1921 — Feb 22, Trolleys collide head-on, 5-gallon gas can ignites, fire, Shelton, CT       —     10

–10  CT Pub. Utilities Com. Tenth Annual Report…Fiscal Year Ending Sep 30, 1921. 1922, 96.

 

Narrative Information

 

“Connecticut Co. Docket No. 3574.

 

“On February 22, 1921, about 1:31 P.M., in cloudy weather, two Connecticut Company trolley cars collided about 150 feet south of High Bridge, on the Bridgeport-Derby Line, in the town of Shelton, resulting in the death of Motorman Milton Cherritree of the southbound car, and nine others and injury to Conductor Dennis Robinson and thirty-one others. The trolley cars, No. 1166 southbound, in charge of Conductor Dennis Robinson, Motorman Milton Cherritree, and No. 1172 northbound, in charge of Conductor George Mills and Motorman Charles E. Sherman (double truck wooden box cars exactly alike) were moving slowly at the instant of collision, and the impact alone probably would have caused but slight injuries, judging by those in the northbound car, as undoubtedly the fatalities and serious wounds were due to asphyxiation and burns resulting from the sudden ignition of gasoline which escaped from a five gallon can on the front platform of the southbound car.

 

“The Bridgeport-Derby line of the Connecticut Company on which the accident happened, is single track with turnouts at frequent intervals. Cars are operated over this line by time table and Dispatcher’s orders, using hand thrown signals operated by the car crews to protect movements between turnouts. The collision occurred about the middle of a sharp curve, where trees on the inside restrict the view to about 300 feet, on a down grade toward Bridgeport of about 1% extending either way some distance, ‘Cook’s’ being the turnout 2559 feet to the south, and ‘South Shelton’ 1547 feet to the north, making the total distance between signal boxed 4106 feet. At ‘Cook’s’ the signal boxes are mounted on a pole east of and alongside the track, which at this location is on the east side of the highway. At ‘South Shelton’ the track is in the center of the street, the signal boxes being located on the east side at the curb line, the box on the north side of the pole protecting the track to ‘Cook’s’ and that on the south side governing the track to ‘Hill Street.’ On the east side of this same pole is a telephone connecting with the Dispatcher’s office in Derby. About 40 feet away, directly across the street from this pole is a telephone connecting with the Dispatcher’s office in Bridgeport. ‘South Shelton’ turnout is the dividing line between the Derby and Bridgeport Divisions. It is also a meeting point for regular cars and the crews of northbound and southbound cars usually change here, each crew returning over its own division. If a crew goes through, it is required to clear the division it is just leaving, by telephoning to the Dispatcher of that division, and before proceeding upon the tracks of the other division it is required to telephone for orders from the Dispatcher of that division. The Company rules governing the operation of hand thrown signals provide in substance that: (1) Both members of the crew go to the signal box. (2) If no light is in the box protecting the track ahead it indicates that there is no car in the block; if there is a light it indicates that the track is occupied. (3) If the signal is clear the motorman inserts his signal key and turns it once upon order of the conductor who says ‘Turn key.’ Both men must see the signal lamp light up on the turn of the key. (4) If the signal fails to light upon the first turn of the key, or if there is any doubt in regard to the behavior of the light, the crew must call the Dispatcher for further orders. (5) The signal light protecting the block through which a car has just passed must be turned out by its crew before the signal for the block in advance is operated. (6) Crews must not exchange signal lights at turn-outs or at any other point (meaning that each crew must operate its own light). A demonstration of a block of hand thrown signals is made under the direction of the Commission showed that should two motormen at opposite ends of a block turn the key at the same instant, if the lamp was out, it would remain out, and if the lamp was lighted, it would remain lighted, though there would be a slight dimming of the filament which would instantly return to full intensity.

