New Britain herald., 1915-02-03
ELM CITY YOUNG MAN
 DIES UNEXPECTEDLY
Elmer HitChings Was On High Road to Recovery When Death Comes.
INJURED IN RAILROAD ACCIDENT
Survives Terrible Injuries and Lives Ihrough Siege of Pneumonia Death Probably Caused By Inter- nal Hcnlorhages.


 nal Hcmorhages.
 Uncertainty, which only the per forming of an autopsy could clear up, is felt by the New Britain General hospital authorities and attending physicians. over what caused the sudden and unexpected death of FL mer Hitchings, a New Haven young man, at the institution at o'clock this morning after he had appeared to be on the high road to recovery. The young mans wife, mother and brother, all of whom live in New Haven. were hurriedly summoned to this city to consult on the peculiar conditions under which the young man died and their permission to hold an autopsy on the body was asked. They decided however, that they did not care to have an autopsy per formed and the body was taken to New Haven this afternoon.
 May Be Internal Hcmorrhages.
 The circumstances surrounding the death of young Hitchings are such that Mrs. Bassett, matron at the hos pital as we'll as the attending phy- sicians and nurses are very desirous of having an autopsy performed to satisfy all concerned as to just what caused death, but all symptoms point to internal hem orrhages.
 Was Injured by Cars January 1c.
 MT. Hitchings Is the young brake man who was so badly injured in an accident in Pennington, near the PlainviIle town line, on the night of January 10. The young man, who was but twenty-two years of age and was employed as a brakeman on the Northampton N division of the New Haven road fell between two freight cars. None of his companions saw the accident and the first they knew of it was when they heard his cries. He was found underneath the cars, being dragged along the ties. He was picked up, bleeding and unconscious, and rushed to Plainville, where he was attended by pr. J. C.. Tanner and subsequently, removed to the local hospital ..-
 There it was found that his collar bone was broken, his left hip and both shoulders were disIocated, his knees were injured, his head and scalp badly cut and one of his arms sa badly torn and lacerated that for time amputation was thought im- perative. He was also injured inter- naIly.
 Showed Remarkable Vitality.
 The young brakeman's remarka bic vitality stood him in good stead at the time however, and he not only rallied from his terrible injuries but showed such strength that the doctors de- cided that it would be possible to save his arm.
 Recovers From Penumonia. Too.
 Then it was that pneumonia, brought on by his terrible experience and the hard cold contracted at the time developed and for a few days lis, life was once more despaired Of. Again his iron constitution saved him and after passing the crisis of the disease his recovery seemed but a matter of time.
 He grew steadily stronger and for the past few days his pulse had been normal an dhe had been eating three hearty meals every day. He also seemed quite cheerful and only yes terday he sat up in bed and laughed and talked with the attendants and other patients. His family in New Haven were overjoyed at his apparent recovery and when, early this morn ing, they received word that he was dead they were stunned with grief. l His young wife was almost prostrated as was his mother and brother.
 Dies Unexpectedly.
 From the nurses at the hospital the 1 young mans death came l as suddenly and unexpectedly as a bolt 1 Of lightning from out of clear 1 summers sky. He had apparently | gene to sleep at the usual hour with the rest of the patients and nothing was heard from him until ? o'clock this morning. He then startled his nurse by shouting out in pain, com blaming that he felt so bad. In a few minutes he was dead.
 Both Medical Examiner Dr. Theo- dore c. Wright and Mrs. Bassett say the symptoms surrounding the mans death all point directly to internal ! hem orrha ges, brought on. it is thought, as a result of the internal injuries he received last month
 Comes of Good Family.
 MT. Hitchings comes of one of the ! well known and popular young man. He lived with his young wife and his mother, Mrs. F. Hitchings, at their nome at No. 10S Blake street, New Haven. His father died a number of Iears ago and he has no children A 2rother, w. H. Hitchings, is employed Is claims investigator in the liabil- ty department of the Travellers h. 'urance company. An aunt, Mrs | 1oadely B. Ives, is the wealthy New , Haven lady philanthropist who do- lated the beautiful library to the Elm ;ity.