New-York tribune., 1922-06-12
4Dead, 33 Hurt,
InCrossing and
Auto Crashes
2 Killed and 2 Injured as
New Haven Train Crushes
Car: Two Babies. One on
Engine Pilot, Are Unhurt
Two Stratton Children Die
Bus Upseis on Top of 70
Girls on Hill Road; D Vic
Tins i'm B'klyn Collision

STERLING, Conn, June 1.-Two
persons were killed and two seriously
injured when an automobile was
crushed BY passenger train at the
Devils Den crossing Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad here
to-day. Two infant girls escaped IN
jury.
The dead are: Byron Phillips, thirty
four years old. and Mrs. Phoebe NJ
Hebert twenty-three, both OF PLAIN
field.
The injured are Mrs. Della Philips
wife Of Phillips, and Mrs. Jennie Mette'
OF Plainheld. The latter is in the
W W. Backus Hospital, Norwich, with
a broken leg and other injuries. Her
daughter. Sophie, eight months old Is
with her and has only few scratches.
Mrs. Phillips and the six months cid
daughter Of Mrs. Hebert we're taken to
the -Kimball Hospital in Putnam
Auto Ground TO Pieces
The automobile party was on the way
from Plainheld 10 Providence, when
the machine was hit by tram oouhd
from Providence 20 Willlmantic ana
Hartford. The train was in charge OF
George Johnson, conductor, and james
Ford, engineer. -,.
The automobile was ground 70 pieces
BY the locomotive. When the tram
stopped Mrs. Phillips. Mrs. Mattee ana
the Mattee baby were founo on tne
pilot OF the locomotive. Mrs. heoert
body was found az the. roadside ana
Phillips's body was under the "neeis
Of the second coach OF the tram Inc
Hebert baby had been thrown TO Dank
OF. earth and was practically unnuIt,
The injured women and the oaoies were
taken aboard the train, which proceeded
10 Sterling Station, where tney were
removed TO automobiles which TOOK
them 70 the hospitals.
The authorities began an inyestigaa-
ton Of a report that before Phillipss
bodv was moved a man crawled under
the coach and searched the dead mans
clothing. removing a wallet containing
money. lie was said 10 have boarded
the train again. ,,,
The train later went on to Whitman
tic and officers looked for the alleged
thief. but failed TO find him.
Known as Death Crossing
DEVILS Den crossing approaches the
railroad tracks in a rising grade on
both sides and has, been the scene OF
many accidents. A crash there year
ago to-day resulted in a death. Auto
mobiles usually get up speed IN max
ing the grades. The view Is not oo,
st1ucted and there is bell signal
which sounds automatically. Whether
the signal was operating at the time
~ the accident has not been deter
mined Mrs. Phillips told passengers
that she had urged her husband TO
slow down as they approached the
crossing.
The entire Stratton family, whose
automobile was struck by Pennsylya-
MA express train at Atlantic City yes
terday. has been wiped out with the
death Yesterday Of Dorothy Stratton, six
wears old, and her brother, Joseph,
Eighteen months. The father and
mother. John and Caroline Stratton,
and their two other children, nine and
eight years old. were killed outright at
the time OF the accident, ,
Joseph stratton, brother Of the dead
man. took charge Of the six bodies.
The State Police are still investlgat-
ing the accident.
Twenty.slx Girls Hurt Under Bus
Twenty.six girls, ranging in age from
sixteen 70 twenty-five, were injured
yesterday when the automobile bus IN
which they were touring the Orange
Mountains in New Jersey turned over
and pinned them beneath.
The girls were all members Of the
Y W. II. A. in Elizabeth, N. J. They
were being chaperoned by Miss Francis
fr.afrus( a. auf eaa-l