The Elbert County tribune., 1902-06-12
FATAL RUNAWAY ACCIDENT.
West Denver High School Graduates
Hurled Among the Rocks.

Denver. June GA hay rack contain
ing eleven couples. all members of the
graduating class OF West Denver High
School. .driven by Frank French,
dashed down nrecipice on the Tur-
key Greek road two miles southwest of
Morrison nj T:30 O'Clock Saturday
night, Edith Withers sustained frac-
tured skull and died within n short
time. Miss Maize pumphrey had her
skull fractured and died last night.
Eighteen others were more or less
seriously injured. some Of whom may
prove to be disabled for a long time.
IL not for life, but II is believed that
there viii be no further fatalities.
The party. consisting of eighteen cou-
pies In two hay racks started to return
TO Morrison about 7:3O o'clock. The
first team, containing seven couples
and driver. were some fifty yards in
front Of the second team. The Inflated
conveyance was drawn 10y four horses
and driven by Frank French. The
leaders had behaved badly from the
time they started out at $ O'Clock In
the morning. Several times they had
balked snd on starting the descent of
the canon it had become necessary TO
unhitch the leaders and proceed with
the two wheel horses. Aftcrward they
showed signs OF quieting and were
again placed In front
As they approached bridge over
creek at a particularly steep incline.
she horses became unmanageable and
started to run. Frank French the
driver. was seated on n bale of hay.
The wagon. striking an obstruction.
caused the hay TO shoot forward from
under him, throwing French under
meath the body Of the wagon. The
horses, feeling the load on their fank-.
made a sudden turn and the body OF
the wagon flew of tue trucks.
This happened Just as the rustic
bridge had been reached. The body
of the wagon containing its load of hu-
manity turned completely over and fell
n distance of twelve feet beneath
The few who Were uninjured and the
occupants of the other wagon imnedi-
ately began the work of rescue. many
OF the injured being stunned and in
sensible.
Messengers were dispatched to Nor
rison, two miles away, for help, and
Drs. F. l.. Luce and H. G. Haxby re-
turned with conveynnces. The injured
school children were taken to the Cliff
house. which WAS transformed into n
temporary hospital.
i'A'lfhbAt- ii'NSbNfN were
sent TO Denver and by about II p. M a
special train was made up and started
for Morrison carrying physicians. sur
gicnl appliances and stretchers on
the arrival of the train at Denver it
was met by ambulances which con-
yeyed those badly injured to their
homes.
Those injured besides Misses withers
and Humphrey were:
Harry Austin. spine injured.
Ruby Sill. bad scalp. wound that may
affect eyesight.
Claude Hannum, badly bruised on
ribs. left side.
Grace Murray. bad scalp wound.
bruised and back hurt,
George w Smith. badly bruised and
suffering from shock. dellrious.
Pauline Perry. badly cut ON head.
Miss Esther Smith. chaperone. badly
bruised and suffering from shock
Irene Wheelock. shoulder dislocatcd.
Harry Goodheart. scalp wound.
Marvin Kleff, compound fracture OF
the arm.
Luella Corbin. left wrist fractured.
Alice Barton, scalp wound and
bruises.
Laura Kilgore. left arm sprained.
Miss Bessie Quay. Wellsburg, W.
Va. visiting Miss Kilgore. face
scratched. badly bruised.
Jean Raber. fractured wrist
Frank Kerr. neck sprained and
bruised.
Joseph Garst, leg cut and bruised
about the head.
Fred Burr. sprains and bruises.
Fred Lawrence. captain of the West
Denver High School Cadets. was in
the accident but escaped uninjured and
was OF Invaluable service in caring for
the wounded. securing n special train
and otherwise caring for the party.