The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-08-07
Only Occupant, Antonio B.
Camiskey, Escaped Prac-
tically Unscathed
STARTED TO JUMP
AS HE SAW DANGER
Accident Happened at the
Quarry Street Grade
Crossing

A five passenger Briscoe touring car oi
the 1916 model was almost totally de
molished when il colided with a passen.
ger train over the Barre & Chelsea rail
road at the Quarry street crossing Satur-
day evening at 6;30 o'clock, the owner
and operator of the auto, Antonio B.
Camiskey, proprietor of moving picture
theatres in upper Graniteville and East
Barre, escaping with slight laeeration
on the right side OF his face, That Ca
miskey escaped with his life is regarded
as being akin to the miraculous. The ac-
cident occurred while Camiskey was re-
turning home, having turned into the
Quarry street road from South Main
street when the "air line" train. with
many Barre Town commuters aboard,
was approaching the crossing. The train
stopped as soon as possible and the train
crew lent its assistance to the owner of
the car
The locomotive, Granite City, had the
usual number of cars in its wake and the
coaches were crowded. Engineer John
! McHugho was al the throttle and the re
mainder of the train crew was made up
as follows: Conductor. Frank Blouin;
brakeman, George Coloumb; fireman,
Walter Clark. Marks Of the encounter
were visible on the big engine when the
train reached the city, but the steam pro-
PEELED tractor did not share in the least
the damage sustained by the automobile.
Although somewhat dazed by the acci-
dent, Mr. Camiskey, after making ar
rangements for transporting the wrecked
car to the Kennedy garage in Depot
square, proceeded to Granitevile and then
returned to the city later in the evening |
to ship consignment of films TO Boston. |
He had owned the car but a short time |
and there is no insurance to cover his !
loss, matter of nearly s7s5.
According TO accounts of the accident |
given by passengers, members of the /
train crew and Mr.. Camiskey himself it
was due mainly to the fact that he did /
not hear the approach of the train after
leaving South Main street. Skirting
Quarry street on the south side is a high
bank which obscures the quarry track
from view until the traveller has almost
reached the crossing, People who travel
by team or motor up the Quarry street
road are accustomed to listen sharply
for the warning toot of a locomotive
but circumstances combined to
prevent the movie man from hearing the
usual announcement OF the trains APP
proaeh, He was driving with his cut out
open and TO all accounts bowling along
at a comfortable rate of speed.
Passengers and members OF the train
crew corroborste Engineer McHugho in
his statement that he sounded the Gus
tomary crossing warning by two long and q
two short blasts. The signal was given :
,everal rods before the train reached the ,f
,rossing. The automobile was within
'ew feet of the crossing when Camiskey
,aw the headlight of the locomotive and c
rs collision seemed inevitable. he i
umped from the car He alighted on I
he edge of the highway and in falling .
a slight but rather superficial !
ut on the face. Evidently the car struck P
he locomotive near the buffer beam over a
he pilot.
Fragments of the hood and body were 9
over a considerable area and u
he chassis was ruthlessly pushed into y
itch alongside the track After stopping D
he train the engineer and his crew hur.
led back to the scene OF the accident.
ir Camiskey had recovered from the
rst shock of the collision and was able II
0 aid the railroad men in putting to-
ether a connected narrative of what had
appened. Examination of the wrecked .,
uto disclosed the fact that the engine g
as still in operation. Although the bat H.
cry box was partially destroyed the i,
'ont lights OF the car were burning. 49,
carcely anything remained of the body ~,
r the hood. Both seats had been \,
renched from the chassis and the under 49,
ung was badly broken up, Apparently ~,
le radiator. engine. engine hood and ~,
eering wheel were intact. One of the ~.
lmber plates. attached over the front II,
lie. was found in its place, but the other ~ ~
ate had gone the way of the body and ~
parts.
Someone notified police headquarters of -
e accident and Officer Harry Gamble -
as sent to Quarry street to make a re- =
rt. After extending aid to the motor
t. the crew climbed aboard the train w
hich arrived in Depot square several -
inutes overdue While arrangements % :
ere being made at the garage to remove or OF
G wreck, number of parts were as vi
mbled and afterward the outfit was th'
ken to Kennedv's Two small wagon 70
leels of type commonly used when
tos are minus the wheels the marufac- ca
er gave them were attached TO the rear n
the chassis one of the original rear ON
reels having been demolished. while the 'he
her was unfit for service. Fore wheels
re undamaged by the collision.
To-day it transpired that three mem
RS Of the crew were in the cab. the en- Gu
leer. the fireman and the brakeman.
ey state that Camiskey's auto was
out to clear the crossing when the ;
omotive struck it, Camiskev. a. il the
med TO them. arose from the seat as clos
10 jump when the crash came. the impact ser
the locomotive throwing him out Of ord
car. Members of the crew agree that ger
rear Of the auto was jammed against
look Out for the Engine" sign Just y
-th Of the cr6ssing. Camiskey j. said bee
sire
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