The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-10-23
After Swapping Off Telephone
Pole and Crushing Iron Fence
OCCUPANTS LITTLE HURT.
Wedding Party Was Being CARR M
Monica's Church This NJ; GNA~ zen
Steering Gear ,,NoW . Re-
spond to Dn IS Efforts.

While conveying wedding party tn
st. Monica's church this morning shortly
before s o'clock, Buick automobile
owned by Jones & Nyes and driven by
Geraldus Knapp crashed into a telephone
pole at the head of Summer street, sped
through Il. A. Prindle's lawn near by
and brought up against the house at the
corner of Keith avenue and Summer
streets, occupied by Henry Carr and
other families. The driver was thrown
out when the first collision occurred.
Another occupant, Morton Warren. fol.
lowed a few seconds later Knapp sus.
tanned bad eut above the lip and War
rem was rendered nearly unconscious for
few moments, also receiving bal
bruises about the face. Miss Hattie
Lander and Lawrence Rising, the groom
to-be, managed to retain their seats,
although both were badly shaken up
and somewhat bruised. The bride-to- be,
Miss Stella Lander, escaped unhurt.
Aside from the damage TO the car,
the outcome of the accident may be con-
sidered extremely fortunate. The auto
mobile, a car of the 1910 model, is
wreck, and a heavy outlay viii be re-
quired TO restore il to its former shape.
Both OF the front wheels were torn from
the axle by the collision with the house.
Lamps, doors and windshield were all
stripped from their places and the front
seat of the car was also wrenched from
the body. The first crash with the pole
left the tonneau hanging high and dry
to one Of the spikes.
So far as could be learned, the engine
I of the machine was not damaged, but
almost every other part of the car Is
affected by the accident to greater or
less extent and it is doubtful if 81 600
| will cover the loss. Other results of the
cars wild career may be seen on the pole,
which was broken in two by the force
of the crash, and in the twisted iron
railing which enclosed Mr.. Prindle's
lawn.
| Several explanations as ta the cause
Of the accident are given. The driver,
Geraldns Knapp, to whom no blame is
attached. states that the chr was pro-
ceeding down Eastern avenue at the rate
of IL miles per hour. Approaching Sum-
mer street. the steering gear Of the ma
chine began to act strangely and pres
emily the driver found the car headed
/ for one side of the road, and even the
most strenuous application of strength
| failed to swerve it to the middle OF the
street. He believes that the steering
attachment to the front wheels failed to
! operate properly and that this defect in
| turn affected the brakes. which also
| failed to respond.
/ At the instant of the crash, Knapp
was thrown from bis seat Getting to
/ his feet hastily, he saw that the ma
chine had cleared the post and was max
! ing across the lawn for the house at the
corner of Keith avenue. Hoping to re-
| gain control of the car before the occu-
pants were dashed to the ground, he
started to overtake the vehicle. Before
he had hardly taken a step. however,
the car had come to a standstill after
rushing headlong into the side of the
| building.
| Fifty people were on the spot in a few
minutes and confusion reigned for a
short time. The occupants were taken
| to a nearby house, where their wounds
were dressed by physician The driver
| in the meantime went to garage and
procured another car. Not to be deferred
| by the accident, the wedding party
awaited his arrival and were soon on
| their way to the church once more.
| The wrecked automobile and the scene
OF the accident were viewed by hundreds
of people during the forenoon. Later
the car was taken to browns garage on
! Prospect street.