Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-07-11
WEBSTER INJURED
{. IN AUTO ACCIDENT
President Of Vermont Savings
Bank Badly Cut
Premier Car Leaves Guilford Road
Was Running Close to Left Side to
Avoid Oil Just Spread.

President Harry p. Webster Of the
Vermont Savings bank received severe
cuts and bruises and miraculously es-
capped with his life in an automobile ac-
cident on the Guilford road soon after
8 o clock Monday evening His Premier
coupe was damaged badly, the portion
above the body being cut off clean by
telephone pole.
Mr.. Webster was taken to the Brat
tleboro Memorial hospital soon after
the accident and three physicians and
surgeons, Dr. George r. Anderson. DIR.
Harry p. Greene and DIR. Winfred II.
Lane, attended him, but he did not wish
to have the cuts sutured that night so
he went to his apartment on High street.
Next morning he returned to the hos
pital. where his wounds were dressed.
Flying glass cut long cash over Mr..
Webster g left eye, laying bare the skull.
An artery was severed, =. from which
blood flowed profusely. Another cut
was inflicted on the left cheek and he
sustained bruise on his chest, besides
lameness in one side, but no internal in
iuries were caused, and Mr.. Webster
was around again Tuesday afternoon
Mr.. Webster was one of a party of
two automobiles to Greenfield, Mass
Mr.. Webster s ear being ahead. Besides
Mr.. Webster, the party included Ward
Stearns of Brooklyn, head of the com
pany which owns the Pine Grove Springs
summer hotel at Spofford lake, Mrs
Stearns and two sisters, and Mr.. and
Mrs. ID. +. McElhinnv of New York and
Brattleboro. Mr. Webster and one of
Mrs. Stearns's sisters. Mrs. Northup.
were in the Premier, the others follow
ing in Mr.. Stearns' g Packard
The Guilford road was oiled Monday
by the Standard Oil Co., acting for the
town, and there were puddles of oil in
some places. Mr. Webster was attempt
ing to avoid the oil as much as possible
and so was driving on the left side of
the road, the oil not having spread so
far toward the outer edge of the road
on that side as on the right side.
On the level stretch of road on the
last rise beyond the Richardson abattoir.
on slight curve just before reaching
the foot of watering trough" hill,
with the two outer wheels running on
ground that had not been oiled, the car
for some reason went off the road on the
left side and for some 80 feet ran along
low but rather steep embankment. all |
the time getting little farther from
the road, being about the width of the |
machine from the roadway at the far
thest point. Then it turned sharply
toward the road again and tipped over
on its side. just as it tipped the front
part or the top struck the pole. and the /
entire upper part was smashed off,
When the Packard car arrived Mrs.
nrfh ,tA
seen standing in the road and immedi |
ateiy the occupants of the Packard |
realized that there had been an accident.
Mr.. McElhinny went to Mr. Webster
and found him pinned between the pole
and the car, on the ground, in a dazed |
condition and covered with broken glass,
blood flowing freely from cuts on his
head and face.
The spectacle was anything but reas-
surlng, and for moment there was
some question as to whether a fatality
mad occurred. The men, assisted by
others who came along in cars, succeed
ed in extricating Mr.. Webster, and he
was taken at once to the hospital and
physicians were summoned.
News of the accident soon reached
this village and a number of cars were
hurried to the scene. Later in the eve.
nlng the car was gotten into the road
and was found to be in running order.
1t was run to the Manley Brothers
garage.
some criticism has been made to the
effect that oil was used too lavishlv on
the road, but Road Commissioner A. A.
wallace says it was not used more freely
IMAM ls customary, also that under CON
dltions like those existing at the scene
OF the accident it is not considered
necessary to cover the oil with sand.