The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-30
FORDING A SNOWSTORM
ON MOHAWK TRAIL
Bennington Couple in Danger From
Failing Trees But Escaped
Serious Injury,

liGC ONl ESCaDEQ
Serious Injury.
sssIllgt Bennington has been especial.
~ lfaftunate in being protected from
ySfpse Managing storm that has swept
ItlIse Surrounding territory Is proved by
The story Of two who left Boston by
motor Sunday morning hoping to
reach Remington that night.
Al eleven Sunday morning when the
couple lett Boston there was driz.
zling rain that troze rapidly and made
it difficult driving but not lmpos-
sible. However upon reaching Con-
cord, Mass, they encountered snow
and ice and were obliged to drive
slowly and cautiously because OF the
deep ruts in the road and the ice i.iat
formed on the windshield from that
point until they reached Greenfield
Greenfield was not reached until $50
and II seemed wise to stay there for
the night as the storm had increased
and no one knew anything of the con
dt.on of the S'Aelburne mountain road
or Of the Mohawk Trail.
Motorists will remember that upon
leaving Greenfield one almost i'm.
medately begins TO climb the new
road over Shelburne mountain. This
road showed tracks OF an automobile
which had evidently just gone before
the fiyver that the two OF this story
were driving. The snow was deep
but there was little ice and the
wheels with the aelp of chains took
hold.
Hardly had they gonea mile on this
road though when they found small
trees across the road, but, encouraged
by the wheel marks OF the machine
that had gone before they drove over
the trees until suddenly they cana
upon a tree newly fallen since the
first car had passed Ii seemed quite
impossible to pass this, but while de-
bat 'ng on the right thing to do anotl.
er fiivver bound for Shelbulne Falls
came from Greenfield The driver Of
this car was armed with hattnet
and soon the way was cleared and t a
two cars this time were OH their way.
Ii was necessary for them to drive
over many small trees and to drive
through heavy branches, ice-laden
and bent that cracked the windshield
and scraped the 'one man TOP" 1t
was an especially heavy branch OF
this kind that brought them to a
stop. Even though they were anxious
for their safety and eager to get
through they could not help remark
on the beauty OF these icy branches
hanging like heavy lace pogtieres
across the road
While admiring ii objects were seen
moving beyond and, upon inyestiga-
ton, 1t was found that the car which
had preceded them was stopped
there. Walking through the heavy
snow and In places in water nearly
to the shoe tops they met the occu'
pants OF the first car two men They
we're trying to disengage about ten
wards OF electric wire that had fallen
and was concealed under some of the
branches and had become wound IN
the fly wheel Of their car when they
made their way over it. Fortunately
the current had been shut OF.
From this po.nt the three cars male
their way together and two reached
Shelburne Falls in safety but tie third
car turned back, the occupant FEELING
II unwise to go on since 1t might he
impossible in a few hours to return
TO Greenfield.
The Benningtonians let Char e.
mont about nine o'clock to come over
the Mohawk Trail and for some d's'
tance found it easy driving but after
a few miles they aga n heard the
trees crashing in the woods and soon
tound many small ones in the ROAD.
These they were able TO drive over
but, on nearing Whltcomp summit
found three good sized trees across
the road.
with some work it was possible TO
get two into positions that permNteu
them to pass and the other it was pos
s,ble to drive under Once more they
we're under way max ng along
through the snow and watching the
trees give way to their heavy burdens
of ice first at the right and then at
tho left.
AS lney TOuHutu curve lucH Cout
age at last all left them Tor there be-
fore them lay directly across the
road five large trees. 1t was here they
turned and drove back to Charlemont
praying all the way t1at more OF
these trees had not fallen and OBJ
structed the passage back.
In Charlemont the older RESIDENT
say that the storm is the worst in IA
years, All the telephone, telegraph
and electric light wires were down
and many people who found it neces-
sary to be out had narrow escapes
from the fallina lrneR Mr md Mrs.