Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-26
AUTOISTS HURLED
OVER CANYON EDGE
EATON AND MRS. LIPPlNC0TT
ARE HURT
city's Machine, Bearing Members Of
Owens River Party on Return
Trip, Falls Over Precl-
pice

Former Mayor Fred Eaton, Mrs. j.
B. Lippincott, wife of Principal AS
sistant Engineer Lippincott of the
aqueduct board, her little son and
Chauffeur Baker were caught under a
city-owned auto in Soledad canyon near
Acton, Cal, late Wednesday night in
returning to Los Angeles from Owens
valley, and Mr.. Eaton was painfully
injured.
The others had remarkable. escapes.
With a mothers presence of mind
Mrs. Lippincott called to her son, ARE
you hurt, Joe?' at the moment she
was making the awful plunge. Mr..
Eaton declares that he heard her
anxious query while he, like the 9TH
ers, was sailing through space down
the sides of the canyon.
Had Other Breakdowns
This auto, a White, the property of
the water department, turned back
from Rickey's ranch as Superintendent
Mulholland was anxious to get back
to the city to look after some business.
Councilman Yonkin, Chauffeur Baker,
who is head of the mechanical depart
ment of the water works and made
the trip by request, were fellow trav-
elers.
The first breakdown at Indian Wells
forced the occupants to walk seven
miles through the desert to hire a
team. Messrs. Mulholland and Yonkin
took a stage to Mojave, then returned
to Los Angeles by rail after a weari-
some experience.
In the meantime Fischer repaired
his machine and got as far as Free
man postoff1ce, where Mrs. Lippincott
and her son were ready to leave. They
had gone north with Mr.. Lippincott,
who was busy with the aquduct work.
AS there was a vacant seat Fred
Eaton, who had been north with Mayor
Harper and had just reached Freeman
in the fast Stoddard-Dayton machine
operated by Chauffeur Silas Christof-
| ferson, conveying Mayor Harper, Coun-
Gilman Dromgold and Enigneer Dock.
weller decided to go ahead In order tC
ease the burdens on the remaining
machines, which were breaking dowr
every hour or two.
Falls Into Canyon
The accident resulted because the
machine' skidded at a new piece OF
road, turning over the canyons edge
In the fall Eaton's leg served as g
buffer for Mrs. Lippincott. The child
fell some distance away and escaped
Baker was only bruised. He crawleC
out with difficulty and managed to veel
the heavy machine so that the i'm
prisoned two could be released.
The ground was wet and soft, which
probably saved the lives and limbs OF
the three adults caught so suddenly.
They made their way to Saugus and
boarded train, while Fischer got tC
the telegraph station from whence he
ordered new machine. He also here
hired a team and arranged to have
temporary repairs made to the crippled
auto.
Other Machines Stranded
The other two machines in the Har-
per party which remained stranded ur
north were the four-cyclinder Tourist
manned by Chauffeur Harry Owen
This is owned by Proprietor Owens OF
the White Star laundry. Superintend-
dent Mulholland rented the machine
for ten days for $4O0 on short notice
from owens, asking that a good Peer
less, 1907, model be furnished. Instead
| the Tourist machine was furnished
| much to the chagrin of the city Of
ficials. 1t was too late to protest then
1t has been a source of trouble and
| caused breakdowns from one end OF
the trip to the other. 1t now stands
crippled at Coyote Holes awaiting the
arrival OF machinist with numerous
| sections of machinery and auto parts.
The other Tourist machine. operated
by Chauffeur Carl Bell, broke down
repeatedly but because of Bells skill
at mechanics he was able to pull her
through as far as Mojave. He tele-
phoned for new tires and fixings and
will probably arrive here tonight OF
Saturday.