The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-29

Little Harry Bernstein, the four year
old son Of Mr.. Samuel and Mrs. Jennie
Bernstein who live ct liz Vine street,
was killed in a street car accident that
happened at ten minutes past three
clock yesterday afternoon. His head
was almost completely severed from HIS
body, so that death was instantaneous.
IL is thought that both wheels of the car
ran over the little fellow. The car was
one of the Union station and Grand
Trunk line, number liz, and was in
charge OF Conductor Charles Paine and
Motorman Jacob Singer. two men who
have been in the employ OF the Portland
Railroad for several years. Motorman
Singer has been working for the road for
the last nine years. The car was going
down Pearl street and everything went
along as usual until the corner OF Fore
street. was reached. Then, while directly
opposite the corner of the Custom house,
Harry bernstein attempted to run across
the track. Harry has for some tins been
in the custom of going over TO his father
pawn shop at 1855 Fore street, once or
twice every day. 6sneraliy he used to go
about all aloha. When he had got as far
as the corner of Fors and Pearl streets
Yesterday afternoon he saw the car ap.
preaching, but evidently thought that he
would be able to get across the street all
right. Inc Car, however, was right upon
him by the time that he ran as far as the
tracks lie WAS struck, knocked down
and then the wheels PASSED over his body
before Motorman Singer was able to stop
the car. There were only a few people
who witnessed the sad affair. MIR. y. w.
Leeman of Orr's island was one Of the
number. He was coming up Pearl street.
from Commercial and he saw the boy
struck by thescar. Mr.. Leeman says that
the motorman rang the gong before the
car had hit the little boy, and he also
states that the car was going along at a
rather slow rate Of speed, On the other
hand Miss Hattie Foster, young lady
VINO was walking along Fore street TO-
wards Pearl, says that the car was going
at pretty rast rate and that no gong
was rung. Janitor Harry Pettengili of
the custom house was sitting In one of
the rooms that face the Pearl street side.
He did not zee the car until ID had struck
the boy, but says that directly afterwards
the car was moving slowly along and
that before the boy was struck the gong
was rung. Motorman Singer declined TO
make any statement whatever regarding
the affair. The car ran along about a
length before stopping on this grade
which Is one OF the steepsst on the lines
of the Portland Railroad company. A cry
went up and within twlnkling small
crowd had gathered ON the scene. DIR.
Walter Merrill, the assistant surgeon OF
the u. S. Marine hospital, rushed out
from his office in the custom house and
with soldier from Fort Preble removed
the body from the tracks and took 1t into
his office. The body was laying across
the tracks which showed that the boy
had succeeded In getting almost across
the street before meeting his death.
Coroner Perry was summoned and sent
for the police ambulance to take the body
TO Rich's undertaking rooms. Latsr in
the following citizens to serve as jurors
for an inquest: John Il. Farr, George T..
Means, Arthur Il. Harding, George w.
Wells, Joseph @. Sterling, George ID.
Loring. The inquest will be held in the
county attorneys room In the city build
ing at $50 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Harry Bernstein was q bright boy and
would have been four years old next Feb
ruary. He attended the Kindergarten.
He was ths second child, Dora, q sister,
being six years old, and Louis, brother,
being nearly two years old, the parents
are about distracted over the sad accident.