The Paris Independent
14
January 20, 2024
PA R I S PA S T The car left Paris approximately 15 minutes past 7 o'clock with Motorman Longhurst and Conductor Beacom in charge, along with twelve passengers on board. It was a new yellow-painted car recently equipped with a spacious interior. There were doubts among the employees whether they would be able to reach Brantford safely. At the time, there was a heavy wind blowing with intermittent snow-flurries, and the tracks were rapidly being covered. It is commonly known among the railroad men that the This is an Interior view of the car which was wrecked near Paris. The picture, shows drifting of the snow already on the the car on Its side, in the state of confusion wrought by the crash. Photo: Paris Museum & Historical Society ground is sometimes a more serious impediment to the service Deming and Mrs. James Miller and and the Grand Trunk tracks run than a steady snowfall. her two children, all of Brantford, almost parallel. The Grand Valley or five people in all. line passes over the roadway by Refused Tickets. On account of the means of a bridge about 15 or 20 doubt which existed as to whether Motorman Longhurst and feet above the thoroughfare. On the the car would be able to reach Conductor Beacom changed places bridge, snow had collected during Brantford, the ticket office at the soon after leaving Paris, with the the storm. The first intimation of station in Paris was closed, and conductor taking the controller and the impending trouble came to many refusals for tickets were the motorman adjourning to the those inside the car just as the body made. Those who did take the car smoking apartment to eat his lunch. of the coach got well onto the were told of the situation but were The car climbed slowly up the bridge in question. There was a determined to take their chances of Paris hill and proceeded on its way lurch to the westward when the a safe arrival at their destination to Brantford without stopping. It front end of the car, including the point that evening. was slow work, however, and the smoking apartment, appeared to tracks were rapidly becoming raise up and then topple westwards. At 7:15, the car pulled out. The covered with the drifting snow. So The timber in the car creaked, and smoking apartment was in the front heavily and slowly did the car the passengers were at a loss to part, and in it were seated J. S. proceed that it took nearly half an know what was coming. They were Buckwell of Boston, Mr. George hour to reach the place where the thrown in all directions before the James of Brantford, Mr. John accident occurred. final crash to the ground resulted. Jefferson of Paris, E. T. Rowland of The side of the car facing the east Brantford, the two unknown The Place. The scene of the wreck turned completely over and was commercial travelers, and Isaac is near Armstrong's switch at a side-tipped when the car stopped in Newsome of Paris. In the other trestle bridge and is about one mile its downward flight. It turned apartment situated in the rear of the from Paris. At this point, the radial turtle. car were Mr. and Mrs. James Continued on page 15
