The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-25
UNDER AN AUTO.
Hrs. Francis Burton Harrison
Was Crushed to Death.
Four Other Occupants of the
Vehicle We're Injured.
STEERING GEAR BROKE
While Machine Was Going at
High Speed.
The Chauffeur Was Unable to
Exercise Control.
STEERING GEAR BROKE

New York, Nov. 25.-Mrs. Francis
Burton Harrison, wife Of the candidate
for lieutenant governor of New York
at the last election. was killed in an
automobile accident in Long Island
City. Mrs. L. I. Scott. of San Fran
cisco, who was with Mrs. Harrison, re-
ceived internal injuries. Mrs. Har-
rison was formerly Miss Mary Crocker.
Mr.. L. I. Scott of San Francisco and a
chauffeur were also injured, Mr.. Scott
suffering a fractured rib. Charles I.
! Crocker of New Haven, Conn, was
also injured. Mrs. Harrison was a
daughter of Charles Crocker of San
Francisco.
The accident was due to a break in
the steering gear while the automobile
was travelling at rapid speed. The
chauffeur could not control the ma
chine, which after zigzagging from
side to side of the street made a sharp
turn which upset it on the pavement
Mrs. Harrison was pinned under the
heavy car while the other members of
the party were thrown clear from the
machine. Mrs. Harrison lived until
taken from under the machine and to
| Mr.. and Mrs. Scott were able to
| leave the hospital after a short time
and came TO their hotel in this city
/ The party were bound down to Long
Island on a pleasure trip when the ac-
cident occurred. Apparently the only
cause of the accident was the difficulty
with the steering gear.
/ The machine became uncomfortable
on a steep hill on Thompson avenue,
plunged to the road and turned over
Mrs. Harrison's neck was broken.
| Lawrence I. Scott and his wife of San
| Francisco, who were riding with Mrs
Harrison in the automobile, were in
/ jured. Mrs. Scott had a rib broken
and Mr.. Scott was slightly injured.
| Charles 7. Crocker, brother of Mrs.
/ Harrison, and the chauffeur were
slightly hurt Mr.. Harrison is the son
| of Mrs. Burton Harrison, the author.
Mr.. Scott is a son of the late Henry
T. Scott, the San Francisco shipbuild-
/ err He and his wife have been in New
| York on a visit to Mrs Harrison, who
was Miss Mary Crocker. The Crocker
and Scott families have been on terms
of intimacy for years.
Mrs. Harrison and her guests were
! on their way to the HON mestead colony
on Long Island. About half a mile
out from the Queens Court House is
/ the corner of Thompson avenue and
Hulz street. There is a grade at this
point and all automobiles proceed
there at a rapid rate.
When the brow of the hill was
reached the chauffeur shut off the
power and reached for the brake. The
machine suddenly shot toward the
side of the road and the chauffeur dis
covered the steering gear was out of
order. The machine plunged into a
! ditch and turned completely over.
Mrs Scott and the chauffeur were
thrown clear of the wreck.
Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Scott were
pinned under the heavy body of the
car. The chauffeur and Mr.. Scott were
stunned by the force of their fall and
for some minutes lay unable to move
by the roadside. Another automobile
came along in a few minutes and its
occupants undertook the work of res
cue. The car was lifted and Mrs. Har-
rison and Mrs. Scott were taken out of
the wreck. Mrs. Harrison was just
breathing her last. Her neck was
broken.
Mr.. Scott was suffering great pain
from his injured rib and internal in
juries. Mrs. Scott was hysterical from
shock. Mr.. Scott was taken to a
hospital which he was able to leave in
a short time. Mrs. Harrison's body
was taken to the same hospital and
twas kept there pending the arrival OF
her husband.
Word of the accident was teIephOned
to Mr.. Harrison at his office. but he
was not told of his wife's death. He
had left his wife only short time be-
fore and had promised to join her this
afternoon. When he reached the hos
pitaI he was told that she was dead.
The chauffeur said the steering gear
broke and that the car turned over be-
fore he had a chance to apply the
brakes with sufficient force to stop it
He said that Mrs. Harrison was laugh
ing when the machine took the plunge
that caused her death. Mrs. Harrison
was one of three children who divided
the fortune of between S12,OOO,OOC
and $4,000, 900 left by her father.
Shock to San francisco.
San Francisco, Cal, Nov. 25.-Tht
news of the death OF Mrs. Francis
Harrison and the injuries sustained by
Mr.. and Mrs Laurance Scott an6
Charles r. Crocker was received with
deepest regret in this city All were
we'll known and prominently connect
ed. Mrs Harrison is a grandchild oi
Charles Crocker, one of the builder:
of the Central Pacific and Southern
Pacific railroads. She was a multi.
mfllionaie in her own right and one
Of the leaders of society. Mr.. Scot
is q son of the late irving NJ Scott
former president and general manager
/ of the Union iron works. He and hii
wife have their home in Burlfngame
a fashionable suburb of this city. Mr.
Charles F. Cocker is a brothe of Mrs
Harrison. The Crocker estate is valued
at many millions among its properties
being the st. Francis hotel in thii
/ city, the Crocker and Shreve buildinl
and many very valuable pieces of rea
estate located in this city and state.
: Agate in Sailors Earrings.
"Sailors. don't wear earrings as they
used to, said ship chandler. In tn,
past I had jewelry case and sold ear