New Britain herald., 1930-07-05
William Rudge of Corbin Avenue Dies On 31st Birthday Near the Spot Where Relative Met Death - Cited Twice for Nalor in World War.

Electing to stand by the controls and sound warning to his passen- gers rather than jump 10 safety, Motorman William Rudge of the Meriden-New Britain trolley line went to his death late Thursday night when the car he was operating telescoped against the rear of a stalled trolley freight car at Still mans crossing near Milldale.
 Horribly mangled, his body al- most cut into three sections, Rudgc was killed instantly. Several pas sengers were thrown violently to the floor but only two required hospital treatment, others going 10 their des- tinations by other means after re- ceiving first aid treatment and re- covering from their shock
 Leaves Wife and Two Children
 Rudge, an employ of the Conncc- ticut Co.,, for about eight years. lived at 9S4 Corbin avenue, where his wife, Mrs. Madeline Heslin Rudge, and two children, William and Anne, were informed of the tragedy at midnight The deceased motorman also leaves his mother, Mrs. Hattie Rudge Of Colchester.
 The fatality happened a few hun dred feet from the spot where the motorman's brother-in-law Ray mond Heslin. was killed in an ac- cident more than year ago. Heslin and party of friends returning from Meriden 10 New Britain were thrown from their automobile when . 1t struck fence and he died almost instantly within a stones throw of the spot where Rudge met his death Thursday night
 The crash happened on what was to be the last run" on Rudge' birthday. He became 3l years of age Thursday and had observed the event quietly with his family before reporting for his daily tour Of duty.
 Trolley Freight Stalls
 A fe" minutes after II o'clock the outbound trolley left Meriden center with more than a dozen pas sengers aboard, some of whom left at stations reached before entering Milldale. Ahead of the passenger car was a trolley freight in charge of Motorman Charles Eonhau of Meriden and Conductor William Micue. As the freight car approach ed Snllman crossing. the pole left the wire. cutting off the power and bringing the car 10 q dead stop Micue jumped off. took the cord in hand and was attempting to return the contact when he sighted the passenger car coming down the in- cline. Waving frantic warnings to Motorman Rudgc. who in the mean time had observed the standing car and had applied his brakes and shouted to his passengers to brace themselves for the inevitable crash. Micue jumped aside just as the trolley car its locked wheels grind ing into the rails, plunged into the freight car, sprang several feet into the air and then landed with an ominous crash of broken glass and twisting metal.
 The complete wreckage of the motorman's vestibule told a story of probable fatality at first glance. A speedy rush to the operators stand confirmed this apprehension.
 Passengers Scream
 Meanwhile there were cries of pain shrieks of fright from the pas sengers. several of them women Miss Margaret Maynard of South ington. was found to be suffering from severe injury to her back The ambulance of the Meriden hos ptal was called to take her to that institution for treatment. Miss Agnes Savage. also of Southington, went to the hospital for examination. but was found to be only slightly in- jured and was allowed to return tc her home. John J. Gaffncy of Waterbury had an open cut on his head, but declined proffers of med ical aid proceeding to his home by automobile. Among those in the car who escaped injury were Felix Fish CT, Alex Zipke, George Nagel ot Meriden, Chris Johnson and Miss Avis Johnson of Southington.
 Both Cars of Rails
 The impact derailed both cars. Within half an hour traffic was de- moralized by strings of automobiles parked on both sides of the highway while drivers inspected the wreck age. Southington constablcs and state policemen finally strengthened out traffic, while the latter con- ducted an informal inquiry. Dr. IT. DeForest Lockwood. medical exam finer for Meriden. also made an of f1cial investigation.
 Rudge was a veteran of the world War with a record for conspicuous