Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-01

1 haArnlade public rs Qecl4i0ns ~ sis
following matters:
Death of Fred 1. Hutehinson
The Public Utilities Commission
has rendered decision in the case OF
Fred /. Hutchinson Of Old Town. Me-,
aged, -. who was Instantly killed, on
Sept.ns, 1919. about II A. N. by COM
.:ing Ia contact with q live wire at
the power house of the Bangor Rail-
way & Electric Co.. in Veazte. where
he was at work. It says in closing:
"Mr. Hutchinson waS an expert
fenced workman and apparently he
was fully, informed Of the dangers
which surrounded him. Every posi-
BILE precaution had been taken to
warn the: workmen OF the deadly
peril they were in and OF the great
necessity for the most extreme care
and caution. It is impossible to- &C
count for the act of this expert
enced. Intelligent and Heretofore
cautious man, In pltting his hand
against those live wires and thereby
sacrificing his life"
Death Of Harold Sawyer, Frssport
The. Public Utilities Commission
has rendered decision in the matter
of the death of Harold L. Sawyer OF
Freeport. Me-. aged q, who on Sept.
6, 1919 at $40 p. NJ. received injuries
from which he died the next morning
at the Maine General hospital, Port
land, the Dodge automobile which ne
was driving being struck by Maine
Central passenger train No. 25 ct
Bow Street crossing. SO called IN the
town of Freeport. The decision says
in part:
This accident adds another victim
to the already too long list caused by
the recklessness or carelessness OF
the automobile driver. Mr.. Sawyer
sacrificed his own life and endan-
gered the lives Of his companions and
others when he went UPON this cross
ing without taking any of the pre-
cautions which ordinary prudence
should have dictated to MIN, and
which he was in duty bound to take.
We cannot, however. escape the
conclusion in this case, that had this
crossing been protected by the gates
at the time train No. rs passed, the
accident would in all probability not
have occurred and this unfortunate
man would thus have been saved
even from the effect of his own folly.
While it cannot be expected OF
course that men can be fully safe
guarded from the results of their own
recklessness, yet it is desirable and
necessary. when possible, to so pro-
tect the public that even the foolish
and reckless may, in some degree at
least, be protected from the results
OF their own indiscretion.
We recommend. therefore. that the
Maine Central Railroad Company in
struct it's gateman to remain on duty
for the purpose of protecting the Bow
Street and also the School, Street
crossings until after the passing OF
passenger train No. 70. If that train
is on time, no additional time Of the
gateman will be required: If it is not
on time, it may be necessary to pay
the gateman for some overtime. The
expense of this amount of additional
protection will be comparatively
small and we believe that the safety
of the travelling public will be greatly
increased thereby. X.
: We request the management of the
Maine Central Railroad Company to
inform this commission whether OF
not it can and will provide the ad-
: ditional protection to these two cross
ings as herein suggested without any
further hearing or formal order to
that effect.