The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-06-22

not less than 80 people were hurt, II
of them seriously and one perhaps IA
tally, occurred at Williamstown q lit
tie after II o'clock Saturday night,
due to collision between two cars
bound from North Adams to Williams
town on the Berkshire street railway.
The Seriously Injured.
James Lee. motorman, terribly cut.
right leg broken, hip crushed. Right
leg amputated Sunday at the North
Adams hospital. Still alive but im
serious condition.
Alex McClen, chin cut, shoulder dis
located.
Mrs. Alex McClen, head cut. terrib.
ly bruised. Complains Of internal In
juries.
Alex McClen Jr., compound fracture
of the leg.
Henry Nichols, arm broken.
Mrs. Albert McClen, bruised. Com
plains of internal injuries.
George Parr, ribs broken and head
cut.
George Bryant, knee injured.
Mrs. Grace Larabee, bruised, head
cut. Complains of internal injuries.
Bartholomew I.ahiff, head cut badly.
Thomas WEIGH. right leg hurt.
Unknown man, cut and bruised
William Reed, face cut, internal In
juries.
All of the above are Of Williams
town.
George Clifford of Newburg, n. Y,
badly hurt, feared internally.
On the second car, riding In next to
the front seat, was Miss Mary Chap
man Of New York City, who Is visit
ing in Williamstown. Several who
sat on the seat with her were among
those badly injured but she escaped
without serious injury. She Is a
trained nurse and she gave valuable
assistance In the care OF the injured
Miss Chapman was the heroine of the
affair. Although badly shaken and
bruised she dressed the wounds OF
those badly hurt and II Motorman Lee
survives 1t will be because Of her skill
in binding UP his injuries and caring
for him until help came
The accident happened as the result
tof running two cars together. known
in railroading as double header.
The cars left North Adams at l0:30
one following the other closely. and
were due in Williamstown at IL
About half mile east OF the Boston
and Maine depot in Williamstown the
railway descends hill and 1t was al
the foot of this hill. at what is known
as Coles Grove. that the crash came.
The head car, in charge Of Motor
man Ernest Wright of Williamstowr
and Conductor Ernest Roberts Of AID
ans, was descending the hill wheI
the trolley left the wire, and 1t was
brought to stop at the foot where
the tracks round curve. The troll
ley rope was found to be broken b,
Conductor Roberts. and he climbed Il
the top OF the car to replace the troll
ley and tie the rope.
The car was left in darkness. TIT
| second car came down the hill at |
fast rate of speed and the motorman
James Lee, says that he saw nothing
until the crash came. Bystander
claim that the second car carried nj
headlight, but the employees woul'
neither affirm nor deny this.
There were 80 people In the frs
car and 81 in the second, and when tn
cars collided they were thrown owe
seats and onto the floor. The rea
car crashed completely through tn
rear end of the first car, demolishin
completely the two rear seats OF tn
first car and the two first seats OF tn
second car. The heavy iron dash
boards were twisted, and the wOode
timbers were smashed into kindlin
wood.
Into this debris the persons on tn
first seats of the second car wer
thrown and entangled, and II was wit
difficulty that some of them were e'
tricated. Motorman. Lee did not hav
time more than to set his brakes an
he was still In his position when tn
accident occurred. He Is hurt wors
than any one else.
The accident occurred at a lionel
spot and there was little opportunit
to furnish immediate relief for the II
jured Their cries for help could b
heard long distance and when thos
who were hurt the worst were reno
ed from the wreck they shrieked wit
pain. Near by on hill was the hous
of w. Austin Blair which he opene
for the injured. Those who appeare
In the worst condition we're take
there while the others were stretche
out on the grass. AS soon as possib
cars were sent from North Adams an
in short time several Williamstow
physicians arrived. After the injure
had been temporarily cared for the
, were placed on car and sent to II
| North Adams hospital. The. othe
who were able were placed on anoth,
car and sent to their homes In w
Jamestown.
Both cars were enroute to William
. town and all Of the people on the
lived there. Several who might ha'
!. taken a Bennington car and been ca
!, ried to a point at least a half mi
nearer their homes hurried In Nor
= Adams to take the cars running to u
: main part OF Williamstown and by
!, doing they might, even though tn
= had to walk some distance, arri
: home q few minutes earlier. And
:, strange part Of the accident was tn
= all of these people were among {
y most seriously injured. They we
!, the McClen family, who live In I
!, part OF Williamstown known as Riv
Y side. Mrs. Alex McClen was one
u the worst injured and was taken
. the Blair home until sent to the h
pital The other members OF the n
Glen family, Motorman Lee a
10 George ParY were also taken to
hospital.