The Somerset reporter., 1905-07-20
Automobile Accident


Hon. Forrest Goodwin and his two
guests, James Clark and Sherman Smith
of California, had very exciting adven-
ture, Friday morning, with an autCmo
bile In which they were making trip to
the Dead River region. They went
from here to Madison by trolley car and
set out from that town In sn automobile
owned and run by MshIon Boynton.
All went we'll until they we're making
the ascent of long hill Just beyond the
residence of David Clark OF Lexington,
when the machine stopped, the steam
pressure having been reduced by the
long up grade to point where it would
not furnish further motive power. Mr..
| Boynton did not touch hls reverse lever
but the engine reversed automatically,
for sone reason not understood at the
time, and the amount Of steam remain
ing in the boiler was sufficient TO propel
the car backward down the grade at
terri fe rate. Mr.. Goodwin Jumped and
and though he sustained a violent fall
and severe bruises escaped without seri-
Gus injury. The three other gentlemen
remained in the machine until it dashed
out of the road and capsized, turning
over several times. Mr.. Clark and Mr..
Boynton were thrown to a distance of
thirty-tive feet from the ear and were
very badly shaken and bruised one of
Mr.. Boynton's legs being cut to the
bone. Mr.. Smith was found underneath
the overturned car, which weighs nearly
half ton, but the excitement OF the
emergency lent sufficient strength to his
companions to enable them to lift the
vehicle and release him. Mr.. Smith also
suffered from bruises and the shock and
in addition it was subsequently found
that his collar bone was fractured.
While the four gentlemen were COM
pairing notes and congratulating each
other that no one had been killed, the
automobile, which had been righted in
lifting 1t off from Mr.. Smith but had re.
ceived no further attention at the time,
started up on its own account and made
dash out of the highway straight into
the woods. Though badly broken up
the machine was temporarily repaired
by its owner and it served to convey the
party back to Madison.
Mr.. Boynton had run this same ma
chine for several seasons and is consider
ed very skilful in the care aud manage
ment Of automobiles. He was very
much at loss to account for the reVers-
ing of his engine which lead TO such Sc
rious results. Since the accident, in COR
versation with others who own or have
that they have had similar experiences.
! When the engine runs to the limit of its
| power and stops with the pressure still
on, il the weight of the machine is sufli-
cient to cause it to settle back down the
| grade even few inches, the engine will
very frequently reverse as 1t did in the
present instance. When this happens,
| before the operator can grasp the situs-
| ton, the machine dashes backward until
it strikes an obstruction and the power
! still In the machine acts In connection
with the momentum thus suddenly
checked, in such a way as to make the
machine "rear up and go over back.
wards.
Mr.. Goodwin, with his proverblal
good fortune, was the least Injured of
any of the party. They all have reason
to be thankful that the consequences
were no worse and they will retain
vivid recollection of their adventure for
many day.