The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-03
A TOPER'S LUCK.
Remarkable Accident to a Tipsy and
Mysterious Stranger.

A Westbrook Car Ran Onto Him and
Crushed Him Under the Cross-bar--
Apparently Badly Hurt, He Suddenly
Developed BeIligerent Tendencies
A remarkable accident, which illus
trates forcibly the proverbial luck OF
drunken men, occurred Wednesday even
ing on the line of the Westbrook electric
road, near Lucas's brickyard in Deering.
The Westbrook car, under charge of Con-
ductor Kennedy, and Motorman Ayres,
left the head of Preble street at g.
O'Clock, in the evening. When near the
brickyard, the motorman saw man
walking on the track ahead. The
pedestrian stepped off. and the motor
man, supposing that he was warned CT
the cars approach, continued. Suddenly
the man staggered back onto the track.
The motorman tried to stop, but before
he could do SO the car hit the man,
knocked him down and apparently ran
over him. AS soon as possible the car
was stopped, and the horror stricken
pdS5cuRcIS &dbACICA W1th ohC ihOoSA AAeAh
and conductor to take the victim out
from under tine wheels His body was seen
dou bled up and jammed between the
ground and the guard-a crossplece IN
front of the wheels, and three or four
inches from the ground. 1t did not
seem possible that life could remain In
a body SO treated. Limp and apparent
ly lifeless, the body was taken out and
placed in the car, which started back at
once towards Woodfords. At High
street, Superintendent Newman WAS
called, and he proceeded with the car
down Spring street to Chapman q Wy
mans drug store. There the man-still
Iimp-was taken from the car to the
store, and doctor was sent for His
face was bloody, and he seemed to pre-
sent the appearance of man too badly
injured to live long.
But while several sympathizing gent
lemen were waiting about the victim,
he suddenly regained consciousness and
an upright position, and informed those
present that he intended to slick the
whole crowd" of them. He then pro-
ceeded to attempt to put his threat into
practice. Chief Berry. OF the Deering
police, was sent for in haste, and came
to watch with the belligerent until the
DOCTORS arriavl.
All efforts to ascertain the strangers
name and residence failed. Mr.. Thomas
Hennigan met him on the car track near
Lucas's few minutes before the acct
dent.
@Do you want to fight" saidthe man.
"No,n replied Mr.. Hennigan.
II can lick the bes t man that travels
this street tonight" said the stranger.
Mr.. Hennigan had intended taking the
car for the city, but remained to protect
the women in the house near by, as he
did not know what the drunken and
eccentric stranger might do. But the
electric car attended to that part of it.
The stranger was a tall, we'll made
man, with a face smooth except for a
sandy monstache. He was dressed in
the clothes of laborer, and wore upon
his feet the felt leggings and rubbers so
much in use by woodsmen.
Although half drunk and just recover
ing from bad shock, the stranger was
by no means out of wit. He cleverly
evaded all attempts to ascertain his
name and residence. When Manager
Newman asked for his residence he re-
piled. Mot knowing where live can
not say" In response to an inquiry for
his name, he replied that he did not
want the reporters TO get it.
The doctor who was called found his
only injury to be cut on the face,
which was easily dressed. The stranger
then walked off, declining all offers OF
assistance. No one seemed to know
where he went.
Although no one recognized him, the
man seemed to know Manager Newman
and the doctor; and there was an idea
that he had been employed in th1s.region
as teamster.
His escape from death was very re-
m arka BILE, but he did notsseem to apprec-
tiate he fact.