New-York tribune., 1907-10-07
KILLED WHILE DRIVING
CllRg' CRASHES INTO TREE.
.futo Used as .4mbN!arcc to Tdkc
Victimy to st. Luke'SA

Tpisrecardine the friendly warning from po-
iice,uan. William Francis CoXford. fifty years
old for two wears patron of the Narragansett
Hotel Broadway and 94th street. started out to
drive I'm a Tilbury cart with his wife yesterday
afternoon riding behind a big. fiery bay horse.
Before they had gone far the animal ran away,
the cart swinging from side to side and finally
crashing into tree At the intersection of Riv-
crside Drive and 9O9th street. Mr. Coxford and
his wife were both thrown out. the former be
ing pitched head foremost into the tree just
ahead His skull was fractured in several
places. He died two hours later at ST. Luke :
hospital
In the collision Mrs. Coxford was tossed to
cle side Of the driveway She was badly
stunned and sustained severe decorations of the
ecar. besides cuts and bruises. At St Luke's
Hospital. % which she was removed. it was said
that she would probably recover.
Harry T Guggenheim. a son Of President 3
r. Ciuggenheim Of the American Smelling and
Refining Company who is a student at Yale
happened To be near when the accident
CURED He promptly turned his automobile
into an ambulance and hurried Mr.. and Mrs
Coxford TO St. Luke's.
Mr. Coxford was Immediately taken to the
operating room and preparations We're made for
IN operation. but the patients condition was so
,precarous that it had TO be abandoned. Mr..
Coxford died about hoYr after reaching the
hospital. Mrs. Coxford Itean time. had been
placed in a private room.
When Mr and Mrs Coxford started out driv-
ing some Of the hotel guests noticed the nervous
action of the big bay and wondered that they
dared TO ride behind him A policeman came
along at the moment the cart was pulling away
from the hotel. and he suggested to Mt- Coxford
that his horse was hardly safe TO dave. But
1Tr- Coxford faughingly replied that he had
driven the horse before and was quite sure that
he could manage him. Then Mr.. Coxford and
his wife drove away.
The big bay first started to run at Tooth street
and Riverside Drive. and after that Mr. Coxford.
though e big and powerful man, could not check
the animal The runaway lodged from side to
side Of the driveway, just missing several teams
coming south, and suddenly, at 1O9th street.
swerved 20 the right Of the road and threw the
cart against a tree.
Frank A Petibar. Of No. 344 West Tod street
and Robert P. Leslie Of No. 954 Sixth avenue
ran to the assistance Of Mr.. Coxford and HIS
wife. Mr.. Guggenhelm. who was passing at
the time, stopped his automobile and in = very
few minutes the had been turned into a
temporary ambulance.
When seen at the Hotel St Regis last night
Mr.. Guggenheim, who was just about 10 start
for New Haven said: "The horse was hign
spirited animal, and when 7 saw him he was
prancing about in a dangerous manner Mr.
Coxford, In trying to subdue him. pulled too
hard on the right rein, and the horse dragged
the carriage suddenly into the tree Mr. Cox
ford was thrown out to the right. aud struck
head first. and Mrs. Coxford was thrown to the
left OF the vehicle. and evidently not hurt
seriously!
Mr.. CoKford was a member OF the Old Guard
He was a dealer in guns. having place OF
business at No 10 Centre street Mrs Coxford
IS about forty years old