The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-29
DITCHED AUTO TO SAVE GIRLS
THREE or THE OCCUPANTS ARE
SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Mrs. william Tod Wilcox Most seriously
Lieut.. sexton. 4. n. ", aud Gerald
DE Mercado Have Fractured I.exs-Ae-
CIdcnt on Torn Up Road In Ba,slde. IL.
Mrs. William Tod Wilcox's right eye was
nearly torn out and she was otherwise
badly cut; Lieut.. Walton X. Sexton Of the
battleship Connecticut. and Gerald De
Mercado OF the firm Of A. 3. Lascelles & Co.
who lives at the Mantle Club, Flushing.
each sustained COMPOUND fractures OF
the legs. and several others were badly
shaken up and injured in an automobile
accident which happened to "A touring car
owned and driven by William Tod Wilcox
OF the \. Osgood Pell Real Estate Com
pany last night as Mr.. Wilcox and his
friends were returning to Flushing from
the Oakland Golf Club.
Mr.. Wilcox. who is an enthusiastic auto
mobilist, invited several friends TO take
luncheon with him yesterday at the Oak
land Golf Club. near Flushing Those who
went were Lieut.. Sexton. Mr. DE Mercado
and Capt Hugh johnson. retired. who has
a summer home at Little Neck. Besides
these there were Mrs. Wilcox and her son.
Montgomery. and the chauffeur John
Gregory.
The trip to the club was made without
incident and the party remained there most
Of the afternoon. starting back for Flushing
late In the day. Mr.. Wilcox drove the car
and the machine was sent along Bell venue
at a fair rate Of speed. Bell avenue il torn
no at present due 20 the laying Of new water
mains and only one side OF the street Is
open for traffic.
Two little girls, the daughters OF Mat
thew 0iConnor and Thomas Burns. were
playing in Bell avenue as the automobile
came into Bayside. Mr.. Wilcox blew his
horn an soon as he saw the children. but
the automobile was almost on top of them
then. There wasn't time to stop the auto
mobile and the only way 10 avoid running
them down was to ditch the machine on
the side of the road.
MIR. Wilcox gave the wheel a quick turn
and the machine shot into the deep ditch
and careened over on two wheels, but did
not upset as the side of the ban held it
from going over. The entire party were
thrown. however.
Mrs. Wilcox. who was seated on the side
of the tonneau nearest the ditch. landed on
her head. The men were piled up on top
of one another. Practically the only one
unhurt We the chauffeur. lie got to his
feet and helped Capt. Johnson to rise as he
seemed also to be unburt. TIL others were
stunned and lay FOR several minutes where
they had fallen.
Meanwhile people who were on their
piazzas and who had seen the accident
went to the rescue Of the party. DIR. Harris
A. Houghton, who lives near by. was n OF
the first TO arrive. Lieut.. Sexton was lying
on the ground and seemed TO he unable TO
move. DR.. Houghton had him removed TO
his house where it was found that his right
leg had been fractured and that he was
suffering from other slight cuts and bruises.
Mr.. DE Mercado was also in pain, and when
an ambulance arrived from Flushing il
was found thai his leg also was broken and
he was taken to the hospital.
Capt. Johnson. who was at first thought
to be unhurt. had three ribs broken and his
head badly cut and accompanied Mr.. DE
Mercado to the hospital. Mr.. Wilcox was
badly shaken up and it il thought that he
received internal injuries, Montgomery
Wilcox was unhurt. The automobile was
practically demolished.
Later last night il was found that Mrs
Wilcox's condition was more serious than
was at first supposed. Known IA n Of
the most beautiful women on Long Island,
it was said that she would be disfgured for
life il she recovered at all. Her right eye
was almost torn out and her face badly
cut. Her condition was = o serious last
night that she was unable to he removed
To the hospital from DIR. Homghton's