The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-10-26
WANTS BIG DAMAGES
A Belle Who Was Hurt at the
Vanderbilt Ball.
SEE SUES FOR FIFTY THOUSAND.
Claims that the Edison Electric Company
is Responsible for the Injury,

An Engine Used TO Furnish the Power for
the Electric Lights Frightened Hor
Horsos and They became Unmanage-
able--she Was Thrown Out and sus-
tained Injuries from which She VIII
Nevor Fully Recover.
NEW YoRK, Oct. ga novel lawsuit
which will create a sensation in the in
ner circles Of the Four Hundred of this
oity has just been instituted.
1t is more than probable that the hear
ing when it takes place will call for
the presence on the witness stand of
some of the Vanderbilts, Astors Whit
neys and other leading society lights.
The suit is the outcome Of the famous
ball given by Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
at Newport, on August Is, Of last year.
II is brought by Miss Dresser, Of New
port and New York, against the Edison
Electric Company Of Newport, Of which
Millionaire John Whippls is the treas
urcr.
Miss Dresser estimates her damages at
$50, 600, and the suits are for thatamount.
Her lawyers are Richard w. q. yelling,
of Wall street, and W. d. Reelker, of
Providence, Il. l.
Miss Dresser is well known In society
as a friend of Mrs, Cornelius Vanderbilt,
the GOelets and other wealthy people.
She owns q cottage Mt Newport also and
has taken prominent part in the social
functions at that fashionable resort.
Miss Dresser was one of the guests at
the great Vanderbilt ball. 1t was the
event of the season at Newport, and no
expense had been spared to make 10
grand success.
A feature OF the occasion was the light
ing of the spacious grounds surrounding
the Vanderbilt cottage by electricity.
This was a very expensive matter and
the contract was given to the local Edi-
son Electric Company.
The effect fully warranted the outlay,
and the grounds took on fairy-lile as-
pect Scores of guests were present from
New York, Boston, Providence and
other cities and the ball was acknow-
lodged to have been the finest ever given
at Newport
A temporary engine had boon locatde
in corner of the grounds to furnish the
power for the electric lights. Miss Dres-
ser on the evening of the ball hired car
riage from Stewards stables, as her own
horses and carriages were in the coun-
try. The carriage was driven by Will
lhQl hNutFlg, WHO lo W Bo an An puA bdLJ
witness in tine suit.
Miss Dresser WAS one Of the bellies of
the ball and enjoyed herself hugely in
the brilliant assemblage. At 80 o. o'clock
a m. she called her carriage and started
IN return home. The engine on the
grounds is said to have been running at
full speed AS the carriage was passing
the engine tho horses became unmanage-
BILE and dashed away.
The team ran along Ochre Point seri-
ouslv near the ocean, to Aunandale
Road and then turned into Narragan-
sett avenue.
Just opposite the handsome Travers
COTTAGE the carriage upset and Miss
Dresser was thrown out upon the stony
ground Miss Dresser was severely in
jured and did not take any active part
in the social gayeties of Newport during
the balance of the season.
Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mrs. Astor,
Mrs, Clews and many other ladies called
on her daily for some time after the ac-
cideut to learn how she was progress
ing. Nothing was said about a suit for
several months after the occurrence.
1t was noticed by the people New,
port this summer that Miss Dresser
walked with difficulty, and that a limp
was plainly peceptible. 1t is said that
the lady has never recovered from the
effects of the accident, and Will be lame
for life.
As time passes the effect became more
serious, and Miss Dresser experiences
more and more difficulty in attending tC
her own social duties.
The certainty that she would nev el
fully recover from the injury finally In
duced Miss Dresser to begin the suit, thu
papers in which have been served OF
the Edison Electric Light Company, oi
Newport
At the Office of the Edison Electric
Company Counsel Lewis said yester
day.
1.-THE suit has been brought agains
a subsidiary Edison Company, the stool
of which is mostly held in Newport, w,
are not interested in the suit, except as
minority stockholders in the Newport
Company. The suit is being defende
by local legal talent there
Col Samuel r. Haney of Newport ha
been engaged to defend the suit.
Miss Dresser's action has been br ough
in the United States Court, and tn
papers are made returnable Nov. 10.