Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-08-21
Killed at Leicester.

/ While Frank w. Bump and William
Branch of Salisbury were returning from
work in the bayfield, on the Creek about
6: Is Monday night their team was struck
by the work train on the crossing at
Leicester Junction. Both men jumped.
Mr.. Bump landed in front of the engine
and his body was horribly mangled and
literally cut to pieces and scattered along
the track to the water tank. Mr.. Branch
struck with great force on the platform
and was badly shaken up but fortunately
escaped death. The horse was instantly
XII led and cut to pieces while the wagon
was reduced to kindling wood. The
work train was running very fast and
the men evidently did not hear the
whistle The remains of Mr. Bump were
taken to Brandon and placed in the
hands of Undertaken Ketchum. Mr. Bump
was about 80 years old, the son of the
late Charles Bump of Salisbury. He
was unmarried.
The Daily News reporter tells the fol-
lowing story: The men had been haying
in Leicester and were on their way home,
their road passing through Leicester
Junction. At this place the road crosses
the rails between Huntley's hotel and the
station, both of which are in close prox
unity to the track, but on the west of the
hotel an uninterrupted view of the rails
can be obtained for good half mile to
the north
The men were on this open stretch of
road when the work train bound south
came in sight They were driving at
good pace and instead of stopping
where they were out of danger, continued
to within few feet of the track. Here
the horse was pulled down to stand
but as the engine came IN sight around
the hotel the animal bounded forward,
bringing buggy and all directly in its
path.
The engineer quickly reversed as he
saw the danger, but too late; sudden
crash and horse and buggy were hurled
from the track. Bump was thrown di-
rectly beneath the wheels and dragged
for at least an hundred feet before the
train was brought to a stop, Branch was
hurled to one side of the track, escaping
instant death by but few inches.
The buggy was but mass of wreckage
and the horse was instantly killed and
hurled to the top of box car some dis
tance away.
rhe train men and two spectators of
the accident secured the body of Mr..
Bump from beneath the wheels. The
body was fearfully maDgled, one arm
and one leg being severed and a large
portion of the abdomen crushed to pieces.
The back of the head was cut away as
by knife.
The injuries to Mr.. Branch consisted
of jagg,d wound on the back of the
neck and internal injuries, the extent of
which can not as yet be determined.
Lou Bump, brother of the killed
man, had been haying with the men and
had preceded the two with the heavier
team some twenty minutes. a telephone
message to Leicester Four-COrners
brought him back to the scene of the
accident.
Mr.. Branch was carried to the hotel at
| Leicester Junction and medical aid sum
moned.
Although the matter has not as yet
been thoroughly invest gated, from the
reports of eye-witnesses of the tragedy il
would seem self evident that the accident
was caused by the carelessness of Bump,
who was driving. 1t is said that he was
in the habit of running like chances.
Mr.. Bump was a farmer in good cir
cumstances. his residence being nea'
Salisbury village. His character wa.
excellent