The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16
BANKER AND PARTY ARE
THROWN FROM AUTO.
Have Narrow Escape From
Falling Over Edge
of Precipice
TWO WOMEN INJURED
Rodolphs Are Hurled to the
Hard Road Above
Russian River

OAKLAND June 15.4Through the
breaking of the drive shaft of their
automobile on a steep grade above the
Russian river, six miles from Clover
dale, Charles T. Rodo1ph, vice president
of the Union savings bank; DR.. George
w. Rodolph, a brother of the banker
and a well known dentist of Oakland:
George w. Rodolph met with an acci-
dent yesterday In which three mem.
bers of the party narrowly escaped
death
Charles Rodolph and his wife were
hurled from the machine to the hard
road, being severely bruised and Mrs.
G.. w. Rodolph. who was also thrown
from the automobile, struck on the
brink of sharp descent to the banks
of the river, $50 feet below. That the
latter was not thrown over the bank
to certain death is declared by the
other members of the party to be
almost a miracle.
To the fact that the automobile was
running at "a speed of less than Is
miles an hour at the time of the acct
dent the members of the parties owe
their escape from death or serious In
jury The machine had just topped
steep grade and started down hill
when, without warning. the shaft
snapped. allowing the broken end to
fall to the ground. In an instant the
steel rod had become jammed beneath
the car, which was raised bodily into
the air.
Charles Rodolph was thrown clear of
the machine, as was his wife, both fall
ing into the road, while Mrs. c. w. Ro-
dolph was hurled from the opposite
side of the auto.
George w. Rodolph was not thrown
from the machine, but was pitched
against the dashboard and his two
daughters. Miss Marian and Helen Ro-
dolph, who were seated in the tonneau
of the car, were thrown clear over the
front seat, both striking the hood over
the engine.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Rodolph were
painfully bruised by striking the hard
road, Mrs. Rodolph sustaining the most
painful injury, being badly bruised
about the head and body. Mrs. George
Rodolph was also painfully bruised
when she struck the side of the ma
chine one of the iron supports of the
top being bent by the impact of her
body When she was thrown forward
out of the car Mrs. Rodolph struck the
back of her husband. who sustained q
severe wrench of the muscles of the
back as result OF breaking his wife's
fall.
Misses Marian. and Helen escaped
scratch as a result of the accident.
Both were thrown clear out of the tom
neau. but the force of their fall was
broken by the front seat.
The automobile. q seven passenger
Rainier car. was badly damaged. But
for the fact that the broken end of the
driving shaft was driven into the
ground, bringing the car to sudden
stop, the consequences OF the mishap
would have been more serious, as the
brakes of the machine had been rem
dered worthless and the car would have
run away down the steep grade.
The Charles Rodolphs returned to
their home, 1906 Fifth avenue, today.
Mrs. Rodolph went under a physicians
care. The George Rodolphs live at 276
East Fourteenth street, but they re-
NAMED at McCrae's, where they were
all taken after the accident. The party
was on its way home from Highland
Springs when, the accident occurred.