The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-05-22
NARROW ESCAPE.

Rum did it. This was the universal YER
dict OF those who gathered about John Bart.
lett as he lay wounded and bleeding after
the train struck him Monday afternoon.
City Sheriff Bancroft also secured the
clinching evidence to corroborate the the
ory OF the cause Of the accident by securing
the unfinished quart bottle of whiskey
which was beside Bartlett's bruised body
when it was picked up.
After the $3.50 train had left for the juno
tion Bartlett and companion entered the
Central Vel mont reilway bridge and open
ed bottle of G.. o. Blake whiskey. This
is evident from the fact that the carton AID
paper bag in which the bottle wes carried
lay near It after the accident, both being
stained with the injured mans blood.
Two young boys named Willie Green and
Willie Provost came through the bridge
from the west end Just previous to the &C.
cident and saw Bartlett sitting upon the
wooden guard rail with his back to the
track, eighteen inches away. His compsn.
ion YVES In a safer position being in the out.
side framework Of the bridge. Both were
about eighteen PAGES from the west end Of
the bridge. The boys saw the men drink
ing together and as they reached the other
end OF the bridge heard the incoming train
approaching. The boys secured place of
safety and looked back Just in time TO see
Bartlett struck by the steps of the passen-
ger coach. The steps on the baggage and
express Car did not hit the m N as they do
not hang so low as those on the passenger
car. The force OF the blow was such that
the steps were wrecked.
The man ives sitting on the fireman 8
side OF the track. Had he not been busy
coaling his engine 1t is not probable he
would have noticed the man on the guard
rail- as Bartlett sat in shadow and could
not easily be seen from the approaching
train
Patrick Mcmahon, a section man, was
the first to reach Barte after he was hit
and ives soon joined by others. Bartlett 8
| companion had disappeared. What his rea-
son was for leaving Bartlett after he was
| injured is matter OF onjecture, but it Is
supposed he was drunk and frightened. A
short time later Chief Demerritt arrested
John Donnelly at the Central Vermont ste
| tion for intoxicatiOn. 1t Is said he was
Bartlett's companion.
| Boakes & Driscoll's ambulance was sum-
moned and Bartlett was carried to the ou =
side OF the bridge and laid on the gras3.
He was in semi.unconscous or stupefied
| condition and appeared to breathe with
great effort His left temple was bruised
and there was cut on his chin which bled
profusely, but these wounds proved to be
| but slight cuts. When he reached Heaton
hospital it was found that three ribs in his
left side had been broken, These had been
| pressed into his side so as to iniure his lung
and Monday evening he was considered
| to be in a critical condition.
Bartlett is granite cutter, has wife and
three children and resides at 98 Barre
street. He is said to be about thirty five
years Of age, Industrious and kind man in
his family, but occasionally addicted tC
drink.
Bartlett was reported on Monday as IN
es comfortable condition as could be ex-
pected His lung is lscerated but the physi
clan says he will recover II nothing new
sets in.
The car step which struck Bartlett was sc
badly shattered 1t had to be removed an(
the car was sent to St. Albans today to be
repaired.