The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-27
Lively Smash-U on Hills.
boro Street.
AUTOiSTS INJURED.
MIR. Robt. HoItzmans and Deputy n. H
Croker Have an Exciting Expert
enCe and Narrow Escape
on HiIIsboro Street. Ma
chine Wrecked.

The yeip of n thoroughly frightened
dog, the crash of an automobile into
the curb. two men twirling over each
other in leap-frog antics in the air,
were the rapid incidents of a thrilling
accidentsthat drew a large crowd and
created a deal of temporary excitement
on Hillsboro street late yesterday af-
ternoon.
The two men who somersaulted in
voluntarily into the roadway were
Messrs. Robt. Holtzman, the owner Of
a fast steam run-a-bout and Deputy
Sheriff ii. Ii. Croker. who was his
guest for an afternoon spin.
The dog in the case was Duke.
MI {. 10. Johnson's black setter. who
taking his evenings exercise in the
pleasant diversion of running after the
speeding loco" miscalculated his dis
lance and tangled himself up in The
front wheels.
Mr.. Croker sustained two painful
cuts on the nose and forehead ana
was driven home by DR.. j. r. Roger
who lives near the scene of the acct
dent and was promptly on hand; Mr.
Hoffman received a Slight cut on the
right eye, a sprained arm and various
body bruises; Duke eXtricated him
self from the wreck of the ''devii
wagon" and disappeared precipitately
from public view; and the automobile
was scattered like the contents of a
junk shop for fifteen or twenty yards
up and down the street.
As it appeared to the spectators and
as il felt to the two gentlemen most
concerned the collapse of the auto wa
Il most dramatic sight which lost the
element of tragedy only when it was
discovered that there were no serious
injuries suffered as the result of the
smash.
AS Mr.. Hoffman was rolling slowly
up Fayetteville street early in the az
ternoon he spied Mr. Crocker on the
sidewalk and invited him to join him
in Il ride. AS the latter got in and
the starting lever sent the machine on
its way, he turned beaminSly to Mr.
Holtzman and exclaimed:
wei. I'm glad to- take this ride:
I've always wanted to try an automo
bile, but someway I've never had the
chance before!'
After taxing his guest around the
city and out the long stretch of Hills
b0ro road MIR. Hoffman turned his
machine homeward. When they came
To the broad sweep of Hillsboro street
from the railroad bridge TO the Capitol
Mr.. Hoffman proceeded to ''let he
out a bit" The wheels spun smoothly
over the macadam, the "chuck-chuck'
of escaping steam from the rear came
Mr.. Hoffman gripped the levers ana
stared straight ahead at the road anC
Mr.. Crocker. a broad smile on his
merry face, held on to the side of the
seat with one hand, grasped the brin
of his panama with the other. ana
gasped for very JOY Of motion.
All went we'll until Mcdowell street
had been passed and Mr.. Hoffman
had Just begun TO ease his speed pre-
paratory to taking the curve at Sails.
bury street Just at this juncture il
was that Duke Mr.. {. z. Jofnson's
big. black setter who was lying on the
roadside. woke to the passing of the
auto and. barking ioyfully, ran out into
The street For q few yards he Kept
abreast of the passing vehicle anG
then he attempted to cross IN Ifont
For some reason, his calculations were
at fault the left front wheel hit ano
uasSed over the dogs body. the shoCk
twisted the guiding lever in the chaut-
fer's hands, and, following almost IN.
SANITY on Dukes" yelp of surprise
and pain, came the crash of the ma
chine on the stepping stone III Iront
of Mrs. Dunn's residence.
The rest took up possibly three sec
onds of action, but there was plen y
hapDening. The automobile recolieo
nom the curb. reared UP and pitched
oN-er on it's side. Mr. Hoffman, hi
,rriD oc the lever broken pitched Tor
,-ord to the road and Mr. Crocker, or
the high side described p2rabola
over his companions back. Both hit
tbe road with Vehemence and heaJ
for,y9rI. II was like boys diving over
:, "buck" in Il gymnasium, except that
poacadam formed the point of rest IN
stead of a mattress. Mr.. Crocker slic
oIong on his nose and head with {
Grating sound. Mr.. Hoffman more
borizontaIIy on his arms. breast ana
Iagg The seat of the autorobile flew
Gar out into the road. as did other o.
its internal and external equipment {
crowd gathered quickly, the two meE
scrambled painfully to their feet Nj
crorlkcr TO go under DR. Rogers care.
M, HoltZman to gather I'D the scat
tered remnants of his auto. the wheel"
of which continued for some moments
to revolye with rapid impotence in tho
air.
Mr. Croker bled 2 great deal froni
the two cuts on his face and forehead
and it was at first thought that his
nose had been broken. but DIR. Rogers
stated after examination that this
was not the case.
Mr.. Hoffman last night had his arm,
i'm a sling and stated that he was pret.
~ sore but not hurt badly and tina.
the automobile could be repaired.
Dukes injuries, if any. are UNI
known: he has disappeared.
And that is the tale of how. in lese
than an hour, Mr. Crocller PLAYED tho
game of automobiling from the first
shrinking trial. through the stages 81
familiarity, fascination and delight. f.
the smash at the end-a liberal and :
quick education III the most modern OF
tho schemes of rapid transit!
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BIG LAW CLASS COMING.