Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
BOTH LEGS AND ARM SEVERED
Frank Burns Falls from Freight
Train in the Night.
Found Alive md Conscious Six Hours
Litter Lying i'm a Pool Of Water
Mixed with Ills own
Blood.

One of the most horrible accidents and
cases OF exposure that has occurred in
this vicinity in years befel Frank Burns
who was beating his way to Burlington
on freight train, early Sunday morn
ing near the North Hero station. The
man had both legs severed and one arm
cut off, after which he remained in the
damp, chilly night air for about six hours
lying in a pool of water mixed with his
own blood beside the railroad track
From a few moments after he slipped
the man was conscious at all times and
remained in that condition while his legs
and arm were being amputated.
He lived unit, Tuesday evening, when
death put an end to his suffcrings. The
body was sent yesterday 20 Malone, n.
Y, where he was born.
According to Burns story, which he
told to DR.. G. II. Branch, district sur
geon of the Rutland railroad, who was
summoned from Grand Isle, he was rid
ing between two cars of the through
freight from Albuig to Rutland. which
does not stop at North Hero. He does
not remember Just how he came to slip
or lose his hold but remembers falling
and a few moments later of sceini, the
end of the train leaving him lying on
the track. He seemed to have presence
of mind enough to drag himself away
from the track to the ditch. There he
lay in a pool of cold water from about
80 to seven O'Clock. lie said he knew his
arm was bleeding and tried with the
other hand to stop the flow of blood. At
one time after shouting for more than
an hour, he attempted to stand upon his
feet and found them severed. His at
tcmpts to drag himself towards a house
about 20 rods distant We're futile
CALLED IN VAIN FOR HELP
Burns said that after he had laid in
the ditch for some time and had become
thoroughly chilled from the water and
cold air, he heard someone approaching
on the track. 1t proved to be a man to
whom he yelled for assistance. When the
man got opposite him and seemed to
have no intention of stopping, Burns
called to him again and told him that
mis- legs were cut off and that one arm
was also useless. The man passed along
without stopping.
Elmer Craft discovered the victim of
the accident shortly after seven o'clock
while he was in the pasture looking for
his COWS. He heard his cries and after
finding him. rushed to the station for Il
section hand who assisted in carrying
him to the building, about 20 rods distant.
DR. Branch was Immediately summoned,
as was First Selectman George Tudhope
DR.. Branch found that tie right arm had
been severed between the elbow and
shoulder and that both legs had been
practically cut off Just above the ankle
The mans face was also badly cut and
bruised one eye being blackened and
closed. There were other bruises to the
body but the left hand and arm had
escaped without u scratch.
ARM HANGING BY PIECES OF SKIN
The right arm was in Il horribly
mangled condition. it appearing that the
wheels had started just above the elbow
and run down the arm, which must have
been lying on the track, over the hand
DR. Branch removed the arm, which was
hanging only by pieces of skin. An
examination Of the legs showed that not
all of the arteries had been severed and
they We're bandaged up, The chief sur
gcon of the Rutland road, Dr. 5. w.
Hammond Of Rutland. WAS communicated
with and after the town of North Hero
had taken the responsibility of taking
care of the injured man. it was decided
to bring him to this city where an opera
ton upon his legs could be performed
The man, after rousng fire had been
built and blankets had been placed around
him so that he might become warm,
| showed remarkable nerve and after his
arm had been amputated asked tina. he
might smoke and calmly talked with
| those about him of the night Of horror.
BOTH FEET AMPI'TATED.
In this city the police emergency auto
mobile met the party. which arrived on
the noon train and the injured man was
taken to the Mary Fletcher hospital,
where DR.. c. \. Peasc soon operated
taking off both feet, a little above the
ankles. The man did not complain of any
pain until he had been joltod in the
/ train and then talked more about his
arm than his feet. 1t is the opinion of
the surgeons that it was owing to the
fact that the arteries We're crushed, prob
ably by the weight of many cars, rather
than cut and also that It was cold
night, that the man was alive when
| found.
Burns said that by trade he was a steel
| bridge builder and that during July aud
| August he had worked IN Readsboro for
a construction company. He had been t.
| Chazy. N. Y, in quest of work and, no,
| finding any. had decided that he would
| take the train from Alburg to this city
where he hoped to obtain employment
He was 81 years of age and was very
| comfortably dressed, his underwoar and
outer garments being of good material
but he had only two cents in his pocket
He had three brothers. Fred OF Spring
| field, Mass Edward. who is n motorman
in the same city. and John f. of Malone
| n. y; and also a sister, who lives in