The Washington herald., 1909-03-19

Lieut.. Semmes Read. Z. s. n, sta
toned on the Mayhower. was thrown
from q horse yesterday afternoon and so
seriously injured he may die. he is al
the Naval Hospital, suffering from a
broken back and other injuries Physi-
clans have been unable 10 ascertain the
extent Of his injuries, as he has been IN
a semi-conscious condition since the acci-
lent
Lieut.. Read is twenty-eight years old
and unmarried He IS one OF the most
popular naval officers in social circles in
Washington, and is a personal friend OF
many distinguished men here.
Hired Horses.
Little has been learned Of the cause Of
he accident which resulted in Lieut..
Reads injury. In company with DR..
t'. T. Grayson and Ensign J. S Dowell.
Il the E5ayflower. Lieut.. Read hired three
saddle horses at a livery stable yesterday
afternoon for a ride through Rock Creek
park The