Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-06-10
FATAL ACCIDENT.
MICHAEL J. GLEASON OF ISLAND POND
CRUSHED BETWEEN CARS AT
SOUTH PARIS.

| About 2 o'clock Saturday afternoo
Michael j. Gleason of Island Pond,
Grand Trunk brakeman, was caugh
between the bumpers of two freigh
cars near the upper end of the station
platform at South Paris, and almos
instantly killed.
Gleason was brakeman on train No
II, which is the west bound local freight
in charge of Conductor Gibson. A
South Paris this train had several car
to cut out and leave, and the switch
near Gothic Street was being used, thu
cars to be set off being sent down thu
siding, the others down the main line
Gleason was attending to the shack
| ling on the main line. A single
car was standing on the main track
near the upper end of the platform
and another section of the train was
sent down against it. Gleason was
alongside this section, and as it ap.
preached the single car he stepped on to
the brake beam on the end approaching
the single car, holding on by his left
hand to the ''grab-iron" on the car. Just
before the cars came together he was
seen to swing forward toward the
bumpers. Winslow c. Thayer, the
freight clerk, who saw him from the
freight house, shouted to him to look
out, but he apparently did not hear, and
was caught.
Lewis E. Monk and Ernest c. Mason,
who were at work on the court house
grounds near the stable, saw the affair,
and supposed the man was hurt, but he
held on so long they thought he was all
right after all, until he dropped to the
ground about the time the car stopped
on which he had been. He breathed
two or three times after the men reached
the place, but death must have been
practically instantaneous. The marks
of his clothing on the bumpers of both
ears, as we'll as the manner in which his
abdomen was crushed, showed that he
must have been caught squarly between
the bumpers.
Why he should have been between the
bumpers is not plainly apparent. The
most likely explanation of it is that he
was reaching across for the cock of the
air pipe, in order to put the brakes on.
This theory is supported by the fact that
this cock was found about half turned.
1t was also shown during the investi-
cation that man of his size standing as
he was seen to be on the break beam and
reaching across for the air cock would
swing his body in front of the
coupling in position to be struck just
as he was.
Coroner Albert P. Bassett of Norway
was at once notified, as was DR.. Brad
bury of Norway, and both arrived
promptly. County Attorney Ellery c.
Park of Bethel was also notified, and
came down on the 4:44 train. After his
arrival coroner's jury was empaneled,
consisting of Albert D. Park, VIM. o.
rockingham, Frank A. Shurtleff, j. F.
Plummer, j. P. Richardson, n. D.
Bolster. They viewed the remains,
which were then taken in charge by
Undertaken Grace Thayer, and then ad
journed until o'clock IN the evening.
The inquest in the evening in charge
Of Coroner Bassett was very short, only
a few minutes being occupied with the
taking of testimony. Miss NJ. A. Baker
acted as stenographer. L. L. Hight of
Portland, attorney for the Grand Trunk,
was present, having come part of the
way on a freight and the rest on the
West Paris pilot engine, which was sent
Down after him. The eyewitnesses and
, few Others who were near at hand
1t the time told their stories briefly, and
The hearing was closed before the ar
rival of the o'clock train.
The jury returned verdict reciting
he essential facts as to the manner of
leath, and finding the Grand Trunk not
Dlamable for the accident.
Michael j. Gleason was apparently
between % and 80 years of age, made his
nome at Island Pond, and was unmar-
led. He has been on this end of the
road about two years, having been pre-
,iously employed on another division of
he Grand Trunk. He is said to have
had a narrow escape from similar acct
lent at Oxford about year ago.
The remains were sent to Tingwick.
Canada. Gleason's only remaining near
'elative is brother.