The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-08-31


accident and there was little surprise that
1t happened, the only wonder being tina;
it did not occur sooner. For long time
automobiles haye gone up and down High
street at rate that was visibly in excess of
the speed limit, but what was everybody s
concern was nobody's business, and no
attempt has been made to enforce the
statute ON the subject.
On Tuesday Charles tanning, manager
of the Burlington auditorium, with three
passengers in his car, came down High
street. AS he passed several points the
remark was made that he was going at
too high rate of speed and that it would
be wonder If he did not have an accident
before he had gone far. One lad, about
ID years of age, called attention to the
way in which Lanning's machine was
going and said "He will have an accident
before long" When the crash came this
boy, who was still watching the automo-
bile, said: II told you 3d."
AS Lanning's machine neared the corner
of Mill and White streets, another auto
mobile, owned by III. G. Valentine, of
Trenton, containing four persons came
up Washington street. tanning, who had
veered to the left side of High street, to
go through White street. he said. struck
the post In front of Childs' store At the
same time the two automobiles came to-
gether with crash that could be heard at
least 500 feet. A crowd soon collected
and it was found that both machines had
been put out of business. John Boss, q
Trenton barber, who was in Valentines
car, was thrown out on the rough stones
and was picked up almost unconscious.
He was taken to Dubell's drug store,
where he was given temporary relief and
was then taken to the hospital, where DIR.
Parsons gave him an examination. He
found that Boss wrist was badly sprained
face. in which it was necessary to take
stitches.
While this was being done those who
were at the scene of the accident were dis
that he was coming along Washington
street at very moderate rate of speed,
and that his chauffeur was inquiring which
road he should take. He was within less
of the street. Just as he reached the
corner he saw Lanning's car coming fast
and he OF once applied the brakes, but the
two cars met within few feet of where
first noticed by the drivers. In substan-
tiation of this some witnesses on Washing
ton street say that the Valentine automo-
bile was going very slowly and was keep
ing close to the right hand curb.
Lanning said he was not going fast,
that the other man was, and to sustain
this idea, called attention to the fact that his
car was struck between the front and rear
wheels. He said If Valentines manshad
have been any collision and that Lanning
could have gone down White street with
out harm to either. One of the men III
his car said he was going that way to get
on his way to New Egypt by way of the
South Pemberton road.
Near the Union bank there was an auto
mobile containing three gentlemen and In
passing this tanning was compelled to
steer from the left side of High street and
when he went by them he was about in
the middle of the street, and not on the
right side as he should haYe been. The
gentlemen referred to, one of whom is an
experienced driver of an automobile, and
who has some idea of speed, says that
Lanning's machine was coming at such a
rapid rate as to cause comment. In fact
that is the testimony of all who saw the
automobile go down High street, and the
possible explanation of the affair is that
the car was going SO fast its driver lost
control of 1t at point where he should
have had it completely in hand. After
talking to many who saw the occurrence
we were not able to find a single person
who did not fix the blame on tanning for
exceeding the speed limit.
ucTt HAS Ueeu bOO much IdSI uTlVlHS
through Mount Holly, especially on Sat-
urday evenings and Sundays. Some
drivers apparently observe the law on
High street between Washington and
Garden streets, but once beyond that limit
they open the engine and let the mac hine
go. Others do not seem to care about
what part of the street they are on. Some
of the owners of automobiles have been
cautioned about the rate of speed they
maintain, but 1t does not seem to have any
effect. 1t would not be bad idea to have
a state detective pay visit to Mount
Holly and take observations, although |
that will not be necessary for few days,
as the recent accident has been noticed by
other drivers and the careful way in which
they pick their way through town is quite