New-York tribune., 1902-08-17
HOW THE FAIRS DIED.
WITNESSES TELL OF THE WRECK OF
THEIR MACHINE.
STORIES OF THE MoToRMAN AND TIL
WIFE OF THE GATEkEEPER
AT THE LODGE.

STORIES OF THE MoToRMAN AND THE
WIFE OF THE GATEKEEPER
AT THE LODGE.
Paris Aug 16-Brotey. the notorn1an Of the
automobile in which Mr.. and Mrs. Charles L.
Fair were killed. returned to Paris this morn
ing. In talk with him, the correspondent OF
The Associated Press gained some further light
on the cause of the accident Brotey said when
we left Trouville Mr.. Fair suffering from
bronchial catarrh He coughed frequently on the
road, and during the fits of coughing his face
was much congested. evidently producing slight
dizziness. He had just been coughing when
noticed that the tire of of the rear wheels
Debated. / realized the danger. and jump
ing to my feet and leaning forward. shouted in
Mr.. Fairs in English: Stop quick. Tire
good.''
Mr.. Fair glanced back, but he did not reply
Apparently he tried to stop. but he must have
made the wrong steering movement, as the
machine swerved across the road and went In
a straight line for tree Mrs. Fair, as she
saw the direction the automobile taking
clasped her husbands shoulders and turned
her face toward with look which said
plainly We LOST The next moment came
the crash, and 1 thrown into field beside
the road and stunned When l recovered
which L did quickly limped to the side of my
chateau gatekeepers wife. extricated the bodies
from the wreck"
Asked if either Mr.. and Mrs. Fair showed
signs of life. Brotey replied:
They both seemed to be dead, but L was in
such a dazed condition from shock and af
fected by the spectacle. that I did not notice
whether either moved or not The gatekeeper's
wife said afterward that Mr.. Fair moved his
foot, and that his wife moved her hand as they
Iox- -
ment. The woman did not say whether Mr..
Fair his wife stirred last"
representative of The Associated Press has
just returned to Paris from the Chateau Buis-
son du Mai, at Evreux where personal in
vestigation into the circumstances surrounding
the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Fair was made.
Nine. Hourde. wife of the gatekeeper Of the
chateau. who was an eyewitness of the dis
aster. made the following statement to him.
When the automobile crashed into the trunk
of the elm tree, l saw the occupants of the car
riage shot into the air to half the height of the
tree. Then they fell with thud 1 screamed
and rushed out from the gateway and across
the road, where / saw the automobile tilted by
the side Of the roadway five yards from the
tree.
At first did not see the victims. but after
ward perceive them at the foot OF the tree.
Mr.. Fair was lying at full length behind ii,
while his wife was against its front. though
sitting huddled, with her head leaning against
the tree. Mr.. Fair apparently was quite dead.
| took his wife's head in my hands and gently
laid the body fiat on the grass She did not give
a sign OF life. The horrible gashes the heads
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Fair upset me. and I back
to the lodge and called my husband. who was
Ill and in bed. to warn the people at the cha
teau. then returned to where the bodies lay.
About this time painter, whom do not know.
came along. I called him, and as he stood look
ing at the corpses, asked him 20 remain there.
as intended 10 go for :he people at the chateau.
He then walked away. saying he had his own
business to attend to and could not wait
he md 1-aa
looking at Mrs. Fair when I the gIoved
fingers Of one hand slowly opening. 1 turned TO
her husband and found his foot moving. as
though the leg was drawing UP. This frightened
me. and 1 ran back 10 the lodge When I re-
turned with nv husband the bodies were mo-
tionless, and never stirred again.
When asked II she could say whether the
movements OF the bodies she described had last
ed longer with Mr.. Fair with his wife. she
replied:
They took place simultaneously. I was too un-
nerved to remain and watch. and ran back TO
the chateau, and when I again saw the bodies
they were still
DR.. Perriquet OF the village Of Pacysur-Eure.
who was summoned to attend Mr. and Mrs.
Fair at the time of the accident. said to the
representative of The Associated Press:
When I reached the spot a quarter of an
hour or so after the accident. both Mr.. and
Mrs Fair were quite dead and I am convinced.
from the nature Of the wounds. that death was
forehead and the fore part of his skull com
pIetely crushed. while the side of his wifes face
and her forehead were battered in, as though
she had received blow from a sledge ham
mer.
Questioned regarding the statement of Nine.
Hourde as to the movements of Mr. Fairs foot
and his wlfes hand. DR. Perrtquet said
I am convinced that at the moment the
movements are alleged to have occurred life was
quite extinct They We're killed instantaneously,
lust like a snail which is crushed beneath q
mans foot.
The collins containing the bodies of Mr.. and
Mrs Fair arrived in Paris at 4 o'clock this
afternoon and were placed in the vault of the
Church of the Madeleine in the presence of
representative of the United States Consulate,
Mr. Ellis, manager of the Hotel Ritz; Brotey.
the motorman. and Mrs. Fairs maid priest
of the church said prayers for the repose or
the souls of the deceased couple
AWAIT CONFIRMATION OF DEATHS.
APPIIC ALTON FOR ADMINISTRATION HELD
OVER UNTIL MONDAY.
IT, - IE