Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT
THREE OF A PARTY DROWNED In
THE CHICAGO RIVER.
The Machine Was Driven Recklessly
Through an Open Drawbridge-Two
of Occupants Rescued.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The star.
CHICAGO, June 1o.-Harry Moore, a
chauffeur. and Mr.. and Mrs. Jerome G..
kurtzman of an automobile party of five
were drowned when the machine, driven
recklessly. plunged into the river through
the open drawbridge at Rush street. at Sis
tonight. Mrs. c. Runyon, living at the
Lexington Hotel and man, the fifth oc-
cupant of the automobile, were rescued.
The party had been on the North Side at
tending a wedding. They are supposed to
have been returning to; the Lexington Ho-
tel when the accident occurred The bridge
was opened to allow the passage of a
steamer. and the danger lights were out
and the safety chain was drawn. Several
bystanders called out a warning to the
chauffeur. but he paid no attention TO
them. and the machine plunged over and
down thirty feet into the water, with the
occupants clinging to each other and cry
Ing out in terror.
The machine struck the water near the
center pier of the bridge and sank instant
ly. When 1t did so Mr. Moore, the chauf-
feur. still held the handle and Mr.. and
Mrs kurtzman had their arms around
each other. A shout of horror went up
from the crowds which waited on each side
of the river. and when they saw the
plunge the machine turned over.
The bridgeman and others ran down and
rescued Mrs. Runyon and the man, but
were unable to help the others until it
was too late.
Steep Approach to Bridge.
The accident occurred at the north end
of the bridge, where there Is an upward
slope of 200 feet toward the edge of the
draw. This slope Is so steep that it has
not been thought necessary to stretch
chains across the roadway, as is done at
a number of other bridges, where the ap-
proach is on the level.
The occupants of the automobile which
dashed into the river were coming south
in Rush street. close behind another ma
chine. the chauffeur of which, seeing that
the draw was open. slackened speed and
was coming to stop about fifty feet
from the edge of the draw.
Hoops. who was driving the rear ma
chine, thinking to pass ahead, pulled out
to one side. Putting on extra power.
Hoops machine shot toward the open
draw at twenty miles an hour. When
close to the open draw Hoops realized his
danger, and, throwing all his weight on
the steering wheel, attempted to turn the
machine to the left. The machine was too
close to the draw, however.
The automobile turned slightly, and for a
fraction of second hung on the brink.
The tire Of the front wheel ripped off, the
hub broke and the machine dropped into
the river. thirty feet below. AS the ma
chine slipped along the edge of the draw
the women in the automobile screamed, and
all of the occupants rose to their feet, but
had no time in which to make another move
before they were flung into the river, and
after them plunged the heavy machine.
Hoops and Mrs. Runyon fell clear of the
machine, and were taken unconscious from
the river by sailors who were on a wharf
near the bridge. Mrs. Runyon was taken
to the Lexington Hotel in hySterical con-
dition Neither Kurtzman, his wife. nor
Hartley rose to the surface, and it is
thought that they were pinned down by the
machine.