train near Waterbury early Saturday morn ing. In his preliminary finding the cor oner places the blame for the wreck upon the special crew.
 He finds that the following written directions to take the Hill siding and wait for the regular to pass were given to Engineer Fisher of the special, who IS still missing, to Engineer Norton of the regular, who was killed, and to Conductor Eaton of the special and Conductor Flynn of the regular:
 March ?, 1907. Orders No. 1, 12:02 a.. m. Engine No. 1764 (the speciaD will run extra from Waterbury to West river junction ahead of No. 1253, and will meet 1928 (the regular) at Hill sid ing and run through Hill siding"
 Coroner Mix regarded these orders as explicit.
 The coroner is also of the opinion at the present stage of his probe that the special was proceeding at a speed of forty miles an hour. rate which he declares careless and criminal under the circumstances.
 Fisher the engineer of the special, who was at first thought to have been killed in the wreckage, is still missing. It was reported yesterday that he had been seen in Union City and that he was making for Bridgeport, Coroner Mix stated last night that the police were on the lookout for him. He said he hoped that Fisher would give him. self up like a man and tells his side of the case both for his own sake and the sake of the public.
 A friend of Mir Fishers said in ex- cuse for him yesterday:
 MT. Fisher didn't know much about that division anyway. He was a spare engineer, that is he ran over all the ie fvaty that he had made over the Naugatuck division in six months. They have been strengthening the line up that way and I don't believe Fisher knew where he was at He probably didn't know that the location of the switch had been shifted. do hope he will come home for his wife's sake"
 Numerous Improvements have been made by the railroad on this division and it was learned that the Hill siding had been moved further north
 "EIis wife is prostrated," said the friend land she fears he has been kill ed If he were alive his wife thinks she should have heard from him before this, and she has been waiting all day long expecting him to come in. The poor woman has been weeping all day and her grief is terrible.'
 The Fishers moved to 1O7 Lafavette street from West Haven several months ago. They have two children who at tend the Sunday school of Trinity church.
 About five years ago Fisher left the railroad company and opened a cafe or Meadow street, near Church. now known as "The Boston," and conduct. ed this business about two years, mak, ing a large number of friends in this part of the city. He sold out this place about three years ago and went back tc his former calling as a locomotive en gineer
 Conductor John Eaton of the specia is at his home in a delirious condition His right leg is badly sprained and ht has number of cuts and bruises.
 Owing to his condition the police or orders from Coroner Mix, permitted him to remain at his home. as it i simply desired to hold him as a witnes it being now admitted that he canno be held responsible for the collision un der the circumstances.
 In an Interview his wife said:
 "Mr. Eaton states that before tn train left the station in Waterbury h' called Fishers attention especially tt the fact that the train order directed them to go on the siding known a Iilps siding, to wait for the regula, accommodation to pass, He says Fish CT said: All right, Eaton, and climbed into the cab. He was not obliged b! the rules to call the engineers attention especially to this fact, but being natur ally cautious, did so, It was an eXtr' run for him. but he had had plenty o