 

“On the morning of the day in question, three snow plows had cleared up the line between Bridgeport and Derby, and the first passenger car for Derby, No. 1172, left Bridgeport on time, at 12:20 P.M., but arrived at ‘Cook’s’ about ten minutes late, Motorman Sherman testifying that he looked at his watch as he entered the switch and it was then 1:26 P.M. According to statements of the crew, corroborated by reliable disinterested witnesses on the car, the signal was operated in accordance with the rules. Motorman Sherman testified that when he stepped on the platform of his car preparatory to starting from ‘Cook’s’ he looked at his watch and it was 27 ½ minutes past one and that the collision occurred about three minutes later. As the car moved out onto single track, the trolley wheel came off the wire but was promptly replaced by the conductor. Then a moderate rate of speed, estimated by witnesses at about ten miles per hour, was maintained up to the time that the motorman saw another car approaching about 200 feet distant. Sherman claims to have applied his air brake in emergency and to have pulled the reverse, just as his car was about to stop, in an endeavor to back the car away from danger, but the collision occurred before these measures became effective and it did not positively appear that the car had come to a full stop before the impact.

 

“The first car from Derby to Bridgeport, No. 1166, arriving at ‘South Shelton’ at 1:25 P.M., about five minutes late, stopped on the southbound side of the turnout, nearly opposite a snow plow in charge of Conductor Edward Nolan and Motorman James Rourke, the south end of which was just north of a path in the snow, which crossed the street from one telephone box to the other. This northbound snow plow which was awaiting the arrival of the southbound car, had just come from ‘Cook’s’ (operating the signals between ‘Cook’s’ and ‘South Shelton’ in the usual manner). Motorman Cherritree of the passenger car found the block clear to ‘Cook’s and went to the Bridgeport telephone with Conductor Robinson to receive orders, which were issued at 1:28 P.M., in substance ‘Operate signals, proceed to Cook’s and call,’ a regular and proper procedure.  According to statements of the snow plow crew and conductor of the southbound car, Cherritree did not go to the box to operate signals until after the telephone order was given, which was 1:28 P.M., as recorded on the dispatching sheet in Bridgeport, consequently no attempt was made to operate the signal until after the northbound car, according to the testimony, had left ‘Cook’s’ at which time the lights must necessarily have been against the southbound car. However, the testimony of Robinson and Nolan indicates that Cherritree went to the signal box and raised his hand as though to operate the light, immediately after which the light was seen burning and Conductor Robinson testifies that he was in the proper position to observe the light and that when he gave the order to Cherritree he heard the click and saw the light come on.

 

“Robinson and Cherritree exchanged lights governing the block between ‘South Shelton’ and ‘Hill St.’ with Rourke and Nolan, in violation of Rule 5, page 68, of ‘Rules Governing Hand Thrown Signals.’ Robinson and Cherritree also failed to report to the Derby Dispatcher that they were leaving his division, though Cherritree, after going about 250 feet on his journey, stopped his car, left it, ran back on foot a short distance, and in the hearing of his passengers, called to Nolan a request to perform that duty for him. This irregularity caused his passengers apprehension, and one remarked to his seat mate that he was ‘not riding easy.’ Returning to his car Cherritree proceeded south at moderate speed. On High Bridge, which should be crossed at low speed in obedience to ‘slow’ signs, the brakes were applied, and a moment later, passengers saw the northbound car ahead of them apparently but a short distance away. Motorman Cherritree seemed to be endeavoring to stop his car and succeeded in considerably reducing its speed.

 

“When the cars collided the bumper on the northbound car over-rode that of the southbound sixteen to eighteen inches, crushing its dash, breaking the air pipes and brake staff and throwing down the controller box. A five gallon can of gasoline, placed by a passenger on the front platform of the southbound car just to the left of the controller, was crushed, a spark igniting the gasoline. Instantly there was a burst of flame, which, rising from the floor, swept to the rear of the car, igniting all inflammable material in its path. No doubt this flame was accompanied by suffocating gases which asphyxiated all those persons in the forward end of the car and who were thrown to the floor by the impact of collision, their burned bodies being removed from the ruins of the car after the fire had subsided.

 

“The survivors from this car escaped through the windows and right rear door, though there was some delay caused by the rear controller box being torn from its fastenings and thrown partly in front of this door. The impact of collision caused no damage to the northbound car except to partly throw down the controller box onto the motorman in such manner as to injure him slightly. The conductor pulled down the trolley pole as soon as he saw the fire and all persons in the car escaped by the left rear door practically uninjured.

