Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-07-16
VACATION TRIPS SAD END11

-Four Brooklyn People aud their Driver,
George Collins, Dashed Against the
Suspension Bridge---COllins and I'm"
ma Turner Had Bones Broken.
Happy in the anticipation of a vacation
four Brooklyn people left Brattleboro Sat
urday afternoon with the Silverdale hotel
at Spofford lake as their destination. Half
an hour later reports came to the village OF
a shocking runaway accident at. the Yer
mont end of the Chesterfield suspension
bridge, in which the four seekers of rest
and pleasure and their driver, George Col
Inns, an employee of the Bratteboro livery
company, were the victims. The first re-
ports, which were somewhat exaggerated
brought to mind the casualty of May, 1894,
when a team with five Mortified teachers
dashed down the South Main street hill
and one of the women was killed and the
others badly injured,
The party consisted of Mr.. and Mrs. G.
G.. Sheldon and the latter's two sisters,
Misses Harriet and Emma Turner. They
arrived in Brattleboro on the 2.33 train,
and were met at the railroad station by
George Collins, with the livery team of
two horses and three-seated covered sur
rey. This conveyance was followed by
Homer Cray in team carrying the party's
baggage. When the descent began of the
hill leading to the bridge the horses took
fright from some unknown cause, and Col
Inns tried to rein them into the bank, but
in this was not successful At the sharp
turn in front of the bridge the surrey was
overturned with great force, and the occu-
pants were thrown against the stones and
the end of the bridge. The horses, break
inn a hof no
women screamed as they approached the
bridge, and their cries brought TO their as
sistance workmen who were in the hay
fields only a short distance away.
Frank Turner of the Bratteboro House
was coming down the hill on the east side
of the bridge on his return from the lake
when the accident took place. He caught
the horses, led them back, and assisted in
getting the people out of the wreck Col
Inns had drawn himself up through the
carriage, which was on its side, and had
tainted. Miss Harriet Turner was under
the surrey; Miss Emma Turner was on
the ground near the surrey, but Mr. and
Mrs. Sheldon were able to be on their feet.
| The injured people were taken TO the
house of Robert Sargent, and Drs. Web
ster, Pratt, Bemis, Miller and Tucker ar
rived in a short time Collins was taken
in charge by DR.. Tucker, who found that
the large bone in his right leg below the
knee was broken. He also had a scalp
wound and was badly bruised. He was
taken to his home on Elliot street. Miss
| Harriet Turner was unconscious until Sun
day with indications of serious internal
| injuries, but she was only overcome by the
severe nervous shock. She is now as well
as any of the party. Miss Emma Turner
had both bones in her right arm broken
| below the elbow and was also bruised
about her shoulders. Mr.. Sheldon re-
ceived a scalp wound and both Mr.. and
Mrs. Sheldon were severely bruised about
the arms and legs. All are now rapidly
recovering. One horse was bruised slight
| ly on one hip, but otherwise the horses
were not injured.
The top of the surrey and one seat were
broken off, the whitlletree was broken and
the two right wheels were torn from the
hubs. 1t is supposed that the horses
caught sight of a hand-car on the railroad
track, which the driver could not hear
above the merry-making of the party.
The story has been circulated that the
horses had run away before, but this is de-
MED at the livery stable. The horses are
eight years old and have been owned by
the livery company since last fall. They
have been let many times without causing
trouble. 1t is said that they ran away at
the Richardson-K Knapp wedding at West
Brattleboro two weeks ago, but the driver
had orders TO run them as fast as he could
and the quantities of rice showered upon
them would naturally increase their speed.
Mr.. Adams, the proprietor of the livery
company, is paying all the expenses of the
injured people. 1t is understood that the
victims are possessed of only moderate
means. 1t was fortunate that none were
thrown over the railing into the river, as
such fall would have been fatal.