The San Francisco call., 1906-09-06
Nox.no o( IL Go,~+.o. I-.I @. Dr.,
lNCWo Vi uC AOulluGS EADOul )dI FRANCISCO Lay
Young ChauffeurMeetsDea
Beneath Wrecked Auto.
Leo c.. Rowley Perishes
When Machine Plunges
Over Bank Into Greek.

OAKLAND. Sept. 5.-Missing the road
In the darkness while driving his pow
erful automobile at a high rate of
speed, Leo C. Rowley, aged IT years.
the son of DR.. NJ. n Rowley of 1907
Alcatraz avenue. Berkeley, drove the
machine over high bank near Alva-
rado into deep creek by the roadside.
meeting instant death beneath the
wreck. which fell upon him, crushing
out his life Rowley was returning
from San Jose with a party OF six
people.
Rowley was a professional chauf-
feur and his machine had been rented
in this city by J. r. Case. Southern
Pacific conductor, residing at $50 Tenth
street. and T. c, Simpton. an engineer
OF sthe North snore Railroad. whose
home Is In San RafaaL
With Case and Simpton at the time
or the accident were Miss Marian Da-
Wis. Miss Anna Davis and Miss Ida
Davis. daughters of Mrs. p. Fl. Davis.
at whose home at s32 Tenth street
Case had been rooming for some
months. Simpton had accompanied
Case to dinner at the Davis home last
night. and 1t was he who suggested
an automobile ride to San Jose. Miss
Marian Davis was deeply cut over the
right eve when she was thrown from
injured
At the time of the accident the party
was returning from San Jose, having
made trip to that city last night
Rowlev had experienced consider
able trouble with his machine on the
return trip and having remeaied the
d1mcuity was running at a high rate
OF speed that the party might reach
Oakland in the shortest possible time.
Without the slightest warning, the big
automobile suddenly swerved from the
road and. going over the bank Of the
creek, plunged downward.
CAUGHT UNDER MACHINE.
The machine in its downward course
tore through a rail fence which guard
ed the bank OF the creek. and, cross
Ing the bottom of the gully. started
up the opposite bank. when It suddenly
overturned. throwing the occupants In
all directions All except the chauf-
feur fell clear of the wrecked auto
as 1t crashed to the bottom OF the
creek. but the latter was caught
squarely under the heavy body OF the
machine. his life being instantly
crushed out.
First aiding the women to reach the
road, Simpton and Case attempted to
raise the heavy machine and free the
body of the chauffeur. but their efforts
were fruitless. and 1t was not until
aid had been summoned from near
| by farmhouse that the body was re-
moved from beneath the crushing
weight of the wrecked auto.
The surviving members of the party.
whose merry trip had ended so disas-
trously, hastened to Centerville. where
| their injuries. which fortunately con-
sisted of nothing more serious than
many cuts and bruises. were dressed
by DR.. Emerson. The party returned
z ~r-se
ing. The remains of Row1ey were re-
moved to the Centerville branch
morgue by Deputy Coroner Francis,
and were later taken to the Oakland
| Morgue Coroner Mehrmann has set
the inquest in the case for a. m.
on Friday.
Rowley was the owner of the ma
chine in which ne met his death this
morning. having been for some time in
partnership with c. r. Cross In the
business of renting automobiles The
machine had recently been purchased
by Dr. Rowley for his son, and the
latter had been using the auto to good
advantage in taking out parties.
News of his sons death was at once
sent to Dr. Rowley by the members of
the party who were with him when he
met his tragic death. and the latter is
heart-broken over the terrible fate of.
his boy. On receiving the news of
Leo's death he at once requested Cor
oner Mehrmann to order the remains
brought to Oakland. No arrangements
for the funeral have as yet been made
NO WARNING OF DANGER.
Just how Rowley missed the road
will probably never be explained. as
none Of those in the auto had the
slightest warning of danger until the
machine plunged from the road down
the bank of the creek. 1t was on the
approach of a bridge about mile and
half south of Alvarado that the ac-
cident happened. the auto completely
missing the bridge which IL was Row
iey's intention to cross 1t was the
attempt of the young chauffeur TO
save the members of the party in his
machine which resulted in his death,
for instead OF leaping from the ma
chine as 1t went over the brink, he
clung to the steering wheel, and was
unable to escape when the auto pitched
over backward as II reached the op-
posite bank of the creek.
Neither Simpton nor Case are able
to give a clear account of the fatal
accident, which occurred so suddenly
that they were hurled from the ma
|chine with their companions without
the slightest warming When they re-
gained their feet after being thrown
from the automobile, the machine was
bottom side up in the bed of the
creek with the body of the chauffeur,
still In death. beneath the wreck Case.
who had fallen con the sandy bank of
the creek. being the least injured mem
Der of the party. at once hurried to
bring help. while Simpton cared for
the women in the party. After the
body of Rowley was released from the
machine the party was taken to Cen
terville in wagon secured at farm
house nearby.
TELLS STORY OF DISASTER.
Case, when seen this afternoon. gave
the following account of the accident
which cost Leo Rowley his life:
we had been to San Jose and were
returning to Oakland. when without
the least warning the machine went
OF the side of the road. over the bank
of the ditch and into the creek below.
was thrown out of the auto as it
swerved from the road. and the others
were thrown out as II went over the
bank. AS soon as I could get on my
feet / ran to help the other members
of the party, whom l found practically
unhurt with the exception OF being
badly shaken up. and somewhat cut
and bruised.
when found that they were all