Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-17
RARE PRESENCE Of MIND
Shown by Couple under Moving
Freight Train.
Mr., and Mrs. e. II. Palmer Save Their
Lives but Lose a Foot and Part
of One Hand in Rutland
Railroad Yard.

Mr. and Mrs. c. n. Palmer Of l6S King
street couple who have been residing
in Burlington but a short time, had an
experience Saturday In the Rutland rail-
road yard which was probably never
puualled in the city before. Both man
and wife in attempting to get by
freight train by crawling underneath 1t
were caught between the rails when the
train began to move. Mrs. Palmer lost
a part of her right hand and her hus-
band his left foot. which We're caught
under the wheels, but with the most re-
markable presence Of mind and extra
ordinary nerve they crouched down to
he ground and allowed the entire train
II forty or more cars to pass over them.
They were promptly rescued, taken to
the hospital and are alive to tell the
story with every prospect of immediate
recovery from their experience, barring
the fact that they are mutlated for life
as described.
The accident occurred about go O'Clock
Saturday morning Mr. and Mrs. Palmer
were on their way to the lake for n
short fishing trip. When they reached
the Rutland railroad yard a freight train
was on the main track. AS It was not In
motion they were inclined to think that
they could crawl under 1T and reach tn"
lake by short cut They accordingly
ducked under the cars and when nearly
to the lake side the train began to move.
Mrs. Palmer attempted to pass out from
under the wheels and her hand was
caught and smashed. Her husband made
desperate attempt to save her and
pulled her back but his left foot was
caught and crushed. Despite the terrible
accident that had happened to him,
however, he did not loss his presence of
mind and took the only chance there was
to save his life which was to crouch as
near the ground possible. He had
some difficulty in compelling his wife
TO do the same and had to hold her down
by main force There was sufficient space
between the bottom Of the cars to allow
the train to proceed without striking
their bodies and both lives We're saved.
Palmer raised his head Just before the
last car passed and was struck by a
brake beam but not seriously injured.
Their cries We're heard by the trainmen
and the conductor was signaled to stop
the train. The police ambulance and doc
tors were also telephoned for When the
ambulance reached the foot Of Maple
street the trainmen in the roundhouse
had brought Mr. and Mrs. Palmer to
the spot on n hand car. They were
! Immediately taken to the Mary Fletcher
hospital and We're accompanied by Con
ductor Adams Of the freight train and
DEPUTY Chief Cosgrove. Notwithstanding
their terrible experience the man and
woman did not lose consciousness and
gave no Indication that they were suffer
ing.
1t was found necessary to amputate
two fingers and a part of Mrs. Palmer s
right hand and Mr. Palmer's left leg
Just below the knee. Word from the hos
pital Sunday evening was to the effect
that both people We're getting along nicely.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have lived here
but short time, Mr.. Palmer having had
employment at the Lane Press. They
came here from Montpelier
The place where the accident occurred
was south of Lymans coal yard and
about half way between the Rutland
freight house and the draWbr!dge The
train thai passed over the couple was
made up Of more than forty cars and
was drawn by two locomotives.