New-York tribune., 1909-07-18
CRASH ENDS "J0Y RIDE
GIRL MAY DIE; HER FIVE
COMPANIONS INJURED.
Car Hts Tree in Long Island Road
and Occupants Pitch Out in
Al Directions.


In the wfnd-up Of a 'Iov ride early yesterday
morning. when q touring car smashed with ter
rife force into tree in the South Country
Road. on the outskirts OF Islip. Long Island,
Miss Alice Ryan. seventeen years old, OF No. 254
East 121d street. was probably fatally injured,
and her five companions. two women and three
men, were more or less seriously hurt.
About o'clock ex-Sherif Frank D. Creauer
OF Kings Countv was driving in his TO his
country place az Isltp, when. AZ a point the
road near St MARKS Episcopal Church. he
the touring car dashine toward him AT a high
rate Of speed. The occupants Of the automobile
seemed to be entirely Indifferent % the fact that
they were bearing down directly upon him and
he started 70 hug the side Of the road. when
tbs oncoming car made q vicious swerve and
shot diagona!ly across 70 the other side
With q lurch the machine smashed into tres,
the collision overturning the car and sending
the occupants flying to the ground Miss Ryan.
who was on the outside of the front seat. struck
the tree, and was tossed over picket fence.
When medical assistance arrived II was found
that she suffering from concussion Of the
brain and serious internal injuries. Her right
leg was torn open from the knee down and her
right arm and face we're mass OF bruises.
OTHERS INJURED.
Miss Florence Lit. eighteen years old, Of No.
II West 13jth street, received injuries Of the
right arm and side and Miss Alice Mitchell. OF
No pa East 106th street, had several bad cuts
and bruises The three men we're more fortu-
nate They are Peter Rooney. of No. 101 State
street, Brooklyn, who the wheel when
the sInash-up occurred. His ankle was injured
and ne was suffering from bruises. as were also
his companions. Norman Phean. Of No. Beach
Hill, Brooklyn. and Joseph g. Gersner. of No.
2o7 Franklin avenue. Brooklyn.
So far the authorities could learn. the
three young women had never met their men
companions until early Yesterday morning. On
Friday night the girls went TO Coney Island.
and while there accepted an invitation from
three young men 10 take a ride down TO Pat
ohogue in taxcab. The party was a merry
one. and it was early yesterday morning when
they started on the return trip from Patchogue
to New York
About eight miles from PatchoSue the gas
oiene gave out and the party alighted. While
they were considering how they would get to
New York. where the young women were en-
ployed as salesVomen IN a department store. the
three BrooiSlyn men came by and offered to
take the girls along The invitation was ac-
cepted. Rooney, who is chauffeur. proceeded.
IL Is said, 10 do stunts with the machine.
shea one OF his companions tried 70 take the
wheel from him. which caused the automobile
TO swerve and run into The tree.
Miss Ryan's injuries were so serious that Cor
oner Savage decided 10 hold the three men. Per-
sons who saw the car pass said II was handled
With great recklessness % the apparent uerri-
ment Of the occupants the young women join
ing IN the laughter Rooney again and again
drove as closely as possible to passing vehicles.
Both Rooney and Gersner are married. As
soon they had received medical assistance
Miss Ryans companions and the three men
showed great reluctance IN disclosing their iden-
tty. The car. which wrecked beyond re-
pair, was Lozer
MISS RYAN's SISTER NOT SURPRISED.
Mrs. John Meehan. sister Of Miss Ryan, said
last night she was not al all surprised at the
news that her sister had been in an automobile
accident. Alice. she said, who is only seventeen
years old. had been going out automobile
rides good deal OF late. and on the objection OF
her family left No. -J4 East 1Z2d street on Fri
day night to go elsewhere 10 live She left no
address. She was employed as a cashier in the
Fourteenth Street Store.
Mrs. Meehan disapproved OF the friendship OF
Alice for Florence Lift. eighteen years old. who
lives with her mother at No. Il West 135th
street. Mrs. Lift said last night that Florence
had left the house on Friday night. saying that
she and two girl friends were going for an auto
mible ride with three young men Of their aC-
quaintanCe.
Miss Mitchell is an orphan, and keeps house
for her uncle, Thomas Weldon, laborer
Neither Mrs. Meehan nor Mr. Weldon had been
informed OF the accident last night. Neither OF
them had ever heard of the three men who were
with the girls
Phelan is q piano player in q Coney Island re-
sort. a checkbook he had shows that he has
considerable money Rooney and Garsner are
chaufeurs. said TO have been in the employ OF
the Brooklyn Interboro Garage Company. which
owned the car that was wrecked Ths three
men were held in $1,000 bail for trial on the
charge of reckless driving Up to a late hour
last night they had failed TO get bondsmen.