The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-03

non, in an interview with The Farmer reporter, said: We were going about 8 miles an hour, and were or min utes late, but were not trying to mako up for lost time. I was standing in the second passenger coach, both pas senger coaches being next to the en- zine, the two baggage cars which com prise the rest of the train bringing up the rear.
 'The team which Green was driving was assing over the tracks from west to east, when the collision occurred and I was aware of danger when I felt the air brakes jammed on. We were blowing our whistle and ringing the bell, as is the custom along this section. When the train struck the team I did not feel the impact of the collision, which may have been due to the fact that the freight cars obstruct- ed the view of the engineer"
 '"The fact that the switch was turn ed could have been caused by wreck age of the team becoming damned under the pilot, or by the fact that team damned the signal arm between the rear wheel, and body of the coal team"
 Robert Mack Burns, the engineer
 
 "I had shut off steam at Beardsley park pond and was drifting along past Eckarts brewery at a speed of about 35 miles an hour, the regular rate of speed along this section being about 38 miles an hour. Before coming to the North Washington avenue cross ing I commenced to blow my whistle, knowing this to be a dangerous sec hn IT 0f white horses attached to team loomed up in front of me a hundred feet away. My view of the crossing was hidden owing to the fact that freight cars. lined the track, prevent ing my seeing the team until I was within a distance of 100 feet of the crossing"
 "I damned on the brakes and gave intermittent blasts of the whistle, but I knew the collision was inevitable it was too late. As we struck the team. I pulled in from the cab win- dow ,and lodged behind the engine to avoid being struck by flying wreck age, but stuck to my cab, until we went over into the street,
 'The report that the brakes did not work is all wrong, but I question if you can bring any train to a full stop within 700 feet, under like conditions, although I never tried it." .e |
 "The switch was set for clear track, showing a green target and must have been thrown by the wreck age of the team becoming damned un- der the pilot, or the force of the team striking the switch. I have never seen a signal man at this crossing and there is no provision made to avoid accidents at this point re- a1iZed the danger at this point of my trip nearly hitting an automobile the other day on the same crossing"
 If there had been no obstruction to my view and I had been able to see 300 or more feet ahead, I might have avoided the accident.
 Although could not have stopped the train, could have reduced speed suflciently,to allow the team pass, in asmuch as the horses had almost crossed the track, when we struck them. I have been employed for six years as substitute engineer, and have been running on the New Milford line since last Thursday
 Wilbur L. Baker, an emp1oye of the Bridgeport Brass Co.,, said: T heard the whistle of the locomotive blowing, just as I left the gate of the plant to get a piece of tobacco. I thought there was something wrong, so I ran to the crossing with Thomas Kelly. We arrived just in time to see Green and the horses flying through the air. We waited until the train passed and then ran over to Green, who was fHghtfully cut and broken up. He was alive when we reached his side, but died in a few moments"
 Thomas Kelly, the man who was with Baker and who rushed to the aid. of Green said: Whenever we hear the danger whistle of the 1oco- motive. we run up to the crossing, as there have been many close calls for teamsters and auto truck drivers late ly. Baker and I got to the spot just as the engine smashed into the team. We ran over and picked up poor Green, who was thrown about 50 feet by the collision, but he died a few moments after we reached his side"