Norwich bulletin., 1912-10-04

Westport, Conn.,, Oct. 3.-Tne Springfield express. second section. running from Hartford to New York, over the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad, was wrecked west of this station this afternoon when the engine, driven at high speed, fail ed to take cross-over from one track to another.
 Seven Lives Lost
 The train went into the ditch along side Of the tracks and the four Pull mans which followed the mail and baggage cars were completely demol- ished. and fire added to the horror or the scene. Seven lives in all were lost, five of these being women who were passengers in the first Pullman coach, which had to bear the brunt of the shock, and the others being the engine crew.
 The Dead.
 The dead are:
 G. L. Clark, engineer.
 J. J. Moker, fireman.
 Mrs. James c. Brady, daughter in
 
 Mrs. E. P. Gavitt, daughter of An thony c. Brady.
 Mrs. Jennie Hamilton, sister of Mrs. Brady.
 The other body is yet unidentified, but 1t is thought 1t may be that or Mrs. Ranson of Albany.
 Attended Patrick Garvan's Funeral. The three women first mentioned had been members of a party of friends to the funeral of Patrick Garvan at Hartford. He died recently while abroad, and by special car many friends from New York and elsewhere went to Hartford.
 Dead Were Pullman Passengers.
 The wreck this afternoon was a spectacular one. The engine as it left the rails went over on its side and down the slight embankment at that point. The baggage car went com pletely over 1t, while the mail car was laid on It's side. the. first Pullman crushed in and the other three Pull mans ditched. The three day coaches and smoker, completing the train, were off the rails and twisted about al- though fairly upright. The five pas- sengers who were killed were in the Hrst Pullman.
 Pullman Car Ablaze.
 Those passengers who made nasty exit from the second Pullman said that the first one was ablaze in a twinkling. Many injured persons were in the other cars, and such as needed attention were at once sent to the Ncrwalk hospital. The wreck dashed down the poles carrying telegraph wires alongside the track. and much delay ensued in bringing rescue par ties. The fire department in the Nor walks was called out and worked over the blazing cars while the Norwalk rospital ambulance was quickly on the scLne.
 Darkness Handicaps Reseuers.
 Aid was given by Westport and Saul eatuck people who ran to the place, but. only too soon darkness settled down over all, making the work of caring fer the injured difficult task. l. was several hours before the bodies sn the Pullman car were reached and then they were transferred to an un- dertakers wagon and removed to hospitals.
 Pumo", of Larger Death List.
 Meantime wild rumors of loss of life had spread, most of these describing the disaster as far greater than that of the Bridgeport viaduct. It was very late before 1t was definitely known that the death list in the train itself was only seven. Even when the rail- road officials were making their pre- liminary report, fixing the number of dead at seven, there were rumors of many bodies, charred by flames, being taken out of the first Pullman. Out of the many persons who were injured only about a score went to the Nor walk hospital for treatment, among these being James C. Brady, whose wife was among the dead
 Special Car Not Attached.
 The exact point of the wreck was about 500 feet west of the Westport- 6augatuck station and just beyond the passageway which runs under the tracks by means of a depressed street One Of the rear cars partly overhung this passageway.
 After the express had been wrecked great fear was entertained that the special car had been attached to this second section at Hartford. It was not until a late hour that it was def nitely determined that members of the funeral party separated at Hartford and James c. Brady and some rela- t1ves took the Springfield express. As the first section had only day coaches the second section was taken. It was not until w. F. Brady, another soI of Anthony Brady. had gone to the little undertaker's rooms here to which the bodies had been removed that those of Mrs. Brady and Mrs. Gaviti were definitely identified.
 Not Unlike Bridgeport Accident. The dead engineman was George L Clarke, and his fireman, Joseph Moker the latter dying after being taken from under the engine. The wreck was mol unlike that on the Bridgeport viaduct six miles east of here on July Il o1 last year, when the Federal express went off the embankment after the engine had failed to make the cross- over at high speed.
 Dragged Wife and Daughter ThrousE
 Window.
 From the accounts given by nassen. gers who escaped harm the accident was over so quickly that few realized It until the cars were either laid ovel or twisted about on the tracks. Ont man In the second Pullman, as soon a, ne round the car going over, punched out window. and as the car stopped he dragged out his wife and daughter Most or the passengers who were un. hurt quickly left the scene, as a spe cial train was made up at Stanfort and sent here. The railroad offlcialI did everything possible to aid thosI who had suffered injury or interr,In fion in their journey. Automobiles b, the score were soon near at hand. bu