The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-10
Strange Accident Due to
Opening of Drawbridge
Near Barnstable
MISS EMMA PIERSON
QUICKLY DROWNED
Other Occupants of Car Escaped with
Difficulty and One Is in Critical
Condition Drawbridge Tender
Charged with Manslaughter.

BARNSTABLE, Mass, Dec. 10.-Da-
vid Manson, operator of the draw
bridge over Cape Cod canal and Buz-
zard S Bay, the opening of which last
night dropped an automobile into the
canal and caused the death by drown
ing of Miss Emma Pierson of Centre
vile, was brought before Judge Swift
in the district court today on charge of
manslaughter. He furnished s., 600 Sc
curity for appearance at hearing on
Dee 20.
Miss Pierson was riding in a car
with z. +. Cooney, proprietor OF the
Hotel Sycamore, and Mrs. Albert Shat
tuck was also in the ear. These two
escaped with much difficulty.
The drawbridge IS lifted by electric
ity, Manson working the controlling
lever from his house on the opposite
side of the canal more than loo feet
away
1t is claimed that Manson failed to
see the automobile on the bridge when
he started the machinery to raise the
bridge draw.
AS the draw rises it pulls away from
the approach several feet, swinging
out over the canal. As it becomes
more vertical it swings back into its
original place.
The three persons who were preeip-
itated into the water had just step
ped into the automobile and Mr.. Coon
ey was about to start when suddenly
he felt the drawbridge lifting under
him.
Although he applied the brakes and
did everything possible the car simply
slid backward and dropped a sheer &C
feet, into the icy water of the Cape
Cod canal, carrying its human freight
with it.
Seated in another car on the ap-
proach to the bridge, but not on the
| drawbridge, was Albert Starck and his
son. They were powerless to do any.
thing to prevent the accident
They saw Mr.. Cooney and the two
women tumble out of the ear as il
somersaulted when the rear wheels
dropped and then heard the splash as
| the car and occupants hit the water
Miss Pierson is q sister of Mrs. Starck
The two men screamed for help anC
among those who responded to the cal
was Walter Palmer, who lives a con
siderable distance from the bridge.
He ran along the path that parallel
the canal and when he was about half
way between the bridge and his hous
he saw an object floating in the canal
He rushed down the rip-rap and say
that 1t was a human being, but was s
exhausted from his running that he wa
unable to attempt the task of swim
ming out to the person who was bein
carried along at a rapid pace, as tn
tide was running swiftly.
| He followed the object as it wa
borne along until he had somewhat T,
covered from his exertions, and the
plunged into the water and swan OF
and grabbed hold of the floating pc
son. IT was Mr.. Coonev.
> Mr. Palmer managed to bring hi
to shore, and by this time others wi
had been attracted to the place by Il
! shouts rushed to his assistance. and NJ
: Cooney and Mr.. Palmer were assistt
a from the water and rushed with 2
possible speed to Hotel Sycamore.
- Three doctors were called in and f
d some time it was feared that there w
1t no hope for Mr.. Cooney 5 life He w
badly bruised by having come in 60
le tact with the abutments and was nun
le from the cold.
III When he was thrown from the aut
!. mobile he was heavily clad with t
- fur coat, and this tended to keep hi
= ahoat. He was unconscious when ta
q en- from. the water
HI The drawbridge had been opened
II allow the passage of a tug, and t
II crew of this craft, hearing the cri
II put about and made an effort to ass
II in the rescues. In some manner M
II Starck got ashore, and she was sent
II Hotel Sycamore, where her condition
II considered extremely critical