The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-09
Companions Also Seriously HufI In Automobile Accident
 Near Washington
WERE MAKING TRIP ID
 GRAVE OF WASHINGTON
5arrios Was In Capital on Special Mls. sion From the Guatemalan Govern nent-Machine Turns Turtle,
 Saved Unknown Woman.

Washington, December s-senor Don Juan Barros. Guatemala's minister of foreign affairs, who is in Washington on special mission for his govern ment, was probably fatally injured and Senor pr. Luis Toledo Herrarte Guata- malan minister to the United States. ard Gen. John Drummond, wealthy coffee planter in South America, wereo badly hurt in an automobile accident late today
 The diplomats were riding in heavy touring car when it turned turtle just after passing over the highway bridge into Virginia, the occupants being hurled beneath the car and pinioned under the tonneau. When they were 1 extracted they were apparently uncon- seions and were bleeding freely from 1 face and scalp wounds. George starl- ing. the chauffeur, who was driving the machine at swift speed, escaped with bruises about the head and legs.
 Senor Barrios. who was removed to the Emergency hospital in an ambu- lance with the other three occupants, is suffering from concussion of the brain. and is supposed to have sus- tained a fracture of the skull aside from internal injuries.
 Still Unconscious.
 Late tonight he is still unconscious and physicians say his condition is critical. Dr. Herrarte was badly cut about the face and body but his con dition is not serious. He was re- moved to his apartments in the High lands and will be under special treat ment. General Drummend suffered lacerations of the face and head
 When the accident happened the party was proceeding toward Mount Vernon and Senor Barrios was carrying q massive wreath of evergreens. smilax and green leaves to place on the tomb of Washington, at the special request If President Estrada Cabrera of Guate-
 iiala
 As the automohile left the bridge
 shtch spans the Potomac it was aiss most dusk and the chauffeur started down the turnpike at a rapid pace
 After the car had proceeded about 50 yards it came upon small buggy, | drawn by a spirited horse, and driven by an unknown young woman, fashion | ably dressed. To avoid crashing into the rig, the chauffeur swerved the car l to the right of the roadway. but the front wheels of the speeding car smashed against a slight obstruction, the force of the impact causing the car to turn somersault Passers by lifted the machine off the injured occupants i and sent for an ambulance.
 Had Sum of Money.
 pr. Herrarte regained consciousness on his way to the hospital and suddenly realized that about 5000, some of which was in gold, had dropped from his pock- 1 cts during the accident. The surgeons ! notified the police, who went to the scene 1 and recovered nearly 5000 of the money 1 small crowd attracted by the acci- | dent, had entirely dispersed when the po- | lice arrived.
 | Efforts to identify the young woman. | who the police say became confused at | the sight of the automobile and failed 1 to turn out of the way, thus far have 1 been unsuccessful.
 l The chauffeur stated tonight that the accident was practically unavoidable He was driving his car at great speed, he 1 said, in order to reach Mount Vernon | before dusk
 The news of the accident spread rapidly l through the diplomatic corps, and soon messages of inquiry began pouring into the hospital to which the victims of the accident had been taken On Special Mission. ! Senor Barros. accompanied by his sec { retary, Senor Francisco Sanchez Latour has been in Washington short time on a special mission to thank the Pres | ident for various acts of cordiaity ex- pressed by ls government toward Guat- emala.
 Minister Herrarte was one of the most popular members of the Latin-American diplomatic corps al Washington. He has been an enthusiastic student of affairs pertaining to the development of good relations between the United States and Central America, and was a prominent figure in the Central American peace conference last winter. He anne to Washington in March. 1907 The Guatemalan legation tonight ca- bled to President Cabrera of that coun- try an official report of the accident announcing tbe critical condition of Senor Bafrios.
 General Drummond, one of those in- l jured. is 90 years old. Guatemalan, but formerly resident of Alabama. It was at first thought that a large amount of the money the minister had in his possession had been lost, but when he was taken to the hospital one of the nurses found I've money in his pockets. It was mainly( (iuatemalan currency.
 Senor Barri@ vas reported at a late hour tonight | De improving and to be resting as con rtably as possible. His chances for I'd Very are brighter thap at any time sin the accident.