New-York tribune., 1901-10-31
FOURNIER IN A WRECK.
Continued from first page.

bury. and frequent requests have been made TO
the railroad company TO have gate erected at
that point The statement has been made.
understand. that there is an automatic bell at
the crossing to warn people of the approach OF
train, but if IL rang none of us heard it. As
for seeing the approaching engine, that was inn
possible on account of the houses on that side
OF the road.
Il was unconscious for probably minute or
more and L will never forget the shock when
opened my eyes. l was badly stunned, but re-
member seeing a lot of little pieces OF yellow
painted wood scattered about the ground. The
automoolle had Oeen painted yeHoM' 1nSH 1s
some one bent ovet me. and l recognized the
uniform of an official of the Long Island Rail
road. He asked me if was hurt, and as he did
so l looked over across the roadway, ana saw
Mr.. Fullerton, of blood. sight that COM
pleteIy unnerved me Go help that poor chap
l said he needs your help more than 1 do
Who is he? asked the railroad man.
Why Fullerton. I replied.
My God" said the railroad man, reeling over
as if he would fall to the ground. that's my
brother
"W. X. Vanderbilt. jr was out the road
in his automobile, called the Red Devil, and
Foxhall p. Keene arrived on the scene shortly
after on horseback Many others hastened 10
TO assistance. and We were taken to the
Nassau Hospital at Mineola. All of us who were
In a condition TO realize anything felt grateful
for the kindly attention shown US Mr. Fuller
ton had his camera in his hand at the time OF
the accident. but it was shattered TO splinters
Batchelder was cut about the head and Gerrie
was injured in the side. back and arms, but
neither was badly injured far as 1 could tell.
fear for the life of Mr.. Fullerton. Later Messrs
Lewis, EveralI and myself were brought to
Long Island City a train. and then conveyed
in carriages TO our respective homes My left
leg seems partly paralyzed and am oadly
bruised in the back and head, but do not think
any bones have been broken. The engine, when
It struck us. must have been travelling at
speed of fifty miles an hour. The automoole
we used which is a total wreck, was new one,
which had just arrived in this country l drove
1t around to the Waldorf-Astoria on TUESDAY
night and an acquaintance offered me SS,tDo
for it, but L refused 10 sell it. All are positive
that the engineer did not blow the whistle OF
the locomotive and none of heard the al
legged bell signal
HOPE FOR MR.. FULLERTON
At the office of the railroad company. in Long
Island City, 1t was said that the regular train
running from Mineola to Hicksvile had struck
an automobile at Westoury. that none of the
occupants of the machine had been seriously in
jured and that no bones had been broken IL
vas said also that the engine attached to the
train was travelling at the regulation speed or
about twenty-five miles an hour when the col
!sion happened.
Mr. Fullerton is special agent Of the passenger
department Of the Long Island Railroad. a good
roads man of national reputation, a prominent
vheelman and automobilist. He belongs to the
pliers Club OF Brooklyn. the Press Club of this
city and many other organizations he was
last year chairman of the highway improvement
committee OF the League OF America wheel
men and two years ago viCe-consul of the
State division of the League of American
N,beelmen The proposed attempt of Mr..
F'ournier 10 make a new record with his racing
machine at the Empire City track to-day Will
OF course be abandoned.
At the Nassau Hospital last night the ply
siCan in charge said that no apprehension was
felt for any OF their patients with the excep-
ton of Mr.. Fullerton The ply scian admitted
that Mr. Fullerton was suffering with frac-
tured skull. and that some bones might be
broken. but that the chances for his recovery
were good. The injuries of Batchelder and
C,errie were said not to be serious.
FoURNIER'S GOODNESS
Mr.. Everall. when seen at his apartments in
East Thirty-fourth-st.. substantiated every
thing that Fournier had said. He in bed
suffering from a sprain of the right leg and
bruises and cuts about the body Mr.. EveraI
says that the entire party owe their lives 10
the coolness of Fournier. If he had not turned
the machine about as quickly as he did it would
have been struck midway by the engine and
possibly all the men killed. According TO MIR.
Overall there no fagman. gate bell or any
other means of warning travellers of the ap-
proach of the engine Fournier and BatcheIder
who were on the front seat. were thrown clear
across the railroad track distance of fully
one hundred feet. Mr. Everall said.
Mr. Lewis, when seen at his home in West
Twenty-frst-st., said that his nose right leg
and hand were severely cut and his left ankle
sprained
"Our automobile made little noise.' said Mr.
Lewis "and If any bell had been ringing at
the crossing we would have heard il. l have
been out with Mr.. Fournier several times and
consider him not only an experienced man in
such things but particularly careful driver as
Well At the time of the accident the auto
mobile was travelling at little more than a
walking pace. Fournier has impressed as a
careful man on the road and l have seen him
make wide detour to escape running over a
chicken in the roadway"
RAILROAD DENIES FAULT.
William F. Potter. superintendent of the Long
Island Railroad. went to the scene of the acci-
dent as quickly possible after IT occurred.
and made. he says thorough and personal in
vestigation independent of that made by the
regular employees of the company. whose duty 1t
TO make one. He says that neither the rail-
road nor the engineer was in the least to blame
and that the fault lay entirely with those in the
wrecked automobile. MIR. Potter last night said:
After careful investigation made In person at
the scene of accident, beginning after. the
occurrence and lasting large portion of the day.
satisfied that our company was rot at fault
l cannot how the accident occurred, if the
people In ths automobile were reasonably careful
and prudent. L learn from persons who
the scene and witnessed the accident and who
employed by the company and who
biassed that the signal bell at that crossing
ringing the engine approached. IL was in good
engines passing during the day. 1t working all
right earlier in the day 1t is automatic. and
era persons will swear 1t rang at the time Of the
ASSi5aRG.