Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-12
Federal Express Goes Over Embankment at
Bridgeport, Bringing Death to Twelve
ONE OF THE VICTIMS A NORWICH MAN
Fory-Four Injured in Two Bridgeport Hospitals
Engineer Blamed For the Acknowledgment tol
Make Cross-Over at 60 Miles Hour, Contrary to
Reguations-One Passenger Becomes Stark Mad

to recover. Several however, are ir
daniel Kissner, head brakeman, whose
home is at 1O4 Willis street. New
York. His skull and several ribs are
broken and he has internal injuries.
Others May Not Survive.
John F. Won Pfeiffer of Readville
Mass. and Mary McSweeney and Mrs
Loretta McCrohan of Philadelphia may
not survive. Mrs. McCrohan received
several broken ribs and internal in
| juries.
One Victim Enciente.
The wreck will be responsible for
two more deaths if Mrs. Sarah Calabra
| also of Philadelphia, succumbs, for she
is about to give birth to child. Three
of her children, aged from two to five,
| are at the hospital with her, none of
them badly hurt.
| Covered With Bruises and Cuts.
All the patients are covered with
! bruises and cuts, showing the manner
in which they were thrown about their
cars when the train rolled down the
| embankm ent
Man Made Stark Mad.
| In private ward at ST Vincent s
| hospital is W. A. King, young ma
chinist who recently came to Bridge
port from Kansas City, and who went
| 10 1ullduClpnld y6StSIUdy 10 Inject
George H. Kirby, who was coming
from Kansas City to get employment
in "a local factory. Although King
shows hardly scratch, the accident
drove him stark mad.
Raves for His Pal.
He raved and shouted continuously
for his pal" when they were drag
ging me out I saw two legs under the
wreckage," he said in one of his lucid
moments. '7The trousers were the
same kind George wore"
His Pal is Missing.
Kirby has not been found here, al
though Bridgeport was his destination
and 1t is feared he may be one of the
two dead men still unidentified. The
other Is q negro whose ticket read
from Philadelphia to Boston and whose
trunk was checked from West Chester,
Pa.
Worst Wreck Since May, 1858.
On May 5, 1853, there was a wreck
at South Norwalk. Conn. in which "A
lives were lost. Since then until to-
day the New Haven railroad line has
been singularly free from disasters.
Automatic signals protected the cross
over which the express had to take
here to enable it to make the stop at
the local station, and the rules of the
line prescribed a speed at this point
of not more than 10 miles an hour.
Train Running Mile a Minute.
Stories that the engineer was a new
man, not accustomed to a train of such
Importance, and that the tOwerman
was not at his post. were denied by
the company in official statements.
The fact remains, however, that when
the express started across the trestle
where-the switch is located it was run
ming nearly go miles an hour. When
it struck the "crossover" the engine
leaped the rails. dragging all but three
of its cars along.
Engineer Tried to Slow Down.
The towerman says that when Curtis
locomotive whizzed by steam had been
shut off and the brakes were grinding
realized his mistake and was trying to
slow down, although too late.
Mrs. Walcott Identified by Ring.
Several hours elapsed before Mrs.
Walcott. one of the dead, was identi-
fed, first by the name on her clothing
and then by ring marked sc. d. w.
to P. B. L., June %, 1885," She is the
wife of Charles D. Wa1cott of Wash
ington, director of the Smithsonian
institute. Mr. Walcott telephoned that
he had left Washington and would be
here late tonight.
One of Train Crew Missing.
The bodies Of the engineer and fire.
man were identified by F. H. Barnes of
New York, president of the Empire
City lodge, Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen. and James NJ. Breen,
anxious inquiries Of W. H. Boyd cf
New York. member Of the train crew,
who Is still missing.
Unidentified Man Were Blue Shirt.
The unidentified white man at the
mn n a an h c,I7i irf ,aI,
railroad men wear. His head was split
and his face battered almost beyond
recognition.
Coroner to Investigate.
Coroner Clifford B. Wilson said to-
night that he would investigate the
wreck at an early date.
Engineer Curtis Blamed.
New Haven, Conn, July lin a
statement issued by Vice President
Horn of the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad company this
evening the assertion is made that En-
gineer Curtis disregarded both the dis
tance and home signals, and confrma-
ton is given of the earlier official
statement to the effect that the Fed
eral express was running on the cross
over at a rate of about so miles an
hour. when the running card called for
only 15.-
Had Run Federal Express Once Before
Mr.. Horn says that the engineer had
once previously run the Federal ex-
press and was a man who was familiar
with the operation of the line between
New York and Bridgeport by general
experience Mr.. Horn adds that there
is no way of accounting for the "error
made by the engineer"
Trainmen Worked All Niqht.
All night long the wreckers, the To-
cal police and trainmen worked over
the mass of wreckage. but up to mid
night no more bodies had been discov-
cred. Up to the same hour none of
the wounded in the two hospitals has
succumbed to their injuries, though the
condition of at least four is considered
serious.
Another Weman Injured.
One name was added to the list of
injured. that of Mrs. May Walker of
1125 Eleventh street, Washington, D.
c.. who is at st. Vincents hospital,
suffering with cuts and bruises, but her
condition is not serious.
Tonight the police made thorough