Miscellaneous

Tank Truck Plunges off Bridge in Afton

Bainbridge News & Republican, Jan. 11, 1945

 

One of the worst accidents of this area in many years occurred Tuesday morning about 7:20 when a 15-ton tractor-trailer plunged into the Susquehanna River from the Afton bridge, presumably costing the life of the driver.

 

Operating the 4,000 gallon milk tanker, owned by Zuber Trucking Corp., of Norwich, was Elmo Daniels, 37, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], who is believed to have lost his life when the tanker went out of control at the south end of the bridge, climbing the girder and then catapulting 30 feet into the icy water.  The cab crashed through the ice in 18 feet of water while the tank remained above the water in a semi-vertical position, supported by a concrete abutment.

 

A 35-ton wrecker, of Endicott, was employed to raise the truck and cab out of the water which was not accomplished until 9 o'clock Tuesday night but there was no trace of Mr. Daniels' body in the cab, but there was blood on the interior of the cab which lead officials to believe that the driver was in the cab when it began it fatal plunge.  Wednesday morning it was presumed that Mr. Daniels might have jumped as the truck started over the side of the bridge and that the cab may have landed on top of him driving his body down in the mud of the bottom of the river.  State police and officials were busy Wednesday morning trying to dig out the mud in an attempt to retrieve the body.  It is reported that Charles Fowler, of Afton, who is employed in Horton's Store, was crossing the bridge on his way to work at the time the accident occurred and that he was walking on the sidewalk just a few feet ahead of the spot where the truck tore away 40 to 50 feet of the sidewalk, as it hurtled into the river.

 

Mr. Daniels is married and has four children.  He was returning from New York where the cargo had been discharged.  Whether there was anyone else riding in the cab has not been determined.

 

Body of Elmo Daniels Found

Bainbridge News & Republican, January 18, 1945

 

On Friday afternoon a group of Afton men found the body of Elmo D. Daniels, 37, of Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], who lost his life early Tuesday morning when his large milk tank truck apparently skidded on the approach to the Afton bridge and plunged into the Susquehanna.  The body of the truck driver, father of four children, was reported found in eight feet of water about 10 feet from where the cab of the truck landed.  Among the Afton men who found the body were Tracy Doolittle assisted  by C. Fred Kane, Frank Knapp, Gordon Knapp and Frank Hatton.  The body was removed to the Tabor Funeral Home in Afton where a prayer service was held Monday at 1:30, at 2:30.  The funeral service was held at the Mt.  Hope Chapel in Norwich.  Surviving are his wife, Marleia, three daughters, Wanetta, Shirley and Alberta; a son, George; the father, Merritt Daniels, of Oxford; and a brother, Ashton Daniels, of Norwich.

 

 

 

Borden Plant Receives War Food Administration "A" Achievement Award

Bainbridge News & Republican, January 18, 1945

 



 

The Bainbridge Dry Milk Plant of the Borden Company, whose officers and employees will receive the "A" award from the W.F.A., Thursday, January 18th.  Insets:  Upper left, Clyde E. Beardslee, vice-president of the Borden Company.  Upper right, A.C. Beardslee, General Superintendent of the Bainbridge plant of the Manufactured Products Division.  Lower right:  Dr. Joseph M. Flannery, Manager of the plant.