Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-04-12
REV. AND MRS. BISHOP
RUN DOWN BY TRAIN
Their Automobile Struck Near Grand
Rapids-Mrs. Bishop in Hospital
With Serious Injuries,

With Serious Injuries.
Rev. Edwin Whitney Bishop. D. D.,
and his wife were in a serious auto
mobile accident near Grand Rapids,
Mich, last Tuesday Of which word has
just been received here. where Rev
DR.. Bishop has relatives and is well
known. He is native of this city
and a graduate of the Norwich Free
Academy.
The following report is made in the
Grand Rapids Herald of wednesday
morning last:
Mrs. Edwin w. Bishop, o5 years old.
wife of Rev. DR.. Bishop. pastor of
Park Congregational church. was Sc
riously injured and DR.. Bishop was
badly cut about the head and body
a Michigan Central freight train at
Bowen station, seven miles southeast
of the city, shortly before O'Clock
yesterday afternoon.
Mrs. Bishop is in U. B. A. hospital
with a badly dislocated left hip. an in
jured right shoulder, and bruises
about the body. Her face was also
badly scratched.
DR. Bishop was cut on the right ear,
right arm. and about the legs. He Is
suffering considerably from shock at
his home, 43S College avenue, S. e.
DR. and Mrs Bishop left Grand Rap
ids about $50 o'clock for a spin into
the country. the latter driving the car,
out the Kalamazoo avenue road. A
view of the Michigan Central track is
ing standing close to the right-of-way.
Unaware Of the danger. Mrs. Bishop
drove the car toward the track at a
rate of about 10 miles per hour. When
about 80 feet from the crossing she
first saw a freight train but few
- III fr
check the machine her husband quick
ly put his foot on the accelerator and
increased the power. The automobile
was just clearing the track when the
engine struck the machine full on the
rear left wheel, throwing the car 10
feet from the track, and turning it
about end for end. Mrs. Bishop was
thrown from the car, striking the
ground about 20 feet away. DR.. Bish-
op was buried beneath the wrecked
car but managed to extricate himself.
Jacob Norman, proprietor of a gro
Gerry store at Bowen Station. witness
ed the accident and was the first to
reach Mrs. Bishop. He attempted to
lift the injured woman from the
ground but she was in such pain that
he was unable to raise her to a sitting
position.
Following the crash, John Rowland
Of Jackson, engineer of the freight
train, brought his train to a stop
about one-eighth of mile away and
backed the cars to the scene of the
accident. Mrs. Bishop was carried in
to the cabocse and with her husband
was brought to the Wealthy street
crossing of the railroad. The police
ambulance carried the injured to U.
B. A. hospital. where they were at
tended by DR.. Collins H. Johnston.
Mrs. Bishop was found to have sus-
tanned a dislocated left hip. A portion
of the hip bone had been crowded up
ward toward the spins and she suf-
fered intense pain. Her right Shout
der was badly bruised, although an
examination showed that no bones
were broken. Her face was badly cut
and she was bruised about the body.
Although suffering considerable pain
| from the cuts which he sustained DR.
Bishop refused medical attention until
his wife had been cared for. He was
finally persuaded to go to his home in
the automobile Of Eugene d. Conger.
No intimation of internal injuries in
the case of Mrs. Bishop were discov-
cred last night. according to the state
ment of DIR. Johnston.
DR.. Bishop stated yesterday that
neither he nor his wife received warn
ing of the approach of the train and
his statement was borne out by those
| of Mr.. Norman, who was the first to
reach Mrs. Bishop. his son, Casper. 16
years old. the only other witness OF
the accident. and Jay w. Davis, a
farmer living near the station.
DR.. Bishops Statement.
DR.. Bishops version of the accident
started out for a little recreation, after
a hard day, and thought we would ride
! into the country a short distance. We
were in our carl have had it less
| than a month-and drove south. We
had gone perhaps five miles and were
io4 vrrI,o
cident happened. Going south there
| is slight curve at that point where
there is a rise in the ground Of some
Is feet. The approach from the rail-
road is hidden by a building. We
were almost on the tracks before we
heard no bell or whistle and before
we knew of a train, there it was with
/ in 80 feet of US.
I'VE had absolutely no warning. In
stantly realized the only possible
! chance of escape was through the &C.
cellerator, and I applied it. but there
was no time even for that to respond
before we received the full force of the
| train running, 1 should think, 80 miles
an hour. The engine struck the cal
| full on the left rear wheel. Had il
been the fore wheel 1 have no doubt
| both of US would have been killed.
THE car was turned way around
and hurled perhaps ten feet and I was
thrown under the wreckage. I was
able to pull myself out in a minute
and realized that I was sound SO fal
as breaks were concerned. I heard
my wife's cries and found her 20 fee
away, and in great pain. She was I'M
conscious a few moments but rallied
before the train backed up to bring us
back to the city. My injuries are un-
important, and I hope developments
will prove Mrs. Bishop is not in the
| danger T faorpd when r found her
the hard ground where the terrific i'm.
| pact Of the train had thrown her"
| The five passenger car owned by DR.
| Bishop was demolished. Only twist.
| ed mass of wreckage remained after
| the accident.
| The lives of both DIR. Bishop an6
| his wife were saved by the formers
| presence of mind in increasing hi.
speed when Mrs. Bishop saw the ap.
preaching train. AS 1t would have