The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-15
Mrs. Oelrichs Receives N0tiflca-
ti0n While Out Drying.
Orders Bodies Embalmed and
Sent to New York.
DETAILS OF ACCIDENT.
Machine Was Making a Speed
Of 60 Miles.
Occupants We're Tossed High In
Air When Crash Came.

New York, Aug. 15.-Mrs. Herman
Oelrichs, elder sister of Charles l. Fair,
was out driving when news reached her
that her brother and his wife had been
killed in an automobile accident in
France, says Herald special from
Newport, r. l.. where the Oelrichs are
spending the summer
On her return to Rosecliffe. her sum-
mer home Mrs. Oelrichs found a cable
message from Paris announcing the
death of her brother and his wife. This
she answered, giving Instructions to
have the bodies embalmed and sent to
New York at once. Later in the after
noon Mrs. oelrichs received a cable
gram from William K. Vanderbilt. who
placed himself at her disposal and who
in all probability will attend to the
duty of sending the bodies of Mr.. and
Mrs. Fair to this country.
A cablegram was received at Newport
early in the day announcing that Mr..
and Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt. Jr.. Mrs.
Oliver H. P. Belmont and her daughter.
the Duchess of Marlborough, had al
ready sailed from England 1t was out
of the question, therefore, that they
had heard anything before their depar-
ture.
Mrs. Oelrichs was preparing to give
dinner of 60 at Rosecliffe Friday night
previous to the entertainment of Mr..
and Mrs. Pembroke Jones. AS soon as
the information of the accident was re-
- y
send out messages recalling the dinner
invitations.
Mrs. Oelrichs was completely prostra-
ted by the news and saw no one.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
The detailed account of the accident
as cabled to this country is as follows:
Mr.. and Mrs. Fair had been staying
at Trouville during racing week. They
had a very fast 45-horsepower auto
mobile which attracted considerable at
tention and with which they were high
ly pleased. Mr.. Fair had been from
Trouville to Paris and back again in
one. day with the machine.
The accident occurred at half past 3
o'clock Thursday afternoon and almost
in front of the Chateau Buisson du Mai.
The Fairs intended to dine and spend
the night in Paris and return to Trou-
Vile for lunch today.
The wife of the gatekfeper of the cha
teau was the only witness of the dis :
aster. She says she noticed a big red
automobile coming along the road at a
tremendous pacet Suddenly something
happened and the heavy machine slid
sideways from the right to the left of
the road for about sixty yards 1t then
dashed up an embankment turned
complete somersault and crashed into
a big elm tree in front Of the gate of
the chateau. The automobile was COM
pletely wrecked. the front axle was
broken and other parts of the machine
were smashed, including the steering
gear. When the automobile turned over
the wife of the gatekeeper says she saw
Mr.. and Mrs. Fair thrown high in the
air and fall with a heavy thud to the
ground. The chauffeur, who was sitting
behind the Fairs, was precipftated into
a ditch.
He staggered to his feet, calling for
help The gatekeeper's wife rushed to
his assistance and aided him in extri-
eating Mr.. and Mrs. Fair, who were
buried beneath the wrecked machine
and in the last throes of death. Both
had sustained CHASTITY injuries and were
almost unrecognizable. Mr.. Fairs head
had been crushed in, while his wife's
skull was split. The chauffeur was ter
ribly affected at the calamity and
seemed bereft of his senses. He threw
himself into a ditch on the opposite side
of the road and rolled about crying,
My poor masters"
M. Borson, owner of the Chateau
Buisson du Mai, was summoned and
after advising the local authorities OF
the accident he ordered the bodies of
Mr.. and Mrs Fair to be carried to the