Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-21
When w. G. Boothby's Car Is
Wrecked Early Thursday
Morning Near F. H. Gilman's
Residence in Manchester
DIR. A. H. STURTEVANT'S
INJURIES VERY SERIOUS
Others of Party, w. G. Boothby,
LII. Cooper and J. F. Mac
Nichol, Also Injured but Not
So Seriously

One of the worst automobile acct
dents that has yet been recorded in
this section of the State occurred
sometime between midnight and / o.
clock Thursday morning, on the Bel
grade road at a point near the resi-
dence OF Fred H. Gilman, about seven
miles from Augusta, when the
big Stevens Duryea touring car
owned by Treasurer w. G. Boothby of
the Kennebec Savings bank, in which
were Mr.. Boothby, DR.. A. II. Sturte-
want, Prof. J. Francis MacNichol and
Col. L. L. Cooper of Augusta, was
badly wrecked and all of the members
of the party injured, DIR. Sturtevant
very seriously. 1t was only by a mir
acle that one or more members of the
party We're not Killed. Mr.. Gilman
was the first to reach the scene after
the accident.
When the accident occurred the car
was going toward Belgrade. Mr..
Boothby said Thursday noon, in speak
ing Of the accident, that the car was
running slowly at the time over sec
ton of the road which had been re-
Gently repaired, and that the trouble
was due to the skidding of the forward
wheels Of the car while the rear wheels
chung to the ruts in the road, which
caused the car to run up against a
steep bank at the side of the road,
after which it ran back a short dis
lance.
The first that was known of the ac-
cident was when at about o'clock
Thursday morning a telephone call was
received by DR.. George A. COMBS,
who as soon as possible started with
Percy V. Hill in the latter's car for the
scene of the accident, and taking the
members Of the party into the car
brought them to Augusta DR.. Sturte-
want, who had received the most Sc
rious injuries. was unconscious and
was thought at the time to have suf-
fered conclusion of the brain or a
fracture of the skull. Mr.. Cooper had
sustained a number of bad cuts OH the
head and was also scratched and bruis-
ed. 1t was feared also that he had
sustained internal injuries but he is
now expected to be able to be up after
few days. Mr.. MacNiehol had evil
IDENTIFY received a heavy blow on the
head. besides being bruised and lam
ed. Mr.. Boothby, aside from a few
bruises about the face, luckily escaped
more serious injuries, and was able
later in the day to resume his duties
at the bank.
After the arrival of DR.. Sturtevant
at his home on Green street, the seri-
BUSINESS of his condition being realized,
wire was sent to DR.. John Thomp-
son of Portland. who reached Angus
ia on the early morning train, and
that gentleman, with Augusta sur
geons, made a thorough examination
of the injured man. DR.. Sturtevant
was found to be suffering from concus-
sion of the brain, and while 1t could
not be definitely determined il was
not thought Thursday that he had suf-
Tered fracture of the skull. He was
conscious at times during the day
and evening. DR.. Thompson made a
second visit to Augusta Thursday eve
ming.
w. j. Skenan, who conducts a garage
in the basement of the Stilkey stable.
was notified early Thursday morning
of tho accident and at $50 sent a man
"AeA' q Noi " bIlHS III the Booth Dy
car, the latter being accompanied by
Mr.. Boothby On arriving at the
scene of the accident they found that
the car, although badly wrecked, could
be operated and it was driven to the
city under its own power
AS the car stood in the Skehan ga
rage its appearance indicated the Sc
robustness of the accident The front
OF the car was damaged, some of the
lamps being smashed, the radiator
twisted, the steering gear and front
axle badly bent, and the rear corn
er on the right side of the car looking
forward indicated that the car
had been overturned. The top of the
car had been crushed down, the arches
broken and the body of the car at that
point was also crushed down. The wind
shield of the car, which Mr.. Skehan
said was one Of the strongest made.
was also crushed down and the glass
shattered into small pieces. On left side
OF the car the front wheel was partly
dished, but not SO badly but what it
could be used on the trip into town.
From the appearance of the car one
would wonder that any of the party
eeca nod a1ixra