Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-06-21
NARROW ESCAPE
FROM DEATH
Bert Huffman Escapes Sudden Death
BY a Marrow Margin on the Fulton
Street Crossing of New York Gen.
tral Railway = Badly Injured =
Wrecked Wagon

Bert Huffman, residing on the farm
formerly owned by George New
conner, northwest of town, had very
narrow escape from sudden death last
Saturday afternoon. Mr.. Huffman
was driving south on Fulton street
with an empty gravel box; just be-
fore driving on to the N. Y. G. Ry.
tracks he spoke to friends who were
sitting In autos that we're parked on
the west side of the street north of
the tracks; he had driven on to the
tracks before he was aware of the
approaching train. Both gates were
straight up, and failing to hear the
approaching train, he had no warn
ing of the danger until he was on
the tracks. He FASTENED his team
and succeeded in getting the team
and the forward part of the wagon
of from the track before the engine
of east-bound train No. 10 struck his
wagon.
The engine struck the. back part
Of. the wagon, the force of the inn
pact throwing Mr.. Huffman out, and
aldo Knocking one of the horses over
on ifs side. The wagon was COM
pletelv wrecked and the track was
stfewn with splinters for several
rods. Mr.. Huffman scrambled to his
feet and endeavored to reach his
team, but was unable to get to them
before they started on dead run
south on Fulton street, where they
we're finally stopped. Mr.. Huffman
was taken in an auto TO the office Of
DR.. Bennett, who attended to his m
juries; he had one shoulder badly
dislocated and a severe confusion on
his forehead, besides, a number of
other bruises. but nothing serious. II
was found necessary TO administer ar
mfaesthetic to Mr.. Huffman before
bis shoulder could be set in place
After the doctor had dressed his
wounds he was taken to hts home by
the Edgar & Van Rensselaer, an1bu
lance.
Why the gates wers not lowered
we are not able to say; that is some
thing for the railway company to de
ternine after due investigation. Mr.
Huffman is to be congratulated will
having escaped with his life. Th'
Fulton street crossing has proven
death trap for a number OF persons
and the council has repeatedly pc
titioned for more and better safe
guards of human life at this cross
ing. At one time q subway was agi
fnted. but when plans and specitica
tions came back from the offices o
the engineers of the company, tha
portion of the cost which the villag
would have to pay was found to b
so large as to make it impossible TO
the village to meet it. A little NOR
than a year ago the management o
the railroad promised to install at tn
Fulton street crossing an electri
alarm signal had such a signal bee
IN. place and working Saturday al
ternoon II is not likely that the acc
dent would have occurred. The nois
of traffic on the street Saturday a.
ternoon completely drowned the nois
of the approaching train. The ele'
trio alarm, properly constructed an
installed, would have made itse
heard above the confusion of the Sa
urday afternoon traffic. :.
The accident means more to M
Huffman in the way of damage tha
money can compensate him for, ar
his loss Of time becomes an econom
loss to the community in these day
when every individual worker count
Railroads are necessary and ia
cor. Of prime Importance in our ec
nonnic system; but this does not @
cuse them from taking every poss
BILE precaution to protect lives al
property against loss from their o
GRAFTON.
BUY WAR SAVINGS STAMPS