The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-02-01

Travelled path was 10 inches deep.
Wheeler said he went between the trees.
John Stowe: Live at Stowe place. No
team between Wheeler and man with cat |
tie. Supposed accident occurred at the
lower place. Heard Wheeler say he
drove into the stream. Cross examina-
ton: Fifteen minutes after Wheeler
came up, | went down. Pretty strong
current; water about two feet deep. Saw
no tracks on the east side of the road.
+. A. Archer: Live in Derby. Went
to Southbury to get cattle, the day of the
accident. When / ZANE back, L over
took Smith at place of the accident. L
turned around just below the little house.
Saw tracks go Off to the left. Tracks
went down into the pond. Cross exami-
nation: First told the story of the tracks
to Smith. knew there was a hole there.
could tell by trees where pond was. l
didn't drive into the lot.
DIR Barnes: Every time the river rises,
it overflows some part of the road. To
put the road above the reach of ice and
water would be matter of extreme cost.
Have seen ice at place of accident 10 feet
high. Lemuel Lewis used to keep rail-
ing up there in Summer. Cross exami-
nation: Three years out of five have had
ice freshets Is feet high. Swear posi-
lively there have been two in five years.
Two places where water rises higher
than here. Mr. Lewis died 80 years since
grand list at half to two thirds of valu-
alton. Others don't put in at so large
rate; IL mill tax or years.
Mr. Iimburner recalled: Testified that
nate thing for the town. He said: "All
questions of changing and repairing the
road have been talked of. We should be
very glad to change the whole, but can
not afford to do it. In my estimation, L
have had in view pntting the road above
ordinary floods.
Theodore Wheeler: Live in Southbury !;
bought and sold horses 25 years. To per-
nit heated horse to drink cold water
would give him chill; might make him
crazy. Cross examination: Had it make
horse crazy a number of times. Was
aware of it when horse was taken second
time. Was aware of it when horse was
taken third time. Insanity continued till
he got out of the water. Drove horse in
once five feet; another time two feet.
Had one lie down once drinking cold wa
ter; got up, whirled around. Studied
horses 25 years; discovered this effect.
Some call it dizziness, some jim-jams.
Often driven into water; have known
them to be driven when hot and not act
strange. Both driving in and drinking
will produce the effect. Once let horse
drink. Other times effect was caused
from going in alone.
i James III. Bartlett: Lived in Oxford q
years. Selectman 10 years. Town agent
Have kept diary of the weather. Tues
day in question, weather stormy all day
!, Snow fine; did not accumulate rapidly
Been familiar with river road IS years
J Knew there was little pond hole. Never
heard it was dangerous. There would
: be no way to fix the road so as to max,
: it safe, but by solid masonry. See n,
, use of raising this causeway four or fiv'
, feet. Ice has been pushed in at Levi
place II feet. Cross examination: Wa
: ter went over the road, last December
E We had it dressed up. can't remembe
2 any repairs other than that in five years
/. Town never put any railing there.
q knew OF a little depression. never eS
r amined it. / took no interest there
{ When water rises, as ON this occasion
: there is pretty swift current. We GO
/. discouraged thinking of it, there's s
/ much Of 1t. Ice does not carry away tn
/. bottom of the road.
r Mr. Hodgers: Have examined places o
0 river road and found few about on ley
0 ell with the one in question. Cross ez
e animation: III upper place was repaire
e as suggested, lower place would not oyel
(. flow.
!. Christian Crittenden: Heard of acc
dent same day. Went down to place
d Saw track lead down to hole. Left roa
e on this side button ball tree. Cross e1
]. amination Saw track just where he &c
o into water. Didn't see but one tracl
t Person came down and. turned off tn
{ road. Down in the water just littl
+ ways.
Vi 8, w, Post Used river road; 81 year
J. lold. Lived within eight or 10 rods Q
n river, Been selectman In Southbury
9 Travel is not quarter what It was year
Q lago. Remember when road was a turn
d pike. Have seen river rise 20 feet in
{ minutes. Entire structure must be shift
" ed to make road safe from ice and watel
d Cross examination; There are man
it floods when water IL not more than Ivy
u feet deep, Have driven through wbe
q water was clear. No danger; not man
o times. Might cost ~ per rod to put "a
j. on trees,