New Britain herald., 1916-12-09
GATEMAN FAILED TO
 HEAR TRAIN COMING
View of Railroad Blocked by Freight Cars-Engineer of Boston Express, Running to Make Up Lost Time, Failed to Blow Whistle, Witness Says-Drivcr Remains at Post Try ing to Save Occupants.

Michael J.. Claughsey of fl Clark street, oldest member of the New Britain fire department in point. of service with record of 42 years, is dead and three members of his fam fly in a critical and unconscious con- dition at New Britain General hospi- tai as a result of the hack in which they were riding to attend the funeral of relative being run down by the ! eastbound Boston express at the l Washington street crossing about S:20l this morning.. The hack was con- verted into a twisted mass of metal and kindling wood. One horse, owned
 by James Doyle, liveryman, wos so badly injured that it had to be shot. ] Andrew McGill, the driver, was| thrown to the embankment but suf- fered only slight injuries With Claughsey were his two daugh ters,- Anna and Grace, and niece, Anna Claughsey. The outcome of their injuries are in doubt this after- noon, surgeons reporting them to bel suffering from multiple abraisions andl decorations, concussion and general shock In addition, the youngest daughter, Anna, has fractured col-I lar bone.
 None of the young women had re- covered consciousness late this after noon.
 Gates Were Not Lowered.
 According to witnesses and the re- ported admission of s. M. Jones, gate tender at the crossing, the gates were not lowered as the latter was una-l ware of the approach of the express which was running at high speed inl an attempt to make up about twelve minutes of lost time. The death hack was one of three taking relatives to the home of the late Daniel E. Sulh- van at S6 Lake street prior to the fun- eral from St. Mary's church. In the first hack, which had safely passed rho crossing and was on it's way up Lake street, were Mrs. Claughsey and sever al relatives. The third hack was just back of the death carriage and near ly upon the tracks when its driver was warned by chouts from bystand- CTS, the shouts of Brakeman Th0rAaa Buckley of the switching crew alri lla sound of the approaching traiii
 McGill saw his danger too late but made a heroic attempt to save the . occupants of the hack. Seeing that ic would be impossible to get to Lake ! street in time, he turned his horses slightly and tried to drive them up the em bankment. With but minute more he would have succeeded. The pllot of locomotive 1014, one of the largest ! used in passenger service, struck the . hack about midway, wrecking 1t ana : .oa astinp it's occupants, bleeding and un- conscious beneath it's wreckage. The : borse nearest the train was horribly ' mangled, suffering a fractured hip and backbone. Unable to get to US feet, it proved a drag for it's mate and prevented a runaway bclnS auued to the disaster.
 Passengers Thrown About.
 Application Of the emergency brakes stopped the heavy train in almost It's | own length and tossed the passengers about the cars in confusion AS soon as they recovered, many went to the aid of the injured and assisted the trainmen in giving first aid treatment untiI physicians and the police or rived. Attracted by the locomotive whistle. sound of the emergency brakes being applied and sound of the ip,nact. hundreds focked to the scene : from nearby factories and Main street. 7
 Police headquarters was notified . and Chief William J. Rawlings re- snonded with the ambulance, direct ng the transfer of the injured and the investigation in person.
 Prior to the arrival of the ambu- lance. Miss Anna Claughsey was hur- ried to the hospital in an automobile ov James J. Naughton and George F. Hennig Her sister, Grace, was the first taken in the ambulance in charge ,f Chauffeur Matthias Rival and Po- iceman Frederick Wagner. pr. Joss eph Walsh, police department surS1
 (Continued on Ninth R1