Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-31
VANDERBILT'S
STEPS0N DIES
IN AUTO Crash
6. WINTHROP SANDS, RELATIVE OF
WILLIAM K, KILLED NEAR
POISSy, FRANCE.
FATHER WAS KILLED AT HUNT,
Machine Strikes with Terrific Force and
Gasoline Tank Exploding
Causes Fire.
CHAUFFEUR IS FATALLY INJURED.

PARIS, July 29.-G. Winthrop Sands,
a stepson of W. X. Vanderbilt. was
killed in frightful automobile accident,
which occurred at ! o'clock this morning,
just outside the grounds of Mr.. Wander
bits beautiful country seat, the chateau
st. Louis de Poissy, twenty miles from
Paris.
Auto Strikes Tree
Mr.. Sands was riding with the chauC-
feur when in some manner which has
not yet been cleared up. the automobile,
which was spinning along at fairly
high rate of speed, left the road and
struck a tree with terrific force. The
ear was overturned and Mr.. Sands and
the chauffeur were pinned under the
wreckage. The gasoline tank probably
exploded as the wreck at once caught
fire.
Chauffeur Badly Hurt.
the chauffeur were eXtricated, but they
the chauffeur wer eXtricated, but they
had been horribly manned and burned.
They were carried into the chateau,
where Mr.. Sands died ut o'clock. The
chauffeur is still alive, but his injuries
probably will prove fatal.
Family Is Distracted
Mr.. Sands mother, Mrs. Vanderbilt,
his stcpfather and his brother were at
the chateau when the accident occurred.
All were overwhelmed with grief. Mrs.
Vanderbilt was almost distracted when
the torn and burned body of her son
was borne indoors. 1t was evident that
he was then past mortal aid and he did
not regain consciousness before his
death.
The members of the family were ap-
prised of the accident by telegraph.
ftaprua w NapIarbiIt OF hin nrH
Harold S. Vanderbilt left here this
morning for London. w. X. Vanderbilt,
Jr.. is at Axle -Baines.
When the car collided with the tree
it turned turtle. Mr.. Sands being
thrown under it and pinned there. The
chauffeur was more fortunate. AL
though he was thrown out as the ma
chine lurched only his feet were caught
under the wreck.
Several workmen who had witnessed
the accident rushed up but as the ma
chine Immediately took fire, they kept
away from it, momentarily expected an
explosion. As this did not occur. the
men finally rushed in and eXtricated the
horribly mutilated body of Mr.. Sands,
literally tearing off his left arm. which
was firmly pinned down by the torn and
twisted machinery of the blazing wreck.
Mr.. Sands left Deauville at $50 this
morning to come to Poissy. The only
other person in the car was the chauf-
feur. Pickings.
Sands at the Wheel
The pace was fast all the way Mr..
Sands was at the wheel. When the ac-
cident occurred the automobile had just
reached the entrance to the chateau
grounds and was going at the rate of
siXty-twO miles an hour. Suddenly q
tire flew off, the machine sWerved, plung-
ing across the road, and struck a tree
with such force that it was completely
wrecked.
1t has been learned that the chauf-
feur was not gravely hurt. His boots
were literally carbonized by the flames,
but an examination proved that the
burns and injuries to his body were
slight.
Auto Total Wreck
Only mass Of twisted iron remains
of the automobile, which was convert
ed racer of 100 horsepower. Mr.. Sands
friends say he was an expert but reck-
less driver.
Mrs. Sands and her two children, the
youngest being only 6 weeks old, are
at the chateau. The Sands family was
expected to move into an apartment
which they had just rented and fitted
up in the Avenue du Bots de BoulOgne.
Conscious Until End.
Contrary TO the first reports it is now
said that Mr.. Sands retained conscious
ness until the end. He suffered terri
BILE torture from his burns and injuries
before death came.