The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-10
KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT
Machine Plunged Thirty.6ve Feet
From a Railroad Bridge.
OWNER LOST THE CONTROL OF IT
Broker p. J. Matthews. OF Jersey City. and
Mrs. W. b. Cobb. Of Riehmond. Vs.,
Crushed to Death-A Priest. Wcmsn
and Chauffeur InJured-survivors Had
Narrow Escape From Death.


and Chauffeur InJured-survivors Had
Narrow Escape From Death.
Elberon. n. J. - Possessed by the
speed madness" Frank ]. Matthews.
n well-known real estate broker and
clubman. Of Jersey City. ran his auto.
mobile at full speed over the Park
avenue bridge across the tracks of the
New York and Long Branch Railroad
Mt this place.
As he came upon the structure at the
speed of an express train he saw a
plainly dressed man. a gardener. com.
ing from the other direction. unsus-
pecting any danger. Mr.. Matthews
swung the machine sharply to save the
strangers life. but knocked him down
as he shot by. The wheels Of the auto
mobile caught In the trolley rails be-
cause Of the sharp turn. throwing the
machine almost ut right angles. and
the steering wheel broke from the own.
er's grasp as the machine plunged
against the railing. The timbers gave
way. and the automobile with Its own
er. three passengers and chauffeur.
plunged down to the tracks thirty five
feet below.
The killed were: Frank J. Matthews.
forty-six years old. Of Jersey City.
owner Of the automobile: crushed he.
meath the machine; died instantly:
Mrs. w. b. Cobb. Richmond. Va: died
from her injuries three hours later In
Monmouth Memorial Hospital at Long
Branch.
The injured are: The Rev Patrick J.
Grant. Church Of the Paulist Fathers.
New York City: picked up unconscious
and removed to the Hathaway Inn at
Allenhurst on trolley car; said to he
suffering from shock and In no danger.
though face is badly cut: Rudolph
Meyers. chauffeur: leaped from the ma.
chine az II went over: bruises not SO.
rious; Mrs. W. d. Plzzlni. Of New York
City. sister.in.law of Mrs. Cobb: leg
broken. internal injuries: taken to
Monmouth Memorial Hospital: will
probably die.
The disaster seems to have been
wholly due to Mr.. Matthews reckless
ness. for 1t was the first time he had
ever operated the machine and was
cautioned to go slowly by the chauf-
feur. Meyers. whom he had replaced
at the lever a short time before. as the
machine shot up the steep incline lead
ing to and from the bridge. Mr. Mat.
thews. who was widower with two
children. was occupying the Dillon cot.
tage. on Sidney avenue. Deal Beach.
Father Grant was also stopping at
Deal Beach. Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Piz.
zini were guests Of the Hotel Columbia
at Asbury Park.
One strange circumstance was that
the mechanism OF the automobile was
not greatly deranged. The hood was
bent and jammed. the wooden tenders
splintered and one hamper was de.
molished. The accident has caused
deep gloom to settle on the Elberon
cottage colony because Of the high
opinion In which Mr.. Matthews was
held. All social functions were aban-
doned.
Coroner Flock. Of Long Branch. de-
cided to hold an inquest Immediately.
Nr. Matthews automobile was built
by Roget & Schneider. Of Lyons.
France. the carriage part being by
Cerrare Sala. Of Milan. Italy Mr..
Matthews paid about $4,000 for the ma.
chine. II was driven by gasolene and
was Of about sixteen horse power.