The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-07-10
VEHICLE HAD GOTTEN
BEYOND HIS CONTROL
Was Not Familiar With Management OF
Machine, Which Ran Half a Block at
Terrific Speed Before He Could Regu-
late the Speed Gear-Heart Action
Was Increased by Excitement and He
Fell Dead in the Road.
ESPECIAL TO INTER MouNTAIN.J

Missoula, July Io.-While on his way
down town this morning, from his resi-
dence on South Higgins avenue, L. l..
Bonner, one of Montana's most prominent
citizens, fell from his automobile and was
instantly killed.
No one was within call at the time Of the
accident and there was but one witness to
it. 1t is supposed that Mr.. Bonner was
unduly excited by the machine, which had
been unmanageable, and died of heart
trouble, to which he was subject.
He left home at II o'clock. He entered
the vehicle alone and ran it slowly down
the driveway to try it. Apparently, tho
auto was out Of gear, for Mr.. Bonner re.
turned to the house, alighted, and made
some investigation of the machinery. His
wife stood on the porch watching him, and
when satisfied with the conditions OF the
vehicle Mr.. Bonner again mounted the
chauffeurs seat and drove the machine
slowly down the driveway second time.
Mrs. Bonner waved her hand to her hus-
band, little dreaming that she was never to
see him alive again.
Machine Took Sudden Dart.
SN'' 'OihNA tuihsd up sOOutH IllRplOS
avenue and proceeded ON his way down
town. While near South Sixth street the
auto again became unmanageable. Mrs.
Gienny, living near the corner of Gerald
avenue and South Sixth street. was watch
ing Mr.. Bonner's approach. She says the
auto suddenly took dart forward and went
half block at a terrific rate of speed
In his fright Mr.. Bonner rose to his feet
Va bod thf., ,,la. t,, 4. -. At
is regulated, rapidly. At first he seemed to
be unable to stop the mad gait of the
machine. When at last he had succeeded
IN bringing it to standstill he sank back
in his seat in evident exhaustion. Mrs.
Gienny could see from her porch that he
was III and sent servant to his assistance.
Before the girl could reacn him Mr.. Bon
ner's head sank upon his chest and he fell
over ON the seat and out into the road
upon his face.
Or. Parsons was summoned, but arrived
only to find Mr.. Bonner quite dead. His
neck had not been broken by the fall, as
was at first supposed and he was neither
bruised nor cut. A coterie of physicians.
IN an examination of the body at the Bon
1er house, believe, this afternoon, that death
was due to heart disease. 1t is thought
that he was greatly frightened by the
action OF the machine and that his heart
action reached a point where the brain was
affected
Theory Is Heart Disease.
ms theory is strengthened by the fact
that Mr.. Bonner had been sufferer from
heart trouble for some time. All last week
he was confined to his bed so i'll that the
services of a trained nurse were found
necessary. He was feeling muc.i better
this morning, but still somewhat timorous
IN regard to the automobile, which he pur-
chased only recently. With Professor Ell
rod OF the Montana university he had been
trying the machine several days this week
he was novice at handling autos and
probably turned the gear regulating the
speed the wrong way. The auto stood be-
side his body where he had fallen. and was
not out of order.
An autopsy may be held tomorrow. The
attending physicians are, as mas been said
inciined to attribute death to heart disease.
but this cannot be stated positively as the
blow in the fall may nave killed him.
l.. H. Bonner was native of New York
state and came to Walla Walla, Wash. in
1904. In the winter of "a and ,6s he
attended the session of the legislature at
Lewiston, Idaho, and secured charter
IRON the legislature for ferry to be built
at point on the Kootenai river. which was
named from him "Bonner's Ferry" and
which is used until this day.
Durlng the Kootenai excitement AT
horse creek Bonner's post at the Ferry
was as well known as any point in the
ROCKY Mountains He kept number of
pack trains and was largely interested in
In 1866 he and Daniel ]. Welsh, now of
Butte, started store at Bear Gulch. form
erly in Deer Lodge, but now in Powell
county. Later he started a store n Mis-
soula, out of which has grown the Mis-
sonia Mercantile company In partnership
with Mr.. Welsh he later opened store in
Deer Lodge, which still remains as the Il
l.. Bonner Mercantile company.
Again in 1870, Bonner, Robertson and
eonneii established store in Butte. which
is now known as the M. J. Connell Mercan.
tile company.
Was Prominent Railroad Contractor.
In 1881, he established an immense tie
camp along the line of construction of the
Northern Pacific and took charge, under
contract from the road, of the supplying of
all the ties, bridge timbers and timber for
the construction of the roadbed. This was
an immense contract, running up into the
millions.
Mr.. Bonner and his associates promoted
the construction and built the railroad
from Missoula to Grantsdale, above Ham
ilton, and also promoted the copstruct;on