The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-18
Campbell Stephens, 13, Sus-
tained Serious Fracture
Of the Skull
BESIDES LACr }TIONS
AND OTr ,mN INJURIES
svNv
,oA
Wa Descending Park Street
When He Lost Control
Of His Flyer

i Campbell Stephens, the young son of
Mrs. Katherine Stephens of 81 Park
street. Is in precarious condition at
/ the City hospital as the result of in
iuries which he sustained while coasting
on Park street early last evening. In the
most serious accident OF its kind this
winter, young Stephens sustained frae.
tured skull, bruises about the right eve
and lacerations OF the lower lip When
the lad struck granite post in front OF
the residence Of John yercoe, four teeth
were also knocked out and his tongue
split so badly that several stitches were
necessary. Doctors. who hurried the lad
to the hospital, performed an operation
on the skull and administered to other
injuries which the boy received
The stephens lad is l3 years old and
he was one OF a crowd of nearly 80 coast
ers who were sliding on the Park street
hill at one time or another during the
evening. 1t is probable that the injured
lad was among the first to reach the
hill and begin eoasting, for ma ioritv
OF the others did not arrive until later
IN the evening. The boy was almost
alone when the accident occurred, al.
though other lads of his own age were
soon at his side. Stephens was using a
sled Of the flyer" type and when the
accident occurred he was shooting down
the hill at a terrific pace. Apparently
he ascended the entire length of the
hill, or as far north as the Elm street
extension, before essaying a slide. Park
street is seldom covered with a coating
more icy and as the FLYER" left Elm
street it gained momentum with every
sled-length. Near the fremont street
crossing the lad appeared to have some
in adjusting his sled to the
track on Park street, and his trouble
began at that point.
At any rate be lost control of the
flyer and as he neared the base of the
hill, the sled swerved TO one side of the
road and before the boy could make
move to save himself he had dashed
lcadlong into a granite hitching post
which is located directly opposite 40 Park
street. Farther up the hin the highway
was lined with coasters. and comrades
VI the stephens boy were the first
% reach his side. People walking up
Park street witnessed the accident and
c. H. Granger. who lives
cross the street from the Nercoe houss.
'oon after Mr.. Granger reached the scene
Wendell Ahern, Dean Brock and Dwight
ranger were az the lads side. stephens
vas carried 20 the veranda at the home
i A. s. Martin and later removed to his
wn home at 81 Park street Drs. NJ. T..
handler and j. W Stewart were called
nd when they examined the boy they
dviscd his immediate removal 20 the
ospital. The lad was unconscious and
-as bleeding profuscly.
As soon az be could bc rushed 70 the
ospital preparations were made for an
peration. So acute had been the skull
racture that portions Of the coasters
rain were forced through the cleft. 4
elieate surgical operation on the brain
as performed and flesh openings in the
p and forehead were closed with
itches Not the least serious Of the
ly's injuries was noted IN the cond-
on Of his tongue. Evidently the force
the collision between the sled and
be- post had the effect Of closing the
ctim's teeth across the tongue. Al.
ches st the hospital did not care Ga
AXE any predictions ~ 90 the patients
.ances for recovery. although the ply
rians were quoted as saying that The
se is a very grave one
The injured hoE q pupil in tho
lblic schools and b. Veil known about
wn For the pact vesr he has been
lrloved Bs a papefloy bY Tie Times
ifh Dis mother aud three sisters. hr
axes his home with Air. and Mrs. T. 7.
-nniu1