Lucky to Be Alive: David Pettet of North Pelham Struck by Train on December 16, 1901 and Lived

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During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Pelham residents often walked along the railroad right-of-way to travel between Pelham and Mount Vernon. As one might expect, such a practice led to tragic accidents on numerous occasions. David Pettet of the Village of North Pelham was one such traveler. He was struck by the Boston Express while walking from Mount Vernon to Pelham on December 16, 1901. Here is an account of the incident.

"THROWN FORTY FEET AND LIVED.

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MAN STRUCK BY TRAIN GOING FIFTY MILES AN HOUR HAD ARM AND COLLAR BONE BROKEN.

David Pettet, sixty years old, of North Pelham, while walking on the New-Haven Railroad tracks from Mount Vernon to Pelham, yesterday, was struck by the Boston express, which was running at the rate of fifty miles an hour. He was tossed forty feet down an embankment.

The train was stopped, and when the trainmen went to pick up a dead man, as they supposed, they found that Mr. Pettet was still alive. He was taken to the Mount Vernon Hospital, where it was said that his collar bone and right arm were broken, and that he was badly shaken up, but otherwise uninjured."

Source: Thrown Forty Feet and Lived, New-York Tribune, Dec. 17, 1901, p. 14, col. 1.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Lucky to Be Alive: David Pettet of North Pelham Struck by Train on December 16, 1901 and Lived

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Pelham residents often walked along the railroad right-of-way to travel between Pelham and Mount Vernon. As one might expect, such a practice led to tragic accidents on numerous occasions. David Pettet of the Village of North Pelham was one such traveler. He was struck by the Boston Express while walking from Mount Vernon to Pelham on December 16, 1901. Here is an account of the incident.

"THROWN FORTY FEET AND LIVED.

-----

MAN STRUCK BY TRAIN GOING FIFTY MILES AN HOUR HAD ARM AND COLLAR BONE BROKEN.

David Pettet, sixty years old, of North Pelham, while walking on the New-Haven Railroad tracks from Mount Vernon to Pelham, yesterday, was struck by the Boston express, which was running at the rate of fifty miles an hour. He was tossed forty feet down an embankment.

The train was stopped, and when the trainmen went to pick up a dead man, as they supposed, they found that Mr. Pettet was still alive. He was taken to the Mount Vernon Hospital, where it was said that his collar bone and right arm were broken, and that he was badly shaken up, but otherwise uninjured."

Source: Thrown Forty Feet and Lived, New-York Tribune, Dec. 17, 1901, p. 14, col. 1.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.