New-York tribune., 1908-07-28
TRAIN KILLS 2 In AUTO
WRECK NEAR GLEN HEAD.
General Eddys Daughter and
LLoyd Robinson Hurt.
rBy Telegraph to The tribune. ]

Sea Cliff Long Island, July 2I-Nfss Lydia
Townsend, nineteen years old, OF this town. ana
Frank Smith, q chauffeur. OF East Norwich
were killed. and Miss Beatrice Eddy. nineteen
years old, daughter of Brigad1er General Joan
G. Eddy. of the national guard. who lives at
No BAT Clifton Place, Brooklyn, and Lloyd
Robinson twenty-one years old, son OF Vice
President Charles l. Robinson, of the Guardian
Trust Company Of New York. were injured in
an automobile wreck near Glen Head this after
noon.
The rear of the automobile hit by the
OYSTER Bay express at the Cedar Swamp Road.
half mile north of the Glen Head station
The machine was being driven by Robinson, and
Miss Eddy sat on the front seat with him. Miss
Townsend and the chauffeur were on the rear
seat.
There is a steep hill near Glen Head. and the
railroad rises thirty feet above the road at the
crossing Drivers must throw their power into
the low gear to get over the track at all. and
must be equally prompt in stopping the car the
moment the top is reached. for there begins an
other steep hill Robinson drove the car rap
tdIv to the top but did not see hear the ex-
press then coming at a terrific speed
Apparently the occupants of the car had not
the slightest warning of the danger. The front
of the car had passed the tracks and the
train caught the rear and tossed the machlne
high in the air like a ball.
The engineer, Edward Birchell, threw on the
air brakes. but the train travelled three-quar-
ters of mile beyond Glen Head before it was
stopped.
Miss Townsend and the chauffeur. Frank
Smith, were thrown seventy-fiye feet ahead.
Both died the way 10 Nassau Hospital at
Mineola- Robinson and Miss Eddy were more
fortunate, though they, too. were thrown quite
a distance Robinson's right arm was broken.
and he Is thought TO be injured internally, but
he will probably live
Miss Eddy was cut about the head and face.
but is suffering from fright more than anything
else It is said here that young Robinson and
Miss Eddy are engaged to be married Miss
Townsend who was killed. was known far and
wide In this section and had numerous friends
She lived with her mother near here.
, A local train that followed the express took
the injured to Mineola, and at that point an
ambulance from the hospital was waiting. Miss
Townsend and Smith died in the ambulance a
few minutes before it drove up to the hospital
Neither Robinson nor Miss Eddy in a
condition tonight to give their version of the
wreck, but may appear at the inquest. which
will be held tomorrow
Ralph Peters. president of the Long Island
Railroad. was deeply worried about the accident.
and he was inclined TO lay the blame on young
language. he intimated that Robinson could not
have taken the proper precautions at the cross
ing.
"In every Of this kind" he said. ''the rail-
road is severely arraigned. This may be
exception. do not pretend TO know the entire
story of this accident at the present moment but
there is every indication that the ordinary pre-
caution was not taken. Ninety-nine drivers out
of hundred are mad the moment they get into
a car. They drive like madmen- They
think of danger or consider the laws Of the road
This railroad has spent millions of dollars in
eliminating crossings and for damages. etc.
Anybody who wishes to get at the facts of acct
dents. especially in the of automobiles. will
find that reckless driving is the chief cause