The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-26
Flash From Controller Box
On Electric Loaded With
Munitions Workers Cause
Passengers to Break Win
dows and Jump Into
Street.
Fifteen Severely Cut and
Bruised in Mad Rush
Through Openings Smash
ed Through Glass Panes-
Stratford Trolleys Near
Collision.

Thrown into a state of panic
and hysteria by an explosion
which enveloped in flames the
interior Of a trolley car at
Berkshire avenue and East
Main street, early this morn
ing, about 70 employees of the
Remington Arms Co., who were
packed into the car, fought like
naniacs to escape.
At 80 were hurt and Is re-
ceived injuries which, necessi-
tated their removal to the home
Of DR.. Daniel P. Griffin, 1850
East Main street, which was
turned into a miniature hospi-
tai for their accommodation.
They were suffering from
lacerations. Of the body and
head. bruises, sprains and
various other hurts, which
though extremely painful will
not, it is thought by the physi-
clan, result seriously.
After their wounds had been
attended by DR.. Griffin, who
was assisted by members of his
household in the treating them,
the following men were among
those removed to their fomes
by the Connecticut Co.:
Alfred Buscle, 160 Franklin street.
Stratford: Alexander Michalska, 81
Waylie street, Milford: Alfred Kline,
Walnut Beach; E. H. Benjamin, SO
Baldwin street, Fort Trumbull Beach;
F. Brewster, 10 Concord avenue, Mil
ford; Edwin Coe, Stratford; John
Shields, $50 Broadway, Milford; AL
fred Winch, Devon; Charles Coakley,
$50 East avenue, Bridgeport; Carg-
win Smith, Milford; F. Thompson,
;1744 Barnum avenue, Bridgeport;
George Conway, $50 East Broadway,
Stratford; A. M Christie, Milford;
Janaro Barber, Milford.
The accident occurred shortly before
2 o'clock this morning. The car was
special night assignment which runs
from the Remington Arms plant to
Milford, and is used almost exclusively
by the employees of the factory who
work on one Of the night shifts.
The trolley left the Remington
Arms Co., at 1:45 and was sjammed
with workers, who filled every avail
able space in the car. 1t was in
charge Of Motorman Frank Ruddock,
1875 East Main street, and Conduc-
tor Otto Suessimnon, 1928 Oak street
When it reached East Main street and
Berkshire avenue an explosion in the
controller box resulted in sheets Of
flame, which spread. from the motor
mans platform through the car, over
the heads of the passengers to the
rear platform. Smoke clouds. filled
the trolley and the electric was en-
veloped in complete darkness.
The sound Of splintering glass
awakened the neighborhood as the
panicstricken passengers dove through
the windows of the car. Pande-
p1onium reigned, seats were overturn-
ed and men fought with manical fury
to escape either through the windows
or by means of the exits.
They tore each others clothing,
knocked each other down, the weaker
being trampled on as those who still
maintained their balance, struggled to
get through the car to the exit. Men
dove through the windows, cutting
their heads. hands and faces on the
ragged glass edges and suffering Sc
we're, bruises when they struck in the
brick paved street.
When residents and Policeman
Jones Of the second precinct station
reached the scene the passengers were
piled in heaps about the car, strug-
Cling to free themselves. DR.. Griffin,
who lives nearby, was called to the
scene and he ordered the injured men
taken to his home. Running to his
Continued on Page ~