The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-11

Hartford, Conn, July 1.-The Him ited experience of Engineer Charles J. Doherty, in handling the big Pacific type of locomotive he was driving, is given by the Connecticut Public Util- ities Commission, in it's report of the fatal wreck at Stamford, Ion the New Haven and Hartford Railroad on June 12 the immediate cause of the acci- dent,'' but the commission points out that the railroad company has ulti- mate responsibility for the safe oper- ation of its trains, that it was it's duty to know whether or not the engineer was properly qualified, and that it was rerniss in the matter.
 The report finds that the signals at Stamford are set too close together, and recommends that the distance between them be increased. It also recommends. that changes be made in the matter of determining the f1t- ness of engineers, and that there be frequent examinations of employees to determine their qualifications. The report also finds that from the tes- tinnony of experts and from the series of experimental tests with the train and engine of second 53 (Dohertys 6 train) that the brakes were in good and serviceabIe condition, capable of safely stopping the train at Stamford at the time of the accidente if timely and properly applied.
 The essence of the finding is not ma terialIy different from that of the In terstate Commerce Commission, ex- cept that the Connecticut commission finds that the brakes were adapted to a high speed train, and the latter finds they were not
 Both agree in the assertion that Do- hertv could have worked the brakes had his judgment been sound as to the distance needed under the cond1-- tions-
 But both agree that the responsibil- ity is with the company, in that IL was its duty to have man of known competence suitably examined, ln- structed and supervised.
 There is also agreement that the space between danger and distant sig nal was too little
 The Connecticut commission goes step further in one dlrectlon, & oy lH, t,,. rn1Ilat ting set of rules to govern the employment of engineers herea1ter.
 eThese rules are in the report or Chief Engineer ElweIl. The report cf E1neineer ElwelI and the finding or the commission are as follows; r74,,,.4, To the Honorable Fu"il3
 Commission: Gentlemen:
 have made a careful examination of inc "causes, facts and circumstan- ces'' connected with this accident, Tn c1I1dine an examination of the grounds and physical appearance or the WrecA or the night of the accident prior 'o the removal Of the Wreekeo a..a-.+ car eai. engine, participation in subsequent tests made of the engine and cars lh Iyo1vedl / presence at and participation in an examination of witnesses held at stamford and at the Companys oILlce in New Haven, and later attenoeo d iioir1t hearing of the Interstate com T1oerce Commission and the Puphc iSSiOn. held at BT1OSS- 1ort on the 18th and 18th oayS or rune 1913. from all of which res ,,ac+f11llv submit the following report
 On June 12, 1913, at about 4.50 o'clock in the afternoon, in daylight and clear weather, a rear end collis- ion occurred at Stamford DetWeen the first and second sections of westbound na ssenger express train No. 3 of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company
 The engine of the second section tel escoped the rear parIor car SIyIark of the first section, which contained thir- tv passengers, instantly killing three and so badly injuring three others that they died within few hours. Twenty-four passengers in said parlor car and two mail clerks on the sec ond section, were injured.
 With the exception of the destruc- ton of parlor car Slxylark the train equipment of. both sections received slight damage, no cars being derailed. The second section broke in two be- tween baggage car No. 3106 and Pull man car Centerdale, due to a broken knuckIe on one end Of the Pullman car, probably caused either by the col lision or by the emergency application of brakes on the car when moving at slow speed.
 The damage to engine 1898 on sec