The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-08-27
AUTOMOBILE
HIT BY TRAIN
Mr.. and Mrs. S. ID. Porter
Killed Near South Deer
field, Mass.
CAR DEMOLISHED
BY THE COLLISION
Chauffeur Bennett injured President
Of Kibbe Brothers Company and
His Wife Were Returning to Spring
field After Visit i'll Greenfield.


field After Visit i'll Greenfield.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. August 27.-I
A large automobile containing Sher-
man u. Porter of u Federal street in
this city, president of the Kibbc Broth
ers company, candy manufacturers. F
Mrs. Porter and their chauffeur. FreH
w. Bennett Of J6 Armorv street in
this city, was struck bv the second /
section Of a fast Boston & Maine ex-
press train running between Windsor.
VT, and this city, at Bryant : cross
lng, iust south of the South Deerfeld
station, about 3.:50 D clock Yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. and Mrs Porter were
instantly killed and Mr. Bennett was
seiously injured. They were returning
to this city from Greenfield when the
fatal accident occurred.
The express engine struck the ma
chine with great force and carried it
a distance of more than 200 feet along
the track. Bennett was thrown a dis
tance of 10 feet and fell in a ditch
near the railroad track, while Mr. and
Mrs. Porter were carried along with
the wrcc bagc Of the machine for a dis
tance of several hundred feet. their
lifcless bodies being then thrown into
the railway ditch where they were
later found lying side by side.
Bennett was picked up and placed in
the baggage car, where he was later
attended by Dr. Charles Moline ana
/ Or. E. c. Thorn of South Deertield.
/ who later accompanied him to this
city, where he was removed TO the
Springfield hospital. The bodies Of Nj.
;ld Mrs. Porter were taken to Green
+ field from whence they were brought
to this city last evening,
Mn. and Mrs. Porter left this city
4 about 2 O clock Yesterday morning for
/ Greenfield, where they had planned to
spend the day as the guests of Henry
X. Simons. They spent the latter part
Of the morning with Mr. Simous, ana
then had dinner at the Mansion House
After dinner they visited at the Wei
don hotel, from whence they started
on their return trip to this city.
Bryant ; crossing. the scene of the
accident. is short distance south of
South Deerfcld Tie main road out
OF South peerfield to the south runs
along the eastern side almost parallel
with the railroad until it reaches the
crossing. when it crosses the railroad
tracks at an angle. Near the east side
Of the crossing the view Of the rail-
road is blocked by house ana small
elulnp Of trees a condition which
makes it impossible to see the ap-
proach of trains, when travelling to-
ward the south on the street. 1t was
probably due to this fact that the
accident occurred.
The express train in charge Of EHgi-
nccr j. f. Picard and Conductor Will
liam Spear, both of this city, was
laundering along the south bound track
at the rate Of 60 miles an hour. 1t
was running as the second section of
the 'Nermonter' and was due in this
citv soon after 4 clock As the train
approached the crossing the track ap-
pcared perfectly clear and 10
! attempt was mades to slow down. The
| Porters S automobile, a large limousine
was travelling along at a leisurly rate
of speed and when the crossing was
reached the chauffeur thought he hao
q clear way and proceeded to cross
] He had no sooner started across thar
the train was upon him. The short
time that elapsed before the engine
plowed into the machine enabled 1t t.
run partly across the western side o.
the crossing.
The big engine struck the side O
tho machine, raising it and carrying /
along for distance of several hun
dred feet on its fender. The trcmen
:, dous impact reduced the machine t
! fragments, the bodies of both Mr. am
+ Mrs Porter being thrown with grea
force against the front of the engine
n Mrs. Porter 5 head was completed,
L severed from her body, while Mr.. POI
l. ter 5 head was terribly crushed Bot
It bodies were entangled in the wreckagC
i but were finally released and throw
/ with parts Of the automobile into tn
ditch along the side of the ,trac
about zoe feet from the scene of tn
accident. Mr.. Bennett was also cal
ricd along with the wreckage shoI
distance. but with the recoil resultin
< from the collision be was thrown
distance of about 140 feet. He wa
found lying in the ditch short di
! tance from the crossing.
1t is evident that Mr.. Bennett di
! not hear the approaching train, a
= though 1t was said by witnesses thu
81 the engine whistle had been sounde
" before the crossing was reached. I'll
fact that the accident happened wit
II out any warning to either the engineC
as or chauffeur made it almost impossib
"a to learn the details There were Sc
at eral witnesses, however, who clai
that it could not have been avoided