The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-10
A Former Birmingham Man
 Meets Death in New York
FAMILY PROMINENT HERE
Big Automobile Belonging to Gage E. TarbelPs Son Was Struck By an Electric Car and Turned
 Over on Occupants.

! ". B. Catchings, as the result of in ! iures sustained in an automobile ac- cident in New York. The accident oe- cured according to accounts, shortly before ? o'clock last Sunday afternoon, and after suffering for four days from his injuries MT. Catchings passed away on Thursday
 Mr Catchings was widely known in Birmingham. having lived here for twelve years prior to his removal with his family to New York city. During the time of his residence here he lived on the corner of Eleventh avenue and Eleventh street and engaged in several lines of business lie was prominently 1 known in lumber circles, being con cerned in large lumber interests in South Alabama. Telegrams announce ing Mr. Catchings' death were received from his daughter, Miss Marjorie Catchings. The news comes as a great shock, and profound sympathy is eX- tended to the family by the many Bir- mingham friends.
 The story of the fatal accident was contained in the New York World of last Mondays issue, as follows
 A huge slx-cylnder racing automo- bile, owned and driven by Swift Tar l bell the -year-old son of Gage E. Tarbell, formerly second vice president of the Equitable Life Assurance socie- 1 ty. was run down and completely wrecked by a sounthbound Third ave- nue surface car at Thirty-sixth street shortly before 9 o'clock Sunday after noon.
 In the machine with young Tarbell were Emmet L. Woodson of No. 629 West One Hundred and Twenty fifth street member of the New York cot ton exchange. and w. Benjamin Catch ings of No. 2 West Eigthy-sixth street, All three were pinned under the wreck age and seriously injured. Tarbell and l Catchings were taken to Bellevue hos pital Woodson was first taken to the hospital and then removed 10 his home, where he is being attended by his fami- ly physician.
 The automobile party started from the Hotel Ansonia about 1 o'clock and were on their way to Garden City, l.. h. where young Tarbel Twas to meet his father. and the party were to discuss a real estate transaction The machine was being driven slowly down the hill on Thirty-sixth street to Third avenue, on the 4ay to InIrty-fourth street ferry.
 The Crash.
 On the trip downtown the men dis cussed the many recent automobile acci- dents. Young Tarbel who is widely known as a careful driver, declared that accidents were largely due to excessive speeding.
 As the automobile started to cross Thlrd avenue a car in charge of Motorman Charles Byers, of No. 1895 Second avenue, came speeding south. It was the first one to pass down for more than an hour, as the result of block uptown, and specta- tors say 1t was travelling nearly thirty miles an hour.
 Just before reaching Thirty-slxth street crossing Byers started to put on the brakes, but, receiving a signal from the conductor to go ahead. he turned on full power Tarbeil made d desperate effort to get out of the cars path by turning sharply down Third avenue. He was too
 
 mobile, turned on it's side and hurled it into an "L' pillar
 The automobile was reduced to a mass of twisted machinery. Tarbell and Catch ings were pinned between the engine of the automobile and the 'L" pillar.
 Pinned In Wreckaee.
 Woodson, wno was sitting in the rear seat. was pinned downward between the frame of the machine and one of the big mud guards The cries of the injured men, none d whom was unconscious, quickly drew1a large crowd, who did their best to extricnte them.
 The crash could be heard for blocks. Captain Byrnes of the East Twenty fifth police station, two blocks away, hurried up with a score of reserves. Fearing the gasoline might, ignite and roast the three men, he sent in a fire alarm and also q hurry call for arnbulanees.
 John White, d real estate operator, who lives at No 15S East Thlrtyhfth street, crawed under the wreckage and gave water to the suffering men. The fremen of Truck T, who soon arrived, got d rope and tried to lift the demolished machine. The first rope broke, but with a second one they raised the automobile sufficient to enable the police to drag out TarbelI and Catchings. Woodson already had been extrlcated. Three ambulances hur- ried the injured men to Bellevue.
 The injuries.
 Young Tarbell was found to be suffering from compound fracture of the left leg, dislocation of the left shoulder and in- ternal injuries Catchings has several broken ribs, possible fracture of the skull, contusons of the right side, burns in the back and scalp wounds. Woodson, who was the least seriously injured ,2had fifteen stitches taken in his chin, received two scalp wounds and possible internal ln- juries.
 Many passengers on the trolley car were thrown from their seats by the collision and badly shaken up. Many who had minor cuts and bruises were treated by the ambulance surgeons.
 The accident drew more than 5oOo per sons and it kept the reserves from two police stations busy handling the throng. Motorman Byers and Conductor John s. Lanclott the latter only 22 years old of No. 1895 Lexington avenue. were arrested and locked up in the East Thlrty-ffth street station on q technical charge of