 

“Nolan, in an endeavor to comply with Cherritree’s request, left his plow, went to the telephone, attempted to get the Derby Dispatcher, but failing to get him promptly, and urged by Rourke to hurry, closed the telephone box and started for his car. Just then Rourke, standing at the side door of his plow, said ‘The light is out, gee I wonder if they could have got there so quick.’ (Meaning the southbound car to ‘Cook’s’.) This light was found burning about fifteen minutes later by Master Mechanic Kirk on his way to the wreck. In explanation of this peculiar action of the signal, it is proper to say that at the instant of collision a ground occurred which blew the circuit breaker on the South Shelton feeder line, causing such a drop in the voltage on the signal wires that the lamp filament lost its incandescence producing invisibility when viewed against the background of the white interior of the box and a snow covered street. In about ten minutes the short circuit burned clear and the signal lamps returned to normal.

 

“What the southbound crew should have done: (1) The crew of southbound car on arrival at ‘South Shelton’ should have extinguished the light governing the block through which they had just passed. (2) They should have unlocked the telephone box nd communicated with Bridgeport advising of their arrival and asking for orders. (3) They should have turned on the signal lights governing the block between ‘South Shelton’ and ‘Cook’s,’ provided it was clear. (4) They should have notified the Derby Dispatcher by telephone that they were leaving that division.

 

“What the southbound crew failed to do: (1) They failed to extinguish lights governing the block which they had passed through, thereby violating Company Rule No. 5, of ‘Rules Governing Hand Thrown Signals.’ (2) They were unprepared, on account of having no keys to telephone box, to notify Bridgeport and ask for orders, and were obliged to borrow keys from the crew of the snow plow. (3) —- [in original] (4) They failed to notify the Derby Dispatcher by telephone, and after leaving the division, stopped the car and called to snow plow crew to perform this service. None of the above failures or violations are responsible for the wreck, but do show a lack of discipline and slackness on the part of the motorman and conductor. As to the most important duty (3), there is no evidence to show that the deceased motorman actually turned on the light. Conductor Nolan of the snow plow says that he saw the motorman at the box but did not see the conductor. Provided the conductor had been in his proper position where he could have observed the action of the motorman and the condition of the light, he would have been in plain view of Nolan who was standing at the telephone, as a later demonstration proved. The primary cause of this accident was unquestionably due to the failure to operate or observe properly the hand thrown signals and the weight of evidence and all the connected circumstances indicate it to be the failure of the crew on the southbound car.

 

“Suggestion No. 387. As this accident was due to the failure of men employed n the operation of such cars to perform properly assumed and prescribed duties relative to the operation and observance of signals, no means of guarding against similar accidents is suggested other than the rigid enforcement of rules governing the operation and observance of signals pertaining to the movement and protection of cars, and the strictest administration of discipline for any violation thereof. However, as the disastrous effects of the collision were due rather to the presence of the gasoline on the car, instead of impact, it is further suggested that the company prohibit the transportation, on passenger cars, of gasoline and similar inflammables.”  (State of Connecticut Public Utilities Commission, Tenth Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1921. 1922, pp. 96-99.)

 

Newspaper

 

Feb 22: “Shelton, Conn., Feb 22. – Two trolley cars on the Bridgeport-Derby line crashed head-on on a bridge over a deep ravine a mile south of here this afternoon. Reports reaching here say that the cars took fire after the collision and that several were killed and a dozen persons injured…

 

“Several passengers were burned beyond recognition when the two cars took fire. Reports to the police say that both cars were burned up. Fifteen persons were brought to the Griffin hospital here and all the physicians in this city, Derby and Ansonia, were called to attend them. It was stated that several are in a serious condition.

 

“Both cars were traveling at high speed. The cause of the collision is not known here.” (Evening State Journal, Lincoln, NE. “Several Killed in Trolley Car Collision. Two Cars Crash on Bridge Over a Deep Ravine.” 2-22-1921, p. 1.”

 

Feb 23: “Shelton, Conn., Feb. 23. – Inquiry into the cause and the minute particulars of the collision of two trolley cars on the Bridgeport-Shelton line of the Connecticut company were under way today. The inquest by Coroner John J. Phelan will be opened at Bridgeport tomorrow and the public utilities commission will sit with that official in order to hear the testimony which is brought out.

