The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-17
WATEROUS AUTO
 FIRE ENGINE IS
 BADLY WRECKED
Responding to Trifling Blaze, S1O,OOO Apparatus Crashes Into DoOryard in
 Two Pieces.
RAD CONDITIONS OF
 STREET RESPONSIBLE
Two Bremen on Front Seat Hurled HeadlOng But
 Neither Is Injured.

Engine No. of Bridgeport fire de- partment, the first of the $10,OOO wat erous gasoline propellors bought oy the city. was wrecked, lives and prop ertv being endangered, at Putnam and Orchard streets this forenoon Poor street conditions and a sewer man hole cover projecting several inches above the ground are believed to have been the cause of the eight-ton piece of apparatus getting out of Chauffeur Walter Franks control, running away and overturning The fire to which fl was responding was of an un1m- portant nature. Chauffeur Frank and Fireman John Atherton, who was al So on the front seat, had narrow es- capes being thrown just clear Of the apparatus as it crashed on its sue, receiving only a general shaking up. The damage to the machine has not been ascertained but it will have to be generally overhauled and repaired, being out of commission for con siderable time
 Responding to an alarm from box 4S7, caused by a cellar fire in the 12- family house at 857 Ha1lett street, Chauffeur Frank drove the machine down East Main street and into Put nam street According to fire depart nent officials a speed of about 25 miles an hour was being made with a clear path. At Orchard street one of the ponderous wheels struck a de- pression and then the manhole cover. The steering wheel was torn from Franks hand. Desperately he tried to remain control but unsuccessfully. It is believed that the stearing gear snapped at the same time and an at tempt is being made to verify this.
 Running in semi-circIeS, but with slackenine speed, the machine con- tinued several feet from the junction of the two streets when it suddenly turned, headed for the sidewalk and the bay window of the house at 21s Orchard street, occupied by I. J. Sta- ley Persons sitting in the window were terrified at seeing the apparatus heading for the house with no appar- ent means of preventing the crash Frank and Atherton stuck to their posts Through a wooden fence the machine crashed but in two parts, the front wheels being torn from their fastenings as they struck the curb. This is all that saved crashing 1nto the house The front truck rolled in to the yard and just grazed the side of the house before stopping. The rest of the machine turned on it's right side with a crash, throwing Frank and Atherton to the ground.
 Fire Chief Edward Mooney and Pres fdent Frank L. Cogi1f were soon on the scene and steps taken to ascertain the damage done and to right the ponder ous machine A gang of movers and several trucks belonging to Chris Rickard were secured and worked for an hour and a half before 1t was pos sibIe to place ropes and jacks Tn a po- sition to apply the necessary amount Of leverege.
 It was impossible to estimate the damage at a hurried examination, but there are indications that the front part, containing the all essential en- zines for motive and pumping power. has been badly shaken up and parts Ioosened- The trucks and connections are also believed to be badly strained. With the exception of the running board on the right side being smashed and other small parts being torn off, the body and top of the machine does not appear to be badly damaged.
 The wrecked machine was being drawn away and examined during the afternoon President Cogi1I and Chief Mooney are also starting an 1nvestiga- ton to fix responsibility Mrs. D. Smith living at IT Orchard street. re- ports having been an eye witness of the accident, saying that she was at the window watching the machine come down Putnam street, all going serene until Orchard street was reach ed Then, she says, the rront wheels struck what appeared to be depres- sion and the steering wheel was torn from the operators hands He tried to regain control but was unable to do So and the queer antics continued until 4he final crash
 Examination of the king bolt imme- s5fateIy following the accident showed that it had been broken and there were efzns that 1t may have been defec- five, dust and oil working into a crack. President Cogiu said that the manu- Sacturers will be notified at once, as