Putnam patriot., 1920-12-17

The l.55 afternoon train for Wor- eester, drawn by one of the big loco motives used during the summer months to haul the State of Maine ex- press, crashed into ive-ton truck owned by Fred Gagnon of this city, Wednesday, at the grade crossing at West Thompson. The big machine, with the driver pinned in the cab. was thrown into the pond on the west side of the track north of the crossing and the load of meat consigned to Bradley & Company of Putnam, was strewn about thr side ef the track, piled on the pilot of the engine. and deposited at the bottom of the pond. The truck was demolished.
 The driver of the truck, Nelson Du- bois, broke his leg in freeing 1t from between the two levers in the cab. His first thought was that he was in a cloud of steam. He put up his hand and when he felt the cool air realized that he was under water. He then took the drastic measure of breaking HID illitu io ctAfC iiio blts
 When the train was brought to q standstill and help reached Dubois he was lying semi-conscious on the front wheel of the truck, partly submerged in water. He was brought to the shore and man who was near the scene in an automobile brought him to the Day Kimball Hospital, where 1t was found that his left leg was broken. his hand badly laceratcd and his head covered with abrasions and contusions, be- sides suffering from shock.
 Among the first to reach the scene of the accident was Town Clerk David Flagg of Putnam. MT. Flagg said My wife and were on the train. felt sudden jolt and said to my wife, We have struck something The train came to a sudden stop. l ran to the rear door of the last car and looked back. I saw boxes and meat strewn about, but no vehicle of any kind. hurried back and saw truck neraly submerged in the water and q mans body lying on the front wheel I tried to use railroad tic near al hand, but 1t was too short l then hurreid Co the railroad station and procured q plank. This reached tc the wheel. Another man brought an other plank and on this temporary bridge the driver was brought to ths shore. He opened his eyes and said Where in h----l am IT.
 "The train conductor proposed put ting the man on the train and taking him to Worcester. said to take hin to Putnam. There was machine or the bridge and the driver volunteered to make the trip to the hospital anc the man was placed in the car and talk en away. told the station agent tt | telephone the hospital to have doc tor there"
 1 Dubois related the facts as he re
 membered them while lying in hos pital bed, Wednesday evening. Tn. young man, about 23 years of age showed remarkable fortitude and ths affair did not seem to affect his nerve in the least. He said that he was re turning to Putnam from Worcester with his load and was making the hill
 near the West Thompson station in low gear. He saw freight train or the sizing north of the station ana there was considerable cloud oi steam. He looked in southerly di rection, toward Mechanicsville. know l ing that train was about due. H. saw nothing and heard no warning, st started to cross. AS he did SC h' threw the clutch into second speed As he got upon the crossing he sav the train bearing down on him. Real izing that to throw his engine int high gear might stall it he gave it gas thinking he might make it. He wa too late.
 Dubois says he remembers bein, carried along in front of the monster locomotive so near that he could havs reached through the window of tht