Charred Remains

 

“Today, on the tracks a short eighth of a mile below High Bridge, in south Shelton, there is only a heap of charred metal and twisted frames of the cars and fittings in the center of a barren spot on the right of way caused by the melting of snow close by.

 

“In Griffin hospital and in a number of homes here the injured persons who went through the ordeal of being in a trolley car which suddenly was crumpled up and then enveloped with flame and from which their escape even with life itself, seemed almost miraculous in the opinion of eyewitnesses of the disaster.

 

In Griffin hospital

[We omit listing of names and conditions, four of which were “critical.”]

 

“Of the list of eight persons killed in the wreck, two bodies were unidentified still this forenoon, but it was thought their names would be learned soon.

 

List of Dead

 

“The list of dead follows:

 

Milton Cherritre, Shelton, motorman of the car bound to Bridgeport.

 

Edith Wilkinson, aged 4 and her sister Nancy, aged 3, children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson burned to death in the car.

 

Freda Goldberg, aged 15, and her brother Harry, aged 13, both of Derby.

 

Peter Koch, 26, Shelton.

 

One of the unidentified dead is a man about five feet eleven inches tall.

 

The other body is that of a woman, who had worn a gold ring with two red stones.

 

“The police are investigating a report that the woman had brothers by the name of Yurdin living in Bridgeport. She had worked for a family here, but they knew her only by the name of ‘Ida.’

 

“The Shelton police gave out a statement today to the effect that the five gallon can of gasoline which was on the front platform of the southbound car was exploded after the collision, belonged to Steven T. Palmer, town clerk and judge of probate of Shelton. Mr. Palmer was among those hurt, having his moustache and some hair burned off. The police say that Mr. Palm43r sat in the rear of the car. After the wreck it was Mr. Palmer who sent in the fire call which got the apparatus to the scene in a short time….” (New Britain Herald, CT. “Shelton Disaster to Be Investigated,” 2-23-1921, p. 1.)

 

Feb 24: “Bridgeport, Feb. 24. – The double probe into the Shelton trolley holocaust started today with Coroner John J. Phelan and Public Utilities Commissioner C. C. Elwell sitting jointly. The outstanding feature of the morning testimony was the fact that the south-bound trolley proceeded towards Bridgeport with instructions to a conductor on a snow plow that was clearing the track to telephone the Bridgeport dispatcher of the car’s movement. This phone message was not transmitted, it developed.

 

“The South Shelton signal light was set against the south-bound car, but whether by the motorman of that car, or by the motorman of the Bridgeport car was not determined this morning.

 

“Nearly 50 witnesses are to be heard and the investigation will require several days.

 

“With Coroner Phelan conducting the hearing, with several officials of the utilities commission, including Mr. Elwell and the Connecticut company represented by J. B. Potter, a superintendent of the Bridgeport division, Police Chief William J. Donovan of Shelton, who, was at the accident immediately after the collision, was the first witness….

 

“Donovan said the cars did not appear to be telescoped. He said passengers informed him that the southbound car was practically at a standstill when the collision occurred. Passengers in the south-bound car told Donovan that the motorman had stopped the car and had gone back to talk with the crew of the snow plow, which was standing at South Shelton light.

 

“It was brought out during the morning that the crew of the northbound car had proceeded according to signal and that the Shelton signal light was found set against the south-bound car after the collision.

 

“All of the witnesses examined this forenoon also expressed the opinion that the loss of life in the disaster had been caused by the explosion and fire which followed the crash and not by the collision.

 

“George Kirk of 1945 Chapel street, New Haven, employed by the Connecticut company as a master mechanic, told of finding the remains of the five gallon can of gasoline under the apron platform of the south-bound car. Kirk said that the can appeared to have been shattered by an explosion from the inside. Kirk said there would have been no loss of life had it not been for the explosion. Kirk had been on a wrecking car and found that the light at the South Shelton switch had been set against him….” (Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Double Probe into Shelton Trolley Wreck Held Today.” 2-24-1921, p. 1.)

