Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-21
3 ARE KILLED IN
TOWNSVILLE WRECK
New England States Limited
Strikes Auto and Kills Two
Occupants-Engineer of Fly
er Is Scalded to Death.
AT DANGEROUS CROSSING
Auto Emerged from Covered bridge
and Driver Could not See Approach
ing T'rain-Engine Plunges Down
IS foot Bank Into River

Jonesville. Aug. 17t-Three people were
killed instantly and three injured, two Sc
riously, this morning at 1880 o'clock,
when the southbound New England
States limited struck an automobile at
the railroad crossing. The automobile
was struck squarely in the center, killing
two of the occupants and injuring two
riding in the rear seat. The auto was
thrown down the river bank and crashed
against a rock where it hung.
ENGINE PLUNGES INTO RIVER
The train tore along about 100 yards to
the slight curve where the engine plunged
down the bank and into the river, being
half buried in tho river bed The rest OF
the train was saved by the first cars
striking n ledge. No passenger was
injured but all were shaken up by
the sudden application Of the emergency
brakes. The track was all torn up by the
loosened pilot on the engine.
THE KILLED AND INJURED
The killed are Mr. and Mrs John Miles
Of Huntington Center and Engineer c.
Rollin Smith of St Adams. who was scald-
ed to death. dying in 10 minutes. The fire.
man jumped and saved his life. In the
automobile with Mr.. and Mrs. Miles were
their daughter Lena Miles. and Ell Field
err The latter's injuries were slight.
Miss Miles was taken to the Mary
Fletcher hospital in Burlington. This
evening it was said at the hospital that
she was not considered in a serious condi-
ton and that her injuries consisted Of bad
bruises all over her body. and particularly
her hands and face.
Fireman A. w. Chevalier, who saved his
e. f,aA
tured ribs and bad bruises and cuts on
his face. He was taken to his home in
st. Adams.
CROSSING A DANGEROUS ONE
The crossing is one Of the most danger
Gus on the road, the track running
parallel with the river for some distance.
The covered bridge, through which the
motorists had to pass. is only 90 feet
| from the crossing. which is on the be-
ginning of sharp curve. To gain the
incline to the crossing, cars usually take
on speed in the bridge. but the sight of
an approaching train is completely
| obscured by a big water tank.
| The Miles car was preceded by an
other automobile party, which got safely
across and had reached the village of
Warren before noticing that the second
car was not with them. Returning TO
| discover why the Miles car was not
following, they learned Of the accident.
BOY sWIMs FOR HIS LIFE
Leon O'Nel Of Jonesville, 10 years old,
was fishing from the river bank when
the engine plunged into the river He
escaped injury by jumping into the water
and swimming clear across to the other
bank He was burned slightly by cind-
ers and steam
Doctors Tilley and Mitchell hast
ened to the scene. The bodies were
| removed to Kenyon's funeral parlors in
Richmond
SCENE VISITED BY HUNDREDS
| A wreck train was sent from St. Adams
and began Immediately to repair the track
and the work of raising the engine.
| Hundreds of automobile parties visited
the scene during the afternoon.
Mr. Miles was 81 years old and his wife
As, Besides their daughter, VINO was with
them, they are survived by a daughter
Miss Dora Miles, Of Battle Creek, Mich
and a son. Ralph Miles. of Huntington
Center. The latter was on the scene OF
the accident half an hour after the crash.
Engineer c. r. Smith was 81 years old
and was born in St. Albans living there
practically all his life. He is survived
by his wife, formerly Miss Hattie Allard
of Enosburg Falls, and two sons. Charles
Of Detroit, Mich, and Donald of St
Adams.