The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-22
AUTO FALLS into A RIVER
FOTR MEN SPILLED FROM THE
RRLiRCLIFF COURSE.

=. u. RyaIls Car, Not = Race Entry, BREAKS
n bridge Guard Rail and Ryall ana
Ills Companions Are Dumped Into a
stream Three Hurt, None seriously
James B. Ryall Of Newark and three
friends Of his who we're riding with him
in a 90 horsepower Matheson automobile
we're thrown into a branch Of the Saw MIL
River when the car smashed through the
bridge over the shallow stream while Ryall
was speeding it over the Briarclih trophy
course in Westchester county just before
5 O'Clock yesterday morning. None OF
them was seriously injured. Ryall's com
panions we're Charles Robertson, a brother
Of Gaorge Robertson, who is to drive the
Panhard car in the race on Frid ay; {. d.
Weed. who is employed by A. q. South
worth, agent for the Matheson, and Robert
Murray. who is connected with the Metro
politan Skating Rink.
The car which Ryall was driving was a
fact machine, built as a candidate for the
American team in the 1875 Vanderbilt cup
race, but which did not finish in the Ameri-
can elimination trial. The machine has
been fitted with a double runabout body,
and Ryall has driven it in a number OF hill
climbing events, endurance tests and beach
and track races since the fall of 1906, as well
as for every day use.
Ryall was making his first trip over the
Briarclih trophy course. His car had not
been entered in the contest, which is sched-
uled for Friday, nor had he been named
as driver for any Of the cars that have been
entered. though there was a possibility
that he would decide to buy the Bianchi
which Percy Owen had entered and drive
il himself, instead Of having Mr.. Ovens
racing driver, Felix Prossen. pilot it, as had
been intended Ryall was on the course
a against the announced wish Of Race Chair
man Robert Lee Morrell. that motorists
who had not entered cars for the Briarclif
contest refrain from speeding over the
course during the practice hours.
Had Ryall been more watchful it il Dos
sible that the mishap would not have oc-
Cured, though the speed at which he APP
peared TO have been travelling undoubtedly
had a great deal to do with the accident.
The bridge is about thirty feet long and is
on a winding. twisting stretch Of the west
side Of the course about two miles north Of
the pOOrhOuse at Eastview.
Ryall approached the bridge from the
south, the bridge being just beyond a sharp
right hand turn. He didn't twist 10 the
right quickly enough and the car, con-
tinuing almost straight ahead, smashed
the frail gaspipe ratings and fell eight or
ten feet below into the shallow stream.
q The heavy machine turned over in the
air as it tumbled OF the bridge and its
occupants we're dumped into the water.
Ryall was thrown onto his damaged left
leg, the knee Of which was kept in a plaster
cast for months from injuries receive d
when he was thrown out Of the same car in
A track race. c. ID. Weed, who had been
sitting on the front seat at Ryalls side,
landed in water deep enough to cover him
but he managed to crawl out. Murray and
Robertson we're thrown out OF the rear
seat. Robertson escaping with nothing
more serious than a scare and a shaking up.
The watersoaked quartet was hurried to
the poorhouse at Eastview, where they
were examined by DR.. Fairchild, who was
summoned from Tarrytown when IL was
found that the p~oorhouse physician was
not in attendance. DR.. Fairchild said
Ryall had sustained a compound fracture
Of his left ankle, Weed had his forehead
badly cut up and one shoulder bruised
and one Of Murray's feet was injured.
The only semDlance OF an ACCIDENT thaJ
happened TO any Of the drivers who are TO
compete in Fridays race occurred when
NJ. @. Bernin ran on the course not far from
the scene Of Ryall's mishap. Bernin was
driving the 35-I5 horsepower Renault
which he will pilot on Friday and ran OF
the road onto soft ground, the starting
crank OF the engine being broken.
There was some discussion yesterday
over a plan TO post officers 10 stop and
arrest Unauthorized speeding drivers in
the practice hours Of to-day and tomorrow.