Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-17
LIVES THOUGH HER
NECK is BROKEN
INJURY RESULTS FROM CLOSING
OF BED
Loving Mother Watches ceaseIessly
by the Side of Daughter
Whose Life Hangs
in Balance

Though reputed to be a Christian Sci
enlist, Miss Dawn Macpherson, whose
neck was broken by folding bed, is be-
ing kept alike by expert surgery at the
Good Samaritan hospital.
y Her mother sits by her bed constantly,
hoping that nature will win in the I'M
equal fight, with all odds against the I'M
fortunate 17-year-old girl.
AS by strange impulse mother and
daughter went TO Venice Sunday, return
ing on the street car which ran down and
killed Miss Am Lang near Gramercy
place. The dread sight affected them
both, and neither could sleep soundly.
Shortly after l o'clock Monday morning
the folding bed in which both lay, at 1874
Hill street, closed up clasping them both
so firmly that for fifteen minutes they
were helpless, unable to attract atten-
ton to their frightful dilemma. Their
nervousness from seeing the previous ac-
cident probably caused them to toss and
roll in their sleep.
Finally the mother, who is smaller than
her daughter, got her head out far enough
to Shrek Through the open windows
the cries were heard, bringing help in
few minutes.
Struggles Cause Dislocation
Miss Dawn is considerably taller than
her mother hence she became wedged in
at the head rest, and the fifth section of
the vertebrae was dislocated, probably
in her efforts,to free herself
She could not speak when released but
was paralyzed below the line of the bruise
which was plainly visible on her neck.
AS soon as possible the fair prisoner
was removed to the hospital the delay
in releasing her, even with the assistance
of two strong men, adding to the serious
complications.
x ray photographs were taken at once.
These showed the location of the frac-
ture but did not reveal whether the spinal
cord had been affected seriously. If this
cord is torn, death will probably ensue
in few days, say the surgeons. They
have only the muscular and nerve symp-
toms to guide them at present
Casters Had Been Removed
The bed was heavy one from which
the castors had been removed. This
caused the heavy section of the bed to
tilt over toward the sleepers, especially
when the drop section was lowered.
They had probably neglected to attach
the safety lock, and the heavy section
careened over on them as they lay help
less on the lighter section. The entire
weight of the cumbersome folding. sta
tionary part when it dropped forward,
caught their heads as in wise.
The MacPhersons came here from Salt
Lake City, it is said, year ago. and took
apartments at Hill street four months
ago Mrs Macpherson was anxious to
have her daughter take course in dress
making, and went to this apartment be-
cause it seemed convenient for the pur-
pose. The mother owns property In Salt
Lake City, Los Angeles and Pasadena,
but has been non-communicative regard
ing her business interests and family
She Is Norwegian and her husband
Scotchman. They came to the United
States from Canada.
Mrs W. Tompkins. to whose rare pres
ence of mind the victims probably owe
much. was the first to reach the room or
the MacPhersons. She called to other
occupants of the house for help, The
force of the crash was such that side
rail in the bed was broken, and the two
women who first responded could not
move the bed. Two male neighbors with
pistols in hand rushed upstairs. thinking
burglars caused the scare. They hnally
opened the bed and released the girl.