The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-15
TWO KILLED BY AUTO
MIR. AND MRS. CHARLES FAIR MEET
SUDDEN DEATH.
CHAUFFEUR WENT INSANE.
HURsT TIRE CAUSED TERRIBLE
TRAGEDY.

We're Returning From Races at
TrOuviIIe to Paris at High Rate
of speed, the Machine Being OF
Very High Power-Bursting of Tire
Caused 1t to Swerve Suddenly and
Crash Into Tree With Imme diately
Fatal Results to BOth-Mr. Fair a
Son of the Late Senator and His
Wife n Sister of Mrs. w. X. VAN
derbiIt, Jr.
Evreux, France, Aug. 14-Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Fair, Americans, who
were related to Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt,
Jr.. were returning to Paris from
Trouville to-day, when their automo-
bile swerved and crashed into a tree,
fifteen miles from here. Both were
killed. The chauffeur became insane
as a consequence of the shock.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fair had been staying
at Trouville during racing week. They
had a very fast forty-five- horse-power
automobile, which attracted consider
able attention, and with which they
were highly pleased. Mr.. Fair had been
from Trouville to Paris and back in
one day on the machine.
The bodies of Mr.. and Mrs. Fair were
taken to the Chateau Buison du Mai.
The accident occurred at 2:30 o'clock
this 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 tomorrow.
The wife of the gatekeeper of the
chateau was, the only witness of the
disaster. She says she noticed a big
red automobile coming along the road
at tremendous pace. Suddenly some
thing happened and the heavy ma
chine slid sideways from the right to
the left side of the road, for about
sixty yards. 1t then dashed up an en-
bankment, turned a complete somer-
sault and crashed into a big elm
tree in front of the gate of the cha
teau The automobile was complete
~ wrecked. the front axle was broken
and other parts of the machine were
smashed, including the steering gear.
Occupants Thrown in Air.
When the automobile turned over,
the wife of the gatekeeper says she
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Fair thrown high
to the ground The chauffeur, who
was sitting behind the Fairs, was pre-
ctpitated into a ditch. - He staggered
to his feet called for help. The gate
keepers wife rushed to his assistance
and aided him in extricating 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 un-
recognizable. Mr.. Fairs head had been
crushed in, while his wife's skull was
split The chauffeur was terribly up
set 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
masterl"
NJ Borson, owner of the Chateau
Buison 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 gatekeeper's lodge. Here they now
lie on mattresses, and flowers have
been streWn over them. In the room
are three wax tapers burning dimly.
At Sixty-tSo Miles an Hour.
The accident was evidently due to
the bursting of a tire. At the time it
occurred the automobile, which was
capable of running seventy-four miles
an hour, was going at the rate OF six
ty-two miles an hour.
The local police authorities hold in
their possession and have sealed up a
valise belonging to the Fairs, which
contains jewelry, two letters of credit,
a French bank note worth 5000 and
some gold coins.