Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1921-06-17
FALLS OFF BRIDGE
AND IS DROWNED
Fred Roder Loses Life and
Woman Narrowly Escapes
Were Crossing Il. & NJ. Struciure-No Dung
Man Had Come Here After Miss Flor.
ence Dewitt.

Man Had Come Here After Miss Flor
ence Dewitt.
Fred ]. Roder of North Ilinstalc, son
81 Adam Roder. a wcll-known farmer,
was drowned in the Connecticut river at
the Boston 4 Maine railroad bridge about
midnight Tuesday. either falling off the
bridge or being pushed off by train.
A search for the body has been con
Quoted ever since. the river being
dragged and dynamite being used, but
without finding any trace of 1t.
The accident happened near the llins-
dale end of the bridge as Mr.. Rodcr was
crossing with Miss Florence Dewitt of
North lIinsdalc who reached Brattleboro
from New York on the night train.
Miss Dewitt, who is a practical nurse
and has been in New York the past year,
came home without notifying her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Clinton \. Dewitt Tor
merly of Brattlcboro, that she was com
ing. On her arrival here she tecphoncd
home and her parents arranged with FRED
Roder. who lived with his father two or
three miles away, TO go to the Brattleboro
station after her.
The Young man drove his automobile to
the Hinsdale end of the railroad bridge,
there being no highway bridge at this
village Then he walked across the bridge
and came up the railroad yard to the
back across the bridge and had gotten
we'll on TO the structure when freight
train approached from the south. They
stepped out on the first platform built fol
the safety of persons crossing the bridge
and the train passed.
They resumed their trip across thu
bridge. carrying two suitcases. when
freight train from Brattleboro made i
necessary for them to hurry to reach an
other platform. They had just reached i
when the train passed. The platform il
small and has II railing on three sides
but there is an open space between II ant
the track. With two persons and tw'
suitcases the platform would be wei
filled.
Miss Dewitt is unable to say just wha
happened. whether Mr.. Roder slipped %
whether the train caught his ovcrcoat
but he was close to the train and sud
denly fell. She grabbed hold of his over
coat and was pulled down on the platform
and partly off from it. saving herself b.
taking hold of timber hut being unabl
10 retain her hold on the ovcrcoat. Sh
heard Mr. ltodcr strike the water II fee
or more below. and then he called to he
90 save herself.
Three times Mr.. Rodcr called to Mis-
Dewitt that he was all right. and the
she heard no more. Badly frightened. tn
Young woman managed with difficulty {
get her suitcases to the New Hampshr
shore. As she walked down the trac
near the river she kept calling Pred bu
received no response.
1t was shortly after o'clock Wednc'
day morning when Miss Dewitt. almos
exhausted. reached the home of &. "
Harris, near the Rodcr home over tw
miles south from this village. Help wa
secured and search was begun as 500
as possible. but a high wind and dee
water made it difficult to drag the river
The IInsdalc authorities were notified.
Fred =. Rodcr. 80. was born in Mort
IInsdale. ~ H., March -, 1891. so
of Adam Roder and the late Sophi
tBnta) Roder. lie attended school i
North Hinsdale and the Clawson & Han
ilton night business school in Brattlebor
lie always lived at home. assisting his f;
ther on the farm, and he was a youl
man of excellent character and habits an
respected by everybody. He leaves h
father. one brother. Adam ItOder. ir..
North Ilnsdale, and two sisters, Adelin
wife of William TOomey of Boston, NJ
Mary, wife Of John r. Austin of Brattl
bOro.