Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-04-27
CRUSHED UNDER WHEEL.
DIR. Fred G. Crosby Killed Almost In.
stantly at Northampton.

Bridge Under the VehIcIe---Never Re-
gained Condolences and Died In
About 40 Minutes.
DR.. Fred Chandler Crosby, p, superin-
tendent of the Northampton and Amherst
electric railroad and son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Edward G. Crosby of this town, was killed
almost instantly Wednesday afternoon on
the bridge which spans the Connecticut
river at Hadley, Mass. DR.. Crosby was
riding in the "carette" which is used to
transfer passengers of the electric road
from one side of the river to the other, hav-
ing been to Amherst TO inspect a portion of
the track. For some reason he stepped
out of the inside of the vehicle and at
tempted to climb to the drivers seat. In
so doing he fell and one Of the forward
wheels passed over him. About 10 people
were In the carette at the time of the acct
dent, among them being George f. War
ner of this town, who is employed as trav-
cling salesman for K. Crosby & Co. Mr..
Warner was the first to reach DR.. Crosby
after the accident and it was he who lifted
him into the carette. 1t was found that
the wheel had passed over DR.. Crosby's
abdomen ond one thigh. He never recov-
cred consciousness, dying in about 40 min
utes.
|
with wagon wheels, and drawn by three
horses. 1t weighed about 1900 pounds.
f. c. Crosby was in Northampton at the
time Of the accident and when notified
drove at once to the bridge, reaching there
a short time before his son died. DR..
Crosby's wife was also with her husband
at his death. The body was brought to
Brattleboro on the 1:l0 train yesterday
morning and the funeral was held from
the house this afternoon at 2:40, Rev. +.
Q. S. Osgood officiating.
DR.. Crosby was born in Brattleboro,
Dec. II, 1872. He graduated from the
Brattleboro High school in 1891 and in
the fall of the same year he entered the
Dartmouth Medical school, graduating
from that institution three years later.
He afterward pursued special studies in
New York city and was for time resident
physician in the Blackwell Island hospital.
He then spent year in medical study in
Vienna and Berlin and on his return from
Europe opened an Office in Northampton.
DR.. Crosby was obliged to give up his
practice on account of i'll health. He re-
turned to Bratteboro. and after a time
went to Springfield, this state, where he
was connected with the electric railroad,
which was under his fathers management,
company there. In the fall of last year
he went TO Northampton to become asso-
ciated with his father in building the
| Northampton and Amherst electric rail-
road and upon its completion he became the
superintendent of the road. He married
Dec. 2, 1899, Miss Agnes c. Cosgrove of
New York city, trained nurse with whom
he became acquainted while at Blackwells
Island. Besides his wife and parents he
is survived by four brothers, Henry of
Brattleboro, Francis of Hartford, Conn,
Allyn of Springfield, this state, and Thorn
as W. of Brattleboro, and two sisters, Hell
en- and Edna, who live at home.
DR.. Crosby was a thorough and con-
scientious student, receiving high marks
in his studies. He was president of his
class during his second year in the Brat
tleboro High school, and he was respected
by the entire school and its corps of teach
ers. He graduated with bonors from
Dartmouth Medical college, and received
the appointment of class orator. By his
companionable manner, his genial temper
ament and his trustworthiness DIR. Crosby
made many enduring friendships, and his
death is felt as a personal loss by many be-
sides the members of the family. He was a
member of the Congregational church of
| Brattleboro.
The Northampton Herald says: There
is difference of statement and opinion as
TO the manner in which DR.. Crosby received
the fatal injuries. William Clark, the
driver, described the affair in detail
When the carette started James McCluney,
an Amherst student, was sitting beside
Mr.. Clark. They both caught sight of the
superintendent as he reached the forward
end of the vehicle, md both moved over to
make room for hi was on the down
! river side and gras seat handle with
his right hand as / one foot on the
step, which is on I'm, end of a spring
beam, Just in front OF the Wheel The
step has curved outer edge and no guard,
and Mr.. Clark saw the superintendent
foot slip from it, which was the begin
ming of the fall. Mr.. Clark Immediately
gave his attention to stopping the horses,
and cannot tell just how the superintend-
ent struck beneath the vehicle. He is pos
tive, however, that one wheel either ran
over the doctors body, or ran partly upon
it, for as he pulled the horses to stop he
felt the carette "settle down" as he ex-
pressed it.
BY strange coincidence George f. War
ner of BrattleborO, who has been intimate
ly acquainted with the Crosby family for
years in business and social ways, was in
the carette, having taken trip to Am
herst over the road. He had been talking
with Dr. Crosby on the car during the run
to the bridge. Mr.. Warner was one of the
first to leave the carette after the accident
and practically took charge of matters in
securing assistance for the injured man.
He was confident that one of the front
wheels passed over DR.. Crosby, and de-
clared that the vehicle ''jolted as if it went
over a log" Notwithstanding this, Mr..
Warner says that the superintendent
body lay diagonally across the roadway I'M
der the long front axle, and that both his
head and his feet were inside the wheel
lines. This position of the body makes it.
difficult to understand how either wheel
could have passed over the body or upon
it.
The injured man was taken from be-
meath the vehicle by Mr.. McCluney and
Mr.. Warner, and carried inside, where he
was laid on one of the seats. The carette
was driven to the Northampton end of the
bridge and physicians were telephoned for.
Dr. S. A. Clark reached the scene about
Is minutes after the accident occurred and
though hasty examination disclosed the |
fact that the man was dying the doctor
gave injections and did all that he could to |
revive him. DR.. Clark said that Mr.. |
Crosby opened his eyes and looked at him