The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-31
Youth Narrowly Escapes
Instant Death.
Force of the Fall Is Broken
by Striking a Tree.
Barely Missed Going 800 Feet Down
the Mountain Side.

Pittsfleld, Aug 3l.-.Iohn Swan. Har
ward senior, who is spending the summer
near Stockbridge, in company with Rus
sell Bement and ID. Wheeler Of Yale and
&. X. Brent of New York, started To
tramp over Monument mountain Satur-
day afternoon, taking "A wood path along
the edge of the mountains.
When they had nearly reached the sum.
init they stopped in an open spot To pick
blaokberries. They ware on ledge pro-
iccting over ravine 300 feet deep. Far
out on the edge of the cliff was IA bush
with large. luscious berries. Swan, at
tracted by their size, called the attention
of his companions TO the berritS 5 ana then
stepped out on IA fiat rock on u the sheer
edge OF the preclpice TO secure them. AS
he did so the flat stone slid over the edge
and tho young man was hurled head
| downward over the precipce.
FALL BROKEN BY TREE.
He fell 100 feet when he struck in a
huge pine tree, which broke his fall.
From the tree ne fell 20 feet to ragged
rock, which slid of and lodged on the
| side hill in such a manner that no barely
escaped rolling TO tho bottom OF the
mountain.
Swans companions were only short
| distance away, whom tha accident oc-
| CURED, Bement being the first 10 discover
| his danger. lie saw the rock as it sud
denly loosened from the ground, but be
| fore mis- cry of warning was heard by
| Swan, the bowlder dashed down the
mountain side, carrying with it the
| young man,
swan 8 companions began search foI
| him. a circu.tous route had to be fol
lon .n1 half m hnN
| from the time the accident occurred when
| they reached him. swan was conscious
and it was Dy his cries for assistance that
| his companions were able To locate him.
MARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
swan fell on his side after striking the
| tree and mis- face was not bruised. That
| no was saved from instant death was due
| to his striking the tree, rs 10 not only
broke his fall, but turned him from n
course which would undoubtedly have
| dashed him fully 800 feet down the noun
tain side.
Wheeler ran to Stockbridge and brought
| a doctor TO the scene. A rude stretcher OF
| poles and roUe was made a blanket being
| spread over it. The injured man was
placed on it. and the slow and dangerou:
| journey down the mountain began. The
| task was a difficult one and took over AN
! hour.
swan was carried to the house or Mr..
| Hickey, "a short distance from the foot oi
! tho mountain. after when be was placed
| in "a baggage wagon and carried to the
| home OF his mother. An examination Ot
| his injuries was made by noted New
| York specialist
SWANS CONDITION CRITICAL
The condition Of swan did not improve
during tho night as much as hoped for,
and is more serious than Mt first supposed
His mind wsnders occasionally and no
seems unable to recall anything about thc
accident Ills left arm is broken in three
places, his left log broken ana his nip
badly lacerated. His spine, it is feared,
is also injured.
swan is ono Of the best known and
most popular of the many peol lle spend
ing the summer ia Stockbridgu Ho is u
grandson Of the late Charles l.. Butler,
the New York lawyer. who died few
months ago his mother has just buiit "A
line residence in Stookbridge am to
gether with her son has been spending the
summer at this popular summer resort.
His father died several years ago.
swan came TO Stockbrldge from STAN
ford, Conn.