Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-23
TWO KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT
-Four Other Montpelier Sem. Men Hurt
In Car'r Plunge into River

MONTPELIER, Oct. la--Clay;on Tillotson
and Cecil Clark 81 the Montpelier Sem
mary football team were killed last eve
ming near the Weaver bridge in East
Montpelier. while Kenneth Ward Of More
town Cornelius Granai of Barre. Henry
Woodward Of Greenfield. Mass. and
Prof. CLYDE Witham. coach Of the team,
We're injured, as result Of their auto
mobile going into the Winooski river. fol-
lowins a collision with the automobile
Of Richard Couplings of East Montpelier.
Tillotson suffered fractured skull and
broken jaw bone Clark was drowned,
although every effort was made to get
him out before his lungs filled with water.
Mr.. Couplings received great praise for
his efforts in helping rescue the boys. IT
is estimated that about 100 automobiles
went to the place before the bodies were
moved to the undertaking rooms
These six boys and others had repre-
sented the seminary in a football game
al Littleton. \. H.. where they played
the high school in the town during the
afternoon and were on their way home
when the accident took place. Mr. Cop
pings and his wife and son were out rid
ing They had Just gone out Of the bridge
and We're only about ten feet from the
occurred He saw the other car comins
and almost stopped hi. own machine.
The Ward car hit the Couplings ma
chine on the rear left hub. breagir down
that part Of the car The force of the
contact was sufficient to brow the Ward
car around. so that 1t went against the
side Of the wooden bridge. A beam ten
by four inches and another six by three
inches were broken and with the boa rd =
| ing. which had been torn of The car.
were carried into the stream X feet
below
There was water enough in the strea m
so that II came to the arm pits Of Mr.
Couplings who made several efforts to
save Young Clark. He also helped get
the other boys out of the water They
| were carried 10 the home of Leron
Weaver. where Or, Frank Wheeler Of
Plainfeld was called.
Later, physicians from Montpelier were
summoned to the place. Sheriff F. H.
Tracy was among the officials called and
while District Health officer G. H. Burr
also was there took DR.. NJ F. MCGUIRE
| with him He ordered the cars left
where they were until pictures of them
could be taken Sunday.
Ward was found upon examination to
be suffering with an injured shoulder.
while Woodward suffered cuts on his
| race. Professor Witham seemed to be
| the worst injured Of any of the men.
while Granai suffered as little injury a.
| any In the party.
| They were all brought in the Barber &
lIaner ambulance to the Heaton hospi-
tai here. Tiliotson has a brother who at
| tended the University of Vermont a few
years ago. He was captain of the foot
ball team and played guard on the team.
The Rev, John w. Hatch, principal of the
| school was early AT the site of the acct
dnt tand took charge of affairs until rela-
tiVes came. Burton Ward and others
came from Moretown
This morning the boys were as comfort
able as could be expected.
| Mr. Tillotson is survived by his parents,
six sisters, and five brothers. including
Byron who | in the University of Yer
mont Mr.. Clark is survived by his par
ents. Mr. and Mrs, William Clark of
Moretown and two brothers. one Of whom
| attended the seminary with him.
! The funerals will take place Tuesday.
MIR. Clark's In the morning and Sir Til
lotson's in the afternoon, from theeir late
homes. The student body of the semi
nary will attend the funeral