New Britain herald., 1917-03-22
R. K. GATES WERE UP;
 TWO WOMEN MAY DIE
Passenger Train Runs Down Auto
 At Curtis Street Crossing WOODEN LEG TO BLAME

Artificial Limb of Gate Tender
 Tangled in Chair Prevents Lowering
 of Gates Before Injury to Occu- Pants of Machine.
 Terribly bruised, suffering greatly from general shock and multiple in- juries that cause their condition to be regarded as extremely grave with recovery unexpected, Mrs. Susan Tryon, aged 65, and her daughter, Mrs. Richard B. Viets of 4S Clinton street, are at the New Britain General hospital as a result of the automobile in which they were returning home last night being run down at the Curtis street railroad crossing by the locomotive of the 1O:62 westbound train for Waterbury. Mr. Viets, who was at the wheel of the aRtQWabt}n Whensthe Impact came, WSI1 6ken to the hospital suffering greatly from shock and abrasions but his condition was such as to allow his discharge today. The automobile was reduced to a mass of wreckage. automobile men being in doubt as to whether 1t is worth repairing.
 A death trap" grade crossing with view obscured to drivers and autoists coupled with alleged negligence on the part of Martin S. Phillips of 24 Grown street, crossing tender, in failing to lower the gates are credited as the cause. He has admitted to the police that he was unaware the train was approaching until just as the Wets' automobile reached the crossing. He says he heard no signal of warning from the engineer, that he was unable to see the train and g. steam crane working for night shift at a nearby factory made so much noise that crossing signal from g. locomotive would be apt to pass with out notice.
 As he became aware of the ap- preaching train, according to his story, he also realized that Viets, un- warned of the danger because of the raised gates and the covered ton of the automobile, was driving directly into the path of the passenger loco- motive. rapidly picking up speed af- ter the stop at the local station.
 Wooden Leg Tangled in Chair.
 Attempting to get out of the cross ing house in time, his artificial leg became entangled in the rounds of his chair, nearly tripping and delay ing him. As he reached the door, he shouted warning but 1t was ap- parently unheard by viets above the sound of the automobile, the steam crane and the approaching train. Running to the gate handles, he found that they were "dogged," the catch of the ratchets being in place and causing a. few seconds of delay be- fore the gates could be lowered. It was too late.
 Too late, Viets saw the rapidly ap. preaching locomotive and likewise it. was too late when Engineer Leo De- beauchant noted the trapped auto ists. Emergency air was applied but too late to stop the heavy train al- though it's speed was checked. Pas sengers were tossed about in the cars ly the emergency stop but none was injured.
 Attempting to get across in time, Viets nearly succeeded in saving him self and his passengers. The pilot of the locomotive hit the rear right wheel of the automobile with ter rife force. crumbling up the car, as if an egg shell, tearing off the wheel, mud guards, part of the body and wrecking the motive power while the occupants were tossed into the air and thrown with great force, bleeding and unconscious, to the frozen ground. Tires on three wheels were about the
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