Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-18
EYE WITNESS TELLS
OF DEATH OF FAIRS
Woman Gate Keeper, the
Only Eye Witness to
Tragedy, Review
Deadly Work.

PACY SUR ESUR. Aug. 16-The resi-
dents OF this little village have felt deep
" the horror OF the terrible automobile
accident IN which Mr. and Mrs. Charles
L. Fair met such a tragic death
As the conveyance bearing the bodies
from the lodge OF the Chateau de Brus-
sion de Mai 10 the pay station. passed
slowly along the road this morning every
head was uncovered IN a touching and
spontaneous tribute OF respect for the
dead and many women wept outright
The mystery surrounding the case OF the
accident is only deepened by a close in
spection OF the scene OF the catastrophe.
The road Is level and was unabrupted. and
ar. Fair Is said 10 have been very eA-
Pert.
About i've kilometres from Pacy, Just
beyond a little hill. known as the Cote de
St Aquilian. stands a fine summer resi-
dence belonging 20 II. Fernand Berson, a
nro-niuent member OF Partisan society.
The Chateau de Brusson de Mai is in the
direction OF Paris II was immediately
IN front OF the gatekeepers' lodge that me
accident happened. The tree against
which the fatal shock was given Is on the
opposite side OF the road.
The Raeekeeper Nine. Hourdet. q sym
pathetic pleasant faced woman, her eyes
red and swollen with weeping. who Is stiil
unnerved BY the terrifying spectacle OF
which she Is probably the sole indisput-
count Of the accident though with reluc-
lance. for Il was plain that the memory
was one from which she shrank almost
with terror.
FROM her story, Il appears that she was
near the lodge when she heard sort
OF report. presumably caused BY the
bursting OF the tire OF the left rear wheel
.-not the front wheel. as earlier reports
relatec-and. looking out. saw an auto
mobile hurled as Il were, from the right 70
the left side OF the road and against
tree exactly IN front OF the gate OF the
chateau
1T ali passed 80 quickly" she said,
speaking IN short broken phrases, her
eyes nIling with tears many q time during
ehe few moments Of her account OF the
scene The automobile hit the tree and
several objects were flung out thought
they were clothes. Helas c'etalent es
occupants de Pauto.' I cried out 70 my
husband that an accident had happened.
Then ran out across the road
The automoble was standing by the
side OF the road. Just as II II was ready
20 90 again The lady was lying doubled
ND az the foot OF the tree and q man was
stretched out az fun length about halt
metre away. Ceraiti II was terriblel
horrfblel They were both dead
The nan seemed 70 make faint move
rnent. and the lady opened and closed
her hands convulsivsiy' and that was ali.
70 give. any indication that could clear up
the n -ortant point as 90 which OF the IN
fortunate young couple had survived the
ether, II only BY a fraction OF a second
To al my inquiries she replied:
"Oh. they died at the same moment
They were both killed at once-Ilseta1en
rues tous les deux du meme coup"
Nor could she specify whether she hrst
noticed Mr.. Fair make the movement OF
which she had spoken or whether It was
Mrs Fair.
From the position in which the bodies
were lying. Mrs. Fair would be the hrst
Nine. Hourdet came 70, as she ran across
the road. for as I have said. Mrs. Fairs
body fell at the foot OF the tree on the
left OF the road. while her husbands body
lay a couple OF feet still further 10 the
left Il is possible. therefore. BY deduc-
ton, 70 argue that Nine houroet at
tention would be first OF all attracted by
any movement. however slight. made by
the fnanimate body OF Mrs. Fair.
on the other hand Comte Louis Da
peste OF the Tour Diocesan. near st.
Brienc. who happens to be passing few
days at Pacy. told me that when Nine.
Hourdet spoke OF the accident before him,
she positively stated that Mrs. Fair was
the one OF the two unfortunate victims
who gave the last signs OF life.
The road before the chateau de Buisson
De Mai is perfectly level for some little
distance ANE QlEEENl0M OF 4EUuNlAG- AZ
cording 70 Nine. Hourdet the road was
completely deserted at the moment the ac-
cident happened
These two details make the catastrophe
all the more inexplicable. Even the burst
ing OF. the tire. particularly OF the back
wheel tire. was not sufficient TO cause the
formidable swerve the machine evidently
made before Il struck the tree.
The traces OF the automobiles passage
from the moment IL left the road. are
very distinct for distance OF % OF 3
yards The grass Is absolutely burned
away. torn up and scared as though
red-not plough had passed along II. The
dreadful trail ends about the length OF
the automobile from the foot OF the tree.
whence at the height OF about six feet.
the bark has been torn away leaving two
ghastly ARE patches.