The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-01
AUTO TOTTERS AGAINST TREE
 ON PRECIPICE
Bridgeporters Imperiled Tn Mishap On Housatonic River Edge Tn Southbury
 Two Occupants Injured. Gar Leaps From Rut, Gets Beyond Control of Driver and Slides Over Brink
 Tree Stops Fatal Plunge.

Ft1x1l Keegan, the well known real estate salesman of the Whitel1eadr Jones Company, residing at 28 Tom sEshu1nb street and Harold c. Long, 0f se Putnam street. had a marrow escape from death near Newtown last night as the big stevens -Duryea, auto snobiIe in which they were riding plunged from the roadway and start ed to drop down a sheer precipice Of about 40 feet into the Housatonic river.
 LonsE is today confined to his home 61a this city suffering from internal 6f11s1rijes resulting from his being caught in the doorNray of the car as lie jurnped while Keegan besides suf- feling from the shock of the expert- ence, bears lacratlons about the dn- gers and hands from his fall as he likewise jumped. By almost a. miracle, the automobile caught fn a tree below afia roadway and was later Nrescued bv wrecking crews from the Jen- ninzs garage in this city after four hours hard work. Damage is esti- naated at $500.
 The respoaaaability Of the accident is placed upon tiza condition of the high say and the fact that the narrow road, bordering upon the river near Flae home of willis Lockwood; in Poo 4atrck, is not fenced to prevent acet- dent Keegan today contemplated suit
 
 which the accident happened
 Accordznz to statements made by sygdIIiaxn Egan, the driver of a coal wagon from Newborn and Keegan, eFfo was drfyng the car, the accident u1as ra1av vo1dable and was encountered in bread daylight and under normal eonddtionm.
 Keezan. accompanied by Long was retuzning from Roxbury where they had been to inspect a piece Of real estabe when on the river road, aboua one-hazf xntle above Sandy Hook bridge crossing the f-ousatonlc. E&ee- Han mes the coal team. Keegan slow sd up 1n the widest part of the mar row road and motioned for Fgan to proceed Egan was afraid of his horses and nlotioned Keegan to make The passage With chains on the rear Ehesls and at first speed Keegan es- saved the passage when his front wheel became lodged in a deeply frog en xut and the steering gear is be- sfevad to have snapped, for Keegan round his machine beyond control and rapidly going over the steep embark anent Reversing his engine and fhrow- ing on 6ul1 power, Keegan shouted to his companion to jump and with 2 bound hurled himself over and free from the body of the car aIightine upon his hands far down the incline Long was not so fortunate for he be-
 
 was carried with the car until il struck the small tree ahead and it's right rear wheel lodged in a small stump when he was heavily throwL upon the ground
 Though both men were severely shocked. Egan showed great presence of mind and got aid from nearby houses. Word was sent to the Jen. ninge Garage which first sent ar emergency crew to he spot. but fount that the car was so far over tht precipfce as to require additional ait 10 salvage. Specially heavy blockl and tackle had to be secured from tht Fabric Fire Hose company and the ca practically swung to the roadwa. above by means of the tackle.
 The car was brought to Sandy Hool under it's own power where it gay out and additional work done upon i before it could be brought to this city Those who saw the overhanging ca are In accord that the occupants onl escaped by the most timely reversin of gears by Driver Keegan and tn presence Of the tree and stump O the brow of the declivity.
 Tha car when salvaged was in perpendicu1ar position and the rive vas directly beneath, a drop of abou so feet That Long escaped falIin into if when dis1odged from the ca is considered almost beyond belief.