The San Francisco call., 1908-08-04
tie valley of sunshine had become a
valley OF death.
HURLED AGAINST TREE

valley OF DEATH
HURLED AGAINST TREE
Thirty-five feet below the upper road
the hurtling car struck a big tree ana
its flight stopped short Every one ol
its seven occupants was hurled from
the machine into the lower road, 10 Ieet
nearer the bottom of the gulch, ana 10
three of them death came instantly.
Mrs Mccormick fell directly in the
center of the road opposite the machine
with the body of her daughter N3ard'
thrown at right angles across he1 own
life dashed from both. Robert . brien'
the infant son Of Mrs. McCorhllcA
married daughter. was thrown through
the air clear across the lower road
sgafnst the brick wall next the Arroyo
creek, his brains being battered out
by the force of the impact.
Miss McCauley and Mrs Ol5rien ieii
within arms distance of each othef'
with little Ira O'Brien close beside ms
mother whose death quickly toiioWed
his own a few hours later at tne nos,
pitai. Miss Ethel Mccormick also lelI
in the roadway below and was naaly
hurt. but the grewsome sight around
her drove thoughts of her own inJur-
les from her mind and she arose, stiil
dazed. stumbling forward TO cry Tor
help.
CRY BRINGS ASSISTANCE
The intensity of terror in The single
cry that had resounded as the macnlne
plunged over the embankment had sum-
rnoned several laborers to the spot and
one hasty glance told the story. IL
showed the smashed machine reStlnS'
stilI upright, against the trunk OF lhe
small bay tree and in the road below
the bodies Of the dead and dying mem
bers Of the outing party. Pitif1l moans
arose from the lips Of the sufferers to
whom quick death had not brought
merciful relief. their physical pain be-
ing heightened by the mental agony
Of the sight about them.
Robert Ford, a gardener Tor henry 1
Scott was the first of the Tescuers 10
arrive at the scene of the accident
and close at his heels came +. l.. say
age. assistant to County Entomologist
r. L. Hunter: Charles Foster, gar
dener and William kettleweu lore-
man gardener for William II. Croker
Ford found Miss Ethel Mccormick,
the only member Of the party not serl-
ously injured, running up and down
the road. almost frantic with misery
and wailing in grief In disjointed sen
tences. broken with sobs, she told what
had happened.
The brakes gave away coming down
the hill I could not hold the machine.
We struck the rock and over we went"
The bodies of the dead were hastily
covered over and a telephone call was
sent 10 San Mateo for Drs. Chidester and
Baker and Deputy Coroner r. G. Nc
Carthy While this was being done the
many willing workers at the scene
were extending what aid they could 10
the injured.
William Hunt and James O'Shea, who
had been touring with party through
the hills back Of the Burlingame club
took Mrs. O'Brien, Miss McCauley and
Ethel Mccormick in their machine and
started at full speed for the Red Cross
guild hospital in SAM Mateo. Monroe
Grant. took Ira O'Brien to the same
hospital in q training cart.
SISTERS REACH SCENE
On the way to San Mateo Hunt and
O'Shea met w. T. Jennings. a retired
businessman Of san Mateo and one Of
the closest friends of the McCormicks,
who took Ethel into his machine. He
had turned about and gone but short
distance with the hysterical girl when
lie met Miss Genevieye and Miss Alma
Mccormick, her two sisters, who had
not accompanied the party which ended
so tragically. The news was broken 10
them by Jennings, and he then took the
three sisters on to their home at 526
A street in san Mateo, where Ethel was
put to bed. her means and screams
piercing the very walls Of the house
with their keenness.
We kept going and going" cried
out the half crazed girl chauffeuse time
and again to those about her. The
foOtbrakes broke; 1 threw in the
emergency; that didn't hold; and then
We plunged-over and over and over"
At the Red Cross guild hospital in San
Mateo Dr.. Wood c. Baker and Dr. Walter
@. Chidester of san Mateo and DR.. John
Galwey Of San Francisco gave every at
r-.flD s~,F7
Ira. and her friend Miss McCauley.
Their efforts were in vain in the case
Of the mother and child, for the latter
died at $3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon
and Mrs. O'Brien an hour later from the
internal injuries which they had re-
ceived. Miss McCauley, who had both
arms broken and was internally in
jured, was resting favorabiy at late
hour last night.
MARKS on ROADWAY
At the scene Of the accident itself
the ground OF the upper road, on which
the machine was travelling after a run
through the environs Of Burlingame in
the morning, told an eloquent story Of
. the tragedy and Of the heroic efforts
Of the girl chauffeur before the final
plunge. A hundred yards up the road
marks Of the dragging tires could be
plainly seen, showing that the car was
DeluS heavily prdheQ as IL new GOWN
the steep grade.
William Hunt and James O'Shea were
among the first on the scene The
former IS a liquor dealer at Third and
Townsend streets, San Francisco, who
lives at Minnie and Grifhths streets in
San Mateo. and was the guest, with his
wife, OF OShea, Mrs. O'Shea and their
son Frank on an automobile tour
through the hills. O'Shea is the cours-
ing park expert. They were near the
scene Of the accident, when r. E. Saw
age came running up to them.
Savage stopped us and said that
there had been an automobile accident
and asked If we would go for doc
tor" said Hunt. From the way he
spoke I did not think it was serious,
but. asking the women to stay in the
car, Mr.. O'Shea and myself got out OF
the machine and went with him. One
look was enough. Never in all my life
have I seen a more awful OF pitiful
spectacle and hope never to do so again
The bodies lay in weltering pools OF
their own blood and the means of the
injured ones added to the ghastliness
Of the scene"
WELL KNOWN FAMILY
The Mccormick family, which has
r. 1,1 In Ant