Connecticut western news., 1892-05-12
HOW lona, ON HOW Lone

HOW L0n0, ON HOW l0na 0Aall the Bennett's Hin Crossing Re.
 main a Death Trapf
 lEditorial.l
 The railroad crossing at Bennett's Hill has always been dangerous one, and the danger increases each year in pro- portion to the increased number of trains on the line. During the past 90 years there have been many hair breadth escapes at said crossing, and semi-occasionally our townspeople as- semble and go through the farce of talk ing action to compel the railroad com pany to eliminate said grade crossing, but soon after the curtain is rung dowr on the farce another narrow escape oc- curs and we realize that said dangerous crossing still exists notwithstanding the performance.
 Several hair-breadth escapes have re- gently occurred on Bennett's Hill, and now the NEWS is again importuned to whoop up the subject of eliminating said crossing. While we appreciate this acknowledgement of the influence of the Nnws we candidly express our private opinion that $l, GOO co appropri- ated by this town toward defrayipg the expenses will accomplish more than all the words that ever have been or ever will be written or spoken concerning said crossing. It is not words that are needed. There have been plenty of words wasted on this subject in past years. It is dollars that are needed We think that whenever this town ap- propriates $1, 900 %. or whatever is its proportion, the railroad company will furnish its proportion of the money nec- essary to eliminate said grade crossing. We will not weary our readers by re- viewing the different movements made in past years to abolish this crossing, but they are recorded on the files of the NRws and everyone is welcome to exam inc them. Suffice to say the last dem- onstration, and one which gave promise of results, was made in February, 1891, immediately after the Rev Elisha Whit tesey and his son, David O. narrowly escaped being killed by the cars at the Bennett's Hill crossing. The Citizens association held meetings. cussed and discussed the crossing, appointed committee to inspect the crossing and take measurements and submit plans for its elimination, requested the selectmen to confer with the railroad officials and have them appoint day when they would meet the residents of this town and decide on some plan to remove the crossing. On Feb. 21, 1891 Superin- tendant Fowler of the o. N. B. & W. road met the citizens at said crossing and after inspecting the crossing MT Fowler said he considered the crossing . very dangerous one, and as the law required the railroad company to abol- ish at least one grade crossing each year he would endeavor to have the Bennett's Hill crossing abolished in preference to any other on the line. This is all that has been accomplished. and probably all that will be nni the town appropri- ates money to defray part of the expense of sbolishing the crossing.
 
 On the 11th. day of last July 8 fatal accident occurred at the toll gate cross ing near Colebrook station on the O. N. E. < W. railroad, at which time train struck a wagon containing several per- sons. Miss Henrietta V. Smith, aged 27 years, was thrown from the wagon and killed. The town of Winchester has risen up and appropriated $1, 200 % toward abolishing that crossing. The railroad company furnish the balance of the money, some $3, 800 0O, as it is estimated that the total cost of abolish ing the crossing will be about $5. 900 %. That is business; but we hope it will not be necessary to sacrifice one or more humap lives at Bennett's Hill crossing before this town takes hold, in a busi- ness like manner, of the question of eliminating said grade crossing.
 On the 30th day of last month three persons narrowly escaped being killed at the Bennett's Hill crossing. Select man c. E. Holcomb was driving up the hill and just as hls horse stepped upon the crossing train came rushing down the grade out of the rock cut. The horse discovered the locomotive before MT Holcomb did, and it gave spring and the wagon barely cleared the crossing as the train dashed past. A few feet behind Mir Holcom0 were Mir and Mrs M. E. Tobey of Ct. Harrington, 2 Mass. They were in 8 carriage and could not see train approaching the crossing. They would certainly have been struck by the train had not Mir Holcomb thrown up his hand as warn- ing signal. Mrs Tobey saw the signal and grasped the reins and prevented their horse stepping upon the track. Mr Holcomb, and MT and Mrs Tobey do not think the locomotive whistle was blown when the train was approaching the crossing; be that as it may, 1t does not change the fact that the crossing is . remarkably dangerous one even when the whistle is blown, for the location of the crossing. in close proximity to the rock cut, is such that it is virtually inn possible for persons going up the hill to hear the whistle, the bell, or the rum- ble of train coming from the east