The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-11-08
MOT0RMAN KILLED
BY HIS OWN CAR
Merton E. Bemis Met Terrible
Death in Springfield.
MARRIED HERE MONTHS AGO
Widow Was Formerly Employed as
stenographer in the Bratueboro
Machine WORKS. Circumstances Of
Terrible Accident.

Merton Emerson Bemis, %, mo (
torman on the Springfield, Mass,
street railway, met death in horrible
manner at midnight Monday night
when il is supposed, in reaching out
from the ycstibule Of his ear TO adj
just the headlight, he lost his hold,
slipped from the ear and was ground
TO pieces beneath the wheels. The
accident occurred in Long Hill street,
opposite Spruceland avenue. The ear,
which was a Somers ear, bound north,
was due at the carbarns In Springfield
at 1915 clock Tuesday morning.
just how the accident happened
probably never will be known, Be
mis- was in the vestibule alone, with
the curtain down, cutting OF the
view from the interior of the ear. The
ear came to a sudden stop and inyes'
tigation showed Bemis' 5 body beneath
the wheels of the forward truck.
The vestibule door was open. The
power was shut of and the ear had
been stopped mainly by the contact
Of the wheels with Bemis S body. II
is assumed that Bemis, in an attempt
to adjust his headlight, had opened
the yestibule door, which was on his
left, having first shut off the power,
allowing the ear to run on its momen'
tum. 1t is probable that he then
stepped out and, holding to the vesti'
bule door, placed his foot on the
buffer which runs across the end OF
the ear on a level with the floor. In
doing this he probably lost his foot
ing and fell under the wheels.
There were only three passengers
on the car. The conductor, P. t.
o 'Leary realized at once that the
task of removing the mans body was
beyond him and telephoned TO the
earbarns. The wrecking train, with
Supt. G. F. Reed, was hurried to the
spot. 1t was necessary TO jack up the
ear in order to remove Bemis s body.
The man probably was killed instant
". His body was mutilated beyond
recognition. The left foot was
crushed, the left leg was nearly sew
cred and the head was terribly crush
ed The body was placed in the ear
which killed him and taken to the I'M
dertaking rooms of Caldwell & Perry
| in Main street. DR.. S. A. Lewis went
down with the wrecker and aeeompa-
MED the body to Springfield.
Young Bemis was well known IN
Brattleboro through his marriage TO
Miss Harriet Bemis, his cousin, when
took place here June 5, just hve
months previous to the day of the ac'
cident He had been employed by the
Springfield street railway company
for about 10 months and was eonsid'
cred a yalulble man. Previous 10
that time he had served in the Unit
ed States navy and at one time was
employed in the Estey organ factory
in this town. Besides his widow, who
nrevious to her marriage was en-
ployed as stenographer at the Brattle,
boro Machine works, he is survived
nv his father, David Bemis of Med
ford, Mass, and an uncle, >. A. Be
mis- of Springfield.
Brief services were held in Spring
field Wednesday afternoon and the
BODY was brought to Brattleboro on
the 5.35 train. The funeral took place
Yesterday afternoon at 2 O'Clock at
the home of Mrs. Jennie Bems on
Terrace street, Rev. II. r. Miles ON,
ciating, and burial was in Laurel
Ridge cemetery. A.,
Much sympathy is extended the
Young widow in her bereavement
which is particularly severe on ac'
count of the shocking manner IN
which her husband met death and the
short time which they had been mar
ried. Mr.. and Mrs. Bemis had been
housekeeping but two weeks.