Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-19
HAS A NARROW ESCAPE
RUNAWAY CAR JUST MISSES
MRS. LoNawoRTH's CARRIAGE.

A dispatch from Marietta. Ohio. says Mrs.
Nicholas Longworth, daughter OF President
Roosevelt was the chief figure of general
interest In historic ceremonial here today,
and was also witness to a tragedy from
which she barely escaped without meeting
death or serious injury.
The occasion was the unwilling of a tab
let concentrating the first permanent set
Element in the old northwest territory" on
the campus of Marietta College. AS the
parade that was escorting to the campus
in a drizzling rain Vice President Fair
banks, Representative Longworth and his
wife. Gov. Andrew L. Harris and other
distinguished visitors approached the col
lege the route lay across trolley tracks
leading down a steep grade.
Longworths Nearly Run Down.
The carriage containing Representatives
Longworth and Dawes and their wives was
about to cross the tracks when a trolley
car, of which the motorman had lost con-
troll by reason of broken brake, dashed
down the hill upon them. The driver of the
carriage, warned by cries of horror of the
danger, gave a quick lash of his whip to
both of his horses. Stung by the lash, the
animals suddenly Jumped forward. clearing
the huge car by a few inches and carrying
the occupants of the carriage to safety.
Chief of Police j. II. Dye, who ran from
the rear to catch the team, struck by
the car and rolled under its wheels, sus-
tanning injuries from which he will no
doubt die.
In the line of march, alongside the car
riage and behind it with the chief of police.
were some veterans of the civil war and
other aged citizens. The car knocked down
a dozen of these, so badly injuring William
Devol, Richard Beebe and Henry Wendle-
ken, war veterans, that they are not ex-
pected to live. John Amose of Dayton. an
other old soldier; Dr. Warren Riley, Peter
Mosier and Wesler Mickle were also badly
hurt.
In the carriage next after that containing
the Longworths was Gov. Harris. The
horses attached to it became panic-stricken
and would have dashed directly In front
Of the car had they not been driven back
by the men who were caught and sacrificed.
Vice Presidents Close Call.
Vice President Fairbanks carriage was in
front of that occupied by the Longworths
and, with the others bearing guests and
citizens proceeded through the line of 49,
600 people to the campus. The fact that an
accident had taken place did not become
generally known until after the tablet had
been unveiled.
When the car started down the grade the
motorman rang the gong and yelled for a
clear way, but the marcherS could not es-
cape, as one side Of the street was filled
with the building material of a church,
while closely packed throng lined the
other side
Mrs. Longworth and Mrs. Dawes bore
themselves with calmness throughout the
ordeal, and were deeply affected when in
formed of the injuries sustained by the pa
triotic citizens who had been at the wheels
of their carriage.
The commemorative tablet was unveiled
before an assemblage of people from all
over the country, and under the auspices of
the Ohio Society. Whiteaw Reid is the
president of the Ohio company, which, al
though organized in 11S6, was not incor
porated until 1902 Homer Lee of New
York, as first vice president Of the society,
made the formal presentation of the tablet,
the president being unable to be present be-
cause of his duties ambassador of the
United States to Great Britain. Mayor
Leeper of Marietta and President Perry of
Marietta College represented the city and
college in accepting the tablet. Gov. Har-
ris and Vice President c. w. Fairbanks
spoke. The historical address was by Prof.
Albert Bushnell Hart Of Harvard Univer-
sity.
At the conclusion Of the speech Of presen-
tation, Mrs. Longworth drew away a flag
that covered the memorial.
After the ceremonies at the college Repre-
sentative Longworth and wife witnessed the
West Virginia and Marietta foot ball game,
where the Presidents daughter sat with
the coachman on the front seat wearing
Marietta's eolors.