Connecticut western news., 1915-08-26
THAT 0LD-TlME WRECK
Testimony in Request on Fatality of 50
 Years Ago.

Tears ago.
 Reporting the inquest following tho fatal railroad collision north of Bridge port 30 years ago this month, printed from the Bridgeport Farmer's reminis- cence column in last weeks issue, the Farmer reproduces the following. Charles Hunt. at that time president of the railroad, was resident of Ca naan: s.
 A jury If inquest was summoned by virtue of warrant issued by Justice Lord, yesterday afternoon. The fol. lowing inhabitants of the town of Bridgeport attended, and were sworn as jurors James F. Dunhan, $. F. Sumner Dwight Morris, w. k. Seeley L. NJ. Slade, Russell Tomlinson, w. c. Stevenson, Jos. A. Banks, .WilliamWay, Levi Hubbell, w. w. Holcomb, and George w Olmstead. Dwight Morris was chosen foreman of the jury and $. B. Sumner, clerk.
 After viewing the bodies at the de. pot, the examination of witnesses com menced, the investigation being con. ducted in the Common Council cham. ber
 Robert Spencer, father of the young lady, Mrs. Sarah H. Lamberton, of Brooklyn, testified that she was 24 years old. and was at Bridgeport visit ing. Her sister.in.law, Mrs. E. O. Wakeman, of Westport, was with her. Identified the bodies by the clothes first saw them where they are now. My daughter called on her mother that morning and said she was going to Newtowu. My residence is in Brook lyn, N. Y.
 Owing to the lateness of the hour an adjournment was taken to 9 o'clock Wednesday morning. The clerk was ! instructed to summon Charles B. Hunt, Edmund Thompson, W. E. Tur. bee, s. Hartwell, the conductors, en- gineers, brakemen and employees of both trains, and the engine, as we'll as | the surgeons.
 At the opening of this inquest this morning, H. L. Plumb, conductor, testified as follows: am conductor nine years; was conductor yesterday; left at lo:45, 10 minutes late; extra train went out in the morning, which we found broken down; we hirched onto them at Trumbull Church. Mir. Hunt asked me about the time-I told him about II o'clock-we then com. meneed backing down-it is seven miles to Trumbull Church--told en- gineer to back slow. stood with Charles Punt oR'the rear platform In coming round the curve saw an engine coming-this was near the second cross. ing above the Pequonnock mills (where now stands the city yards). Ipulled the bell rope. was only 10 yards off. | the bell stuck or rung but once. ! then jumped of. As soon as I jumped the engine struck the train. Tho scene that followed was a loud crash with an escape of steam. There were about 46 passengers in the rear car. We were going about 10 miles an hour; don't know what speed the Fairfield was making. When I jumped I stood on my feet-went to the front end of the rear car immediately. The heat was so intense could not stay moment the locomotive ran in about half way through the rear of the car, MT, Hunt sentime to town for physicians. Nn signal was sent back. If had known of this engine would have sent one back. l knew this extra freight went out this morning. We were only look. ing for the ll:45 train from Bridgeport which should have signalled when 1 arrived on her time. Mir. Hunt di- rected-me to back down, the engineer saying he was powerless to push botfs trains up-NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT SENDING A SIGNAL BACK had no intimation of this engine 1 Fairfield coming out for n trial We started back to Bridgeport about 1 T o'clock, which left us 25 minutes to go to Bridgeport. The collision happened at lI:20. We had come only two or three miles from where we started back Our whistle was blown at the crossing as usual. Nothing was said to me about sending out flag by MT. Hunt: when backing it is usual to give long whistle at the crossings which was done yesterday. I had charge of my own train notwithstanding the presence of MT. Hunt, but of course I had to obey his orders-it is not customary to flag when out of time unless a train is OK. pected-the Housatonie railroad is a single track road--I feel bound to obey Mir. Hunts orders in all things pertain ing to my duty when he is aboard; could not have done different if MT. Hunt had been absent. The curve is so sharp at the place that when saw the engine l could not see further than 10 rods. heard no whistle from the approaching engine, she may have been l did not hear them. I don't know whose duty it was to notify me of this engine; think it was some- one's. MT. Winslow tmaster mechanic of road) did not tell me of this trial trip. I think it was his duty to notify ne of it. ..a