The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-06
William Stephens Received
Horrible Injuries and
Died at Hospital
WAS STANDING BEHIND
A DETACHED CAR
Two Other Cars Shunted
onto Track Kicked s =
ing Car Over sssl

/ %
at the City - al last night at 8
o'clock from II. effects of horrible in
juries which he received in the yards of
the Central Vermont railroad north of
Granite street in the afternoon around
80 o'clock. With both lower limbs
fractured above and below the knees, the
bone of the left arm fractured and the
flesh terribly mangled when two wheels
of derelict fiat car ran over him, Steph-
ems was rushed to the hospital in the
Perry & Noonan ambulance. The acci-
dent occurred when Stephens, stepping
aside from the main line track, which he
was trayersing to the interchange, as
the connecting transfer between the Cen
trail Vermont and Montpelier & Wells
River lines is called, was struck by an
empty fiat car that had been kicked
along the track by the yard shifter.
DIR. Achille G. Placement was the first
physician to reach the mans side and at
the hospital the attendance of five doe
tors, Drs. j. w. Stewart, NJ. D.. Lamb,
| William Mcfarland W. Z. Dazell and
NJ. !. Chandler was required. Stephens
was removed at once to the operating
room, where the left leg was removed at
point above the knee. The man rallied
fairly well from the anesthetic and the
Iamputation, but from the outset his case
was considered hopeless Until the last
he retained consciousness, conversing
with John Daniels and Samuel Gerard,
long time acquaintance, who called at
the hospital, until nearly o'clock
Station Master J. t. II. Carr ordered
an investigation of the accident soon
after it occurred and reported the cir
cumstances TO the officials of the road ab
st. Adams. Railroad men in the yard
at the time are in nowise blamed for the
unfortunate occurrence.
According to the story told by COM
panion of Stephens, who was separated
from the man shortly before the acc-
dent. Stephens was walking southwark
along the track when he stepped behind
the fiat car on the adjoining track. Rail-
road men saw that the locomotive was on
the bridge Just north of the Blackwell
street underpass, headed to the north,
with a string of Is cars in its wake.
Conductor Frank Cassaya was in charge
of the train, which was piloted by En-
gineer William Chayer. Several cars
down the line one of the brakemen, w.
B. Gibbons, was stationed.
Through a part of the afternoon the
shifter had been kicking cars down the
main line and onto the transfer track.
While Stephens was standing in the rear
Of stationary fiat car two cars, de-
tached from the string connected with
the engine, came rolling along the inter
change. Someone standing in the yards
saw that an accident was imminent and
to Gibbons to apply the brake.
-. -. 1. =
although both were rolling along grade;
but before Stephens became aware OF
lis danger he was knocked down. Two
wheels OF the fiat car passed over him.
Alto Mariani of the Biou theatre. who
vas crossing Granite street at the time,
vas one of the first to join trainmen who
vent Immediately to Stephens assist
nee.
Apparently the freight car had been
topped within less than its own length.
stephens was lying in a pool of blood be-
ond the first set of wheels and at first
lance men thought he was dead. When
@ was lifted from the track. however,
e betrayed signs of consciousness and a
ew moments later when Dr.Paiement was
pplying first aid, the injured man raj
ed sufficiently to direct the work of
andaging his limbs Thereafter he
Ilked brokenly OF the accident and re-
iined consciousness while he was being
amoved to the hospital Arriving at
le hospital stephens was taken at once
the operating room, where the real
ature OF his injuries was ascertained.
The remains of Mr. stephens were TAXI
to the undertaking establishment of
erry & NoOnan on Depot square where
le funeral is to be held Saturday after
BON at o'clock. 1t is expected that
ev. Edgar Grassland, pastor of the First
resbvterian church, will officiate. and
terment viii be made in Hope ceme-
~.
Mr. stephens was about 50 years old
ID was born in the district of Buchan,
Scotland. He came to America as a
ung man. having learned the granite
tiers trade in the land of his birth.
p had been resident of Barre for near
2O years. 50 far as can be learned he
d no near relatives in America. John
ephens of Los Angeles, Cal. formerly
member of the Barre granite manu-
turing firm Of Stephens & Gerard is
cousin. and another cousin resides in
.verstraw. ~ u The deceased was u
,mber Of the Glenugie club and num-
reda large circle Of acquaintance among
granite cutters Of Barre. he resided
Granite street and boarded al the
gle cafe on North Main street. where
was well known 10 the proprietor,
D. Murray