Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-16
FENDER STRUCK HER
Mrs. Eliza Cook, 81, Injured Sc
riousIy on Electric Road.
Compound Fracture Of the Leg, Arm
Broken and Cut Six Inches Long on
Head-Her Recovery Doubtful

''SaH- iiSl nCSONSIy GObphluls
With but an instant's warning Mo-
torman Lewis Prouty saw two women
step in front of the electric car which
he was running Friday night and the
next instant injuries had been inflicted
upon Mrs. Eliza Cook, 81, who lives
near the end of the street railroad in
West Brattleboro, from which it is
thought she cannot recover. The acct
dent happened in West Brattleboro as
the $50 o'clock cCr west was passing
the Congregational church. No blame
is attached to the motorman, who did
all in his power to avoid the accident,
the women assuming all of the respon-
sibility.
A minute before the accident Mrs.
| Cook, Mrs. ]. L. King of West Brattle
| boro and her sister, Mrs. Twitchell of
New York, left the Congregational
church, where they attended the week
| ly prayer meeting. They saw the cleo
trio car some distance away approach
ing the point where the track crosses
the walk which leads from the church
to the street, and talked among them
selves as to whether they would have
time to cross the track before the car
arrived. They decided that they had
y
Twitchell ahead and Mrs. King and
Mrs. Cook following arm in arm.
The path, few feet from the track,
is shaded by tree, and there are sew
eral other trees near by which make
it difficult for a motorman to see a
great distance on that side of the track
at night, and for this reason Motor
man Prouty, who Is considered one of
the best motormen in the companys
employ was running his car at only
half speed. Mrs. Twitchell saw that
she would have time to cross, and she
| did so, telling Mrs. Cook and Mrs.
| King to wait. The two women kept on,
however, although the motorman was
ringing the danger gong.
The car was less than a cars length
from the crossing when the motorman
saw that the women intended to cross.
He shouted and applied the brake
as quickly as possible. Mrs. King was
nearest the car, and she stepped just
in time to avoid being struck. Mrs.
Cook took one more step and was
struck by the corner of the fender,
which the motorman did not have time
to drop. She was thrown forcibly
against the corner of the car, and in
falling her head struck the running
board. Mrs. King was also thrown to
the ground.
Medical aid was called Immediately
and Mrs. Cook was placed on the car
and taken to her home 1t was found
that bones in her left forearm were
broken and there was a compound
comminuted fracture of the bones Of
her left leg below the knee. A cut
six inches or more in length extended
|
flesh wound on her right leg. She also
suffered a severe shock to her nervous
system. Mrs. King received one or
two flesh wounds, but was not serious
ly hurt. A compound comminuted
fracture is a very serious matter in
any case. and considering Mrs. Cooks
advanced age DR.. Holton thinks her
recovery is doubtful.
Motorman Prouty made one more
trip, but became so nervous that he
was not able to run longer that even
ing. He and Superintendent Jones as
sisted in making Mrs. Cook as comfort
able as possible, and on Saturday SUI
perintendent Jones and Lawyer f. w.
Gibson visited the three women and
made inquiries regarding the accident.
Mrs. King said they saw the car and
heard the gong, but were momentarily
bewildered. All three women signed a
written statement generating Motor
man Prouty and the railroad company
from all blame in connection with the
accident. Mrs. Cook is step-mother OF
Mrs. j. F. Stearns of Pearl street.
People who take chances in crossing
the track in front of moving cars
should draw a lesson from this acct
dent. The motormen say that hardly
a day passes that some one does not
take the risk of being run down and
that it is a wonder that there are not
more accidents.
This is the only serious accident
which has taken place on the electric
road since the cars began running six
years ago.
A council of physicians was held
Monday. when it was decided that Mrs
Cooks life could not be saved unless
the leg was amputated, and even then
the chances would be against her re
covery. Mrs. Cook was told of the
decision, but she preferred to take heI
chances without having the operation
performed.