Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-23

One dead, two seriously and perhaps
fatally injured, and five hurt; this, in
brief, Is the story of a collision yester-
day afternoon at Azusa between
stage from the San Gabriel valley and
the Overland train on the Santa Fe
railroad. The accidsnt resulted from an
error on the part of the stage driver,
Walter Lovelace. who mistook the
Overland for a local and, thinking 1t
would stop at the station near by, at
tempted to cross the track in front of
It, The train. however. did not slow
down.
At full speed it continued its course
and when the driver realized his peril
1t was too late. He attempted to turn
his team, but the animals themselves
becoming frightened only half turned
and ran down the track. AS the en-
gine was almost upon him Lovelace
made a last effort to control the terri
fed mules and so far succeeded that the
pilot of the engine, instead of striking
the vehicle squarely, only caught the
rear wheel This, however, was enough.
The stage was hurled into the air for
distance of twenty feet, it's occupants
being thrown in all directions and the
vehicle demolished.
Mrs. Lillian Rhoden of 70 West Wal
nut street, Pasadena, was killed in
stantly, her neck being dislocated. Mrs.
Rhoden was the widow of the late d.
Rhoden, and the mother of Miss Leta
Rhoden, who was herself hurt. With
her daughter, who is employed as a
stenographer in the office of Judge
Wood, the city attorney of Pasadena,
and Norman Kay, to whom Miss Rho
den is engaged to be married, she had
gone to Fellows camp in the valley
two weeks ago for an outing Their
vacation at an end they prepared to
return home and were on their way
when death overlook the mother.
Buffeted by Cruel Fate
Miss Rhoden, now under a physician s
care, seems to have incurred Fate's $
enmity First death claimed her father.
Two months ago she herself nearly
Succumbed to an attack of appendicitis,
which followed close after another Sc
rious illness, and now her mother has
been taken from her. The young wo-
man is 20 years of age.
Mrs. J. S. Hunt of Santa Monica was
so seriously hurt that her recovery is
doubtful. She is injured internally and
suffered three hemorrhages between
the time of the accident and the ar
rival at the Santa F'e hospital in this
city, where the more seriously hurt
were brought on the very train that
caused their injuries.
Charles Robb of Fullerton, whose
home Is in the oil district on the Hall
lease, also is badly hurt and his re-
coVery is problematical. His condition
last night persuaded the physicians
that 1t would be better not to attempt
to learn the full extent of his injuries.
Mrs. Robb escaped with only minor
injuries, despite the fact that she gave
no thought to herself, but devoted all
her energies to preserving her 15-
months-old baby from harm. In this
she was successful, the little one es-
Gaping without a scratch.
Kay Escaped by Jumping
Walter Lovelace, driver of the stage,
sustained several bad scratches and
bruises, but was not severely hurt.
the stage before the engine struck 1t
and escaped practically uninjured.
Mrs. Rhoden's body was taken to an
undertaking esta blishment at Azusa
and the injured were brought to Los
Angeles, Miss Rhoden and Kay sub
sequently returning to Pasadena.
The stage, the regular vehicle operat-
ed between Fellows camp In the San
Gabriel valley and Azusa, was demol-
ished, but the four animals, three
mules and a horse. escaped unhurt,
having crossed the track before the
engine struck the stage.