Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-15
AUGUSTA LOCALS
JUSTIN E. PACKARD
RETURNS TO AUGUSTA
: AFTERH|S ACCIDENT
Shows but Slight Effects of His
Terrible Experience Thursday
Near Yarmouth when His Car
Plunged into Cousens River
He Is Weak, However, Very
Nervous and Suffering from
Shock


Nervous and Suffering from
Shock n
Weak and nervous and still suffering
from the shock which followed his terri
BILE experience of Thursday afternoon
when he nearly lost his life az his auto
mobile in which he was coming from
Boston to Augusta plunged through the
railing of a bridge near Yarmouth and
into the icy waters of the Cousens river,
Justin f. Packard arrived in Augusta on
the Friday noon train and was taken to
his home on Dayton street. He was ae-
companied home by Elmer E. Parkman,
who went to Yarmouth on the Thursday
night Pullman. To the casual observer
Mr.. Packard as he left the train and
walked across the platform did not be-
tray anything out of the ordinary. but
to those who were with him his condition
was more apparent 1t will be some time
before he is quite himself again.
Details Heard Friday =
The details of his frightful fall werc
heard for the first time Friday, after his
arrival home. The first that was known
of his accident Thursday afternoon was
when he was found by two men at near
ly nghtfall. lying on the shore Of the
Cousens river not far from the second
marsh bridge which his car had plunged
into the icy water. exhausted from his
struggles, wandering in his mind and in
danger of perishng from the cold. Moth
ing was known, however OF what had
occurred previous to that time and OF
what he had undergone, nor how near he
had been to death. =,
Coming from Boston
AS had been previously stated, Mr..
Packard had been to Boston to get his
Cadillac touring car in which last July
he and Mrs. Packard had made the trip
across the continent to the San Francis
co Exposition. When they started for
home he arranged to have the car ship
ped back to Boston, and wishing to bring
the car home he went Wednesday morn
ing to Boston for that purpose. In speak
I ing of the trip 'home-he said that he left
Boston with the car at II O'clock Thurs
day forenoon and from that city to Port
land found the travelling good. From
snow and ice. but by putting the chains
on all four wheels of the automobile no
came along very we'll.
The bridge. where the accident occurred
is about two miles this side of Var
mouthville, very narrow and perhaps ~
feet long and makes with its approaches
something of an So The bridge Thurs
day was covered with ice and snow. and
i-as the automobile sped from the high.
way onto the bridge the machine skidded
on the ice and. making plunge to one
side, struck the rail of the bridge and
! went through and then dropped for
distance of about 10 feet down into the
ice and water of the river, striking the
forward end first.
No Chance to Clear Himself
| 1t was all done so quickly that Mr..
Packard. who was bundled up in a
fur coat and robe. had no chance to
clear himself from the car, so that
when 1t plunged through the ice and
into the water of the river. he went
with it and under the ice. 1t was q
wonder at that time that he did not
drown but urged by a spirit of des-
peration he managed to kick himself
free from the robe that was holding
him to the car and at length to clam
Der out upon the ice. AS his Watcn
stopped at 4.30 it is supposed that II
was about this time that the car made
the plunge.
Chilled to the marrow and weak
ened by his struggles in freeing him.
self from the car and getting out or
the water, Mr. Packard began to run
back and forth on the ice, at the same
time shouting for help. He also at
tempted to make the shore but in do
! ing so went through the ice and into
the water. Crawling out again ne re-
sumed his running over the ice, out
the chill was telling on him ana ne
was also becoming weak so that ne
must soon give up. and 1t was ABOUT
this time that he succeeded Ill nnd-
ing an old root or stump, with the ala
of which he made his way to shore,
where he was found later by the two
men, Storer and Merrill. 1t was lucky
that they discovered the exhausted
man at the time they did, for nao
/ thew not he must soon have perished
from the cold. MT. Packard thinks that
l
he was about three-fourths Of an hour
on the ice.
After MIR. Packard's arrival at var
mouth, to which place he was taken on
a trolley car, he was carried TO the
office of Dr. George F. Bates, where ne
was given opiates on account OF ms
extreme nervous condition. Mr.. PARK
man. who went to Yarmouth Tnurs-
day night for the purpose OF brlngins
Mr.. Packard home, said yesterday tnat
Mr.. Packard was very sick curing
the night when coming out from un-
der the influence of the opiates out
was much better Friday morning BE-
fore they started for home.
The Cadillac car in which Mr.. Pack
ard was riding at the time OF the accl.
dent and which with the exception Oh
portion Of one rear wheel was suo.
merged in the river, was hauled out
of the river at about o'clock Frioay
morning and is said to have SHOWN
the results Of its fall. One forward
light was smashed, the dust guaros
were bent, the wind shield was broken