Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-29
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Miss Grace Whitaker Struck by
Freight Train.

Miss Grace Whitaker was seriously
| Injured by being struck by a freight
train, near the coal and wood sheds
| of S A & 4. 3. Green, Thursday
morning. Miss Whitaker is employed
as bookkeeper By the Whittemore Fur
! niture Co. and was going up 70 the
! Maine Central passenger station from
the office Of her employers Tor the
purpose Of mailing some letters. taxing
the short cut which is very commonly
used up along the tracks between the
| old freight house and the coal sheds
Freight train No. 40 was just pulling
into the station. approaching Miss
Whitaker from the rear. Just what
happened is not accurately known. rs
Miss Whitaker has not been able TO
talk 4 great deal since the accident
but from the circumstances 1t i
thought that the accident happened
something like this:
This freight train usually takes
what is known as the main turnout
at the switch near the Main street
crossing. rather than follow the main
line up. Miss Whitaker evidently
| thought the train was coming along
behind her on the main line and KEPT
| over near the turnout, not between
tba rails bIr between the tracks ana
near Tho rail of the turnout where
there is a narrow space. AS the train
drew near her she evidently became
alarmed and turned her head TO see on
what track it was coming and at that
instant was hit. Some part of the en-
CINE or the corner of the first car APP
parertlv struck her just over the eye.
as there was very bad cut there The
train was moving slowly and apparent
liz with little danger of hitting MISS
Whitaker. as there was room Tor her
to get out Of the way. But she had
evidently become bewildered and could
not see what to do in time.
she was knocked down away from
| the train by the blow. and as she fell
was seen by John Clifford. an en-
ploye of s. A. & a. E. Green, VINO
was at work in the wood shed near
I the scene of the accident, and who
with the railroad men went TO her as
sfstance. The cut on her face bled
very p-ofusely and it was at first feared
| that she had been fatally injured
/ But she soon recovered partial con-
| seriousness and was moved to the coal
and wood Office and DR.. Boyer sum
| moned. 1t was found that the skull
| had been fractured. although not bad
| liz. and that the face was considerably
| bruised and cut, especially about the
nose. while the principal cut was q
| bad one. Miss Whitaker was able TO
1 be moved to her home about II o'clock
| Her condition was considered as
serious yesterday. when it could not
be determined just what the results
might be. but good recovery was
considered possible. Serious complI-
cations may arise, however. so that
the ultimate result Of the injury is yer!
much in doubt.
The course taken by Miss Whitaker.
| although almost generally used. is not
considered a particularly safe one as
the tracks are in almost constant use
either by shutters or regular trains and
there il always chance for one pass
ing through there to become bewildered
and do the wrong thing.
The condition of Miss Whitaker.
during the afternoon, was considered
| serious but there is hope of recovery.
DR.. J. Fred Hill was called in by DR.
Boyer to examine her eyes. which are
in bad shape. especially one of them
which is very badly swollen.