Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-05-22
A Warning to Autom o biIists.

1t is noteworthy that the newspapers
throughout the State are commenting
vigorously on the automobile accident in
Burlington which had such fatal results.
and all discussi on points In the direction
of the need Of greater security for hui
man life in this connection. 1t seems
necessary to protect occupants of autos
as well as others in the street from the
reckless chauffeur, and the surest way
to do this is to make an example of those
who violate the speed law. The Barre
Times in speaking of this matter says.
yesterdays automobile accident in
Burlington, whereby one man was killed,
another seriously injured and two others
hurt, although less seriously, gives rude
jolt to ones feeling of satisfaction that
Vermont is go remarkably free from SER
ious accident incident to the use of the
motor car. Considering the number Of
cars here used in proportion to the popu-
lation, we have been extremely fortunate
in the almost absolute absence of those
major catastrophes that are so frequently
recorded in other States and other Sec
tions. Some years since there was an
accident with sad results during a race
at st. Johnsbury, and it, by the way,
put stop to attempts hereabout to con-
duct motor car races on circular track.
Again there was fearful accident at
North Bennington, by which two lives
were sacrificed in a somewhat foolish
worship of speed, their car being struck
by an express train when the auto party
considered the velocity of their vehicle
capable of sending them over the eros
sing in advance of the train. With these
two exceptions and the one of yesterday
in Burlington, we recall no serious re-
suits attending the use of the automo-
bile.
Although there were only three, each
was apparently the direct outgrowth of
the mania for speed, sort of mania
which unfortunately affiicts certain of
our brethren Immediately they get into
car and feel the exhilaration of rapid
transit. Therefore, we ought to find in
the few illustrations warning sufficient
to check whatever developing speed
mania there may be in individuals.
Above all things, the stamp of utter fool
ishness should be placed on the practice
of reckless driving of cars at night.
When the kindly light of day has been
withdrawn, it is time to go slow, if ever.
One such warning as that at Burlington
yesterday ought to be an end to the
pernlcious use of the motor car.
Another phase of the Burlington au-
tomobile accident is emphasized by the
Rutland News as follows:-
The sad ending of that automobile
lark at Burlington is not without its les
SONS. The practice of taking out cars by
garage employees, without the knowl-
edge of the owners, is altogether too
common. The proprietors of such places
cannot be too watchful of the property
committed to their charge. The Bur-
lington case is not an isolated one. The
public has not forgotten the case in New
York year or two ago when a party of
garage employees and their women
friends all singing and shouting plunged,
in borrowed car, through a picket
fence and down an embankment onto a
railroad track, where several of them
met their death.
This accidapt hoe owl 1aptlu Uopo for
to rouse public opinion to the necessity
of stopping reckless running Of automo-
biles.-Free Fress.
EAzapna scala Loud hixas, itoLi.,an Il