 

Feb 25: “Derby, Feb. 25. – The eighth victim of the Shelton trolley crash and fire, the body of a man, was today identified as that of William J. Waldron, 57, of Seymour….Mr. Waldron had left Seymour Tuesday to go to work at South Shelton, not far from the scene of the accident. Burial of the eight dead in the accident had either been effected or arranged for this afternoon.” (Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Eighth Victim of Trolley Crash is Identified.” 2-25-1921, p. 1.)

 

Feb 27: “Derby, Conn., Feb 27 – The death list in the Shelton trolley wreck and fire of last Tuesday was increased to nine today when Antonio Di Pino, 37, of New Haven, died in Griffin Hospital. He was on the south-bound car in which all the deaths occurred. Three other persons who were in the wreck are still in a critical condition at the hospital.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Another Victim of Shelton Wreck Dies.” 2-28-1921, p. 12.)

 

March 1: “Following the death yesterday morning in the Griffin hospital, Derby, of Mrs. Fred Somer, of 304 Avenue, Shelton, swelling the Shelton trolley tragedy death list to ten victims, announcement was made at the hospital last night that Mrs. Evangeline Henderson of Waterbury had been placed on the dangerous list as likely to die. Three others are also in critical condition….” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Death of Waterbury Woman Will Bring Shelton Fatalities to 11.” 3-1-1921, p. 2.)

 

March 11: “”Shelton, March 11. – A statement has been sent by Prosecutor William J. Curnais of Shelton to State’s Attorney Homer S. Cumming to the effect that he absolves Judge Stephen T. Palmer of Shelton from criminal responsibility in connection with deaths in the wreck of two trolley cars at South Shelton on Washington’s Birthday. He adds that Mr. Palmer cannot be held as criminally responsible for deaths in that wreck, in his opinion.

 

“The proximate cause of the deaths, Prosecutor Cournais says was the collision of the cars. The act of Judge Palmer in placing a can of gasoline on the vestibule of the south-bound car cannon in itself be deemed a criminal act nor does it show recklessness or a disregard for the safety of human life.

 

“Prosecutor Cournais points out evidence that was not disclosed at the inquest by Coroner Phelan and that was than when Palmer took the five gallon galvanized can of gasoline to the front platform of the car and set it on the vestibule, Inspector Frank Laboree lifted it up and set in on the left side of the motorman.

 

“In the case of George Robinson, conductor of the south-bound car, Prosecutor Cournais finds there was an element of negligence in unwittingly violating four rules of the company.” (New Britain Herald, CT. “Prosecutor Rules in Shelton Wreck. Man Who Had Gasoline on Car Not to Blame for Wreck.” 3-11-1921, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Boston Daily Globe. “Another Victim of Shelton Wreck Dies.” 2-28-1921, p. 12. Accessed 1-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-feb-28-1921-p-12/

 

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Death of Waterbury Woman Will Bring Shelton Fatalities to 11.” 3-1-1921, p.2. Accessed 1-22-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/bridgeport-telegram-mar-01-1921-p-19/

 

Evening State Journal, Lincoln, NE. “Several Killed in Trolley Car Collision. Two Cars Crash on Bridge Over a Deep Ravine.” 2-22-1921, p. 1. Accessed 1-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-evening-state-journal-feb-22-1921-p-13/

 

Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Double Probe into Shelton Trolley Wreck Held Today.” 2-24-1921, p. 1. Accessed 1-22-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/naugatuck-daily-news-feb-24-1921-p-1/

 

Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Eighth Victim of Trolley Crash is Identified.” 2-25-1921, p. 1. Accessed 1-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/naugatuck-daily-news-feb-25-1921-p-1/

 

New Britain Herald, CT. “Prosecutor Rules in Shelton Wreck. Man Who Had Gasoline on Car Not to Blame for Wreck.” 3-11-1921, p. 1. Accessed 1-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-britain-herald-mar-11-1921-p-1/

 

New Britain Herald, CT. “Shelton Disaster to Be Investigated,” 2-23-1921, p. 1. Accessed 1-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-britain-herald-feb-23-1921-p-1/

 

State of Connecticut Public Utilities Commission, Tenth Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1921. Hartford: Published by the State, 1922. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=9E8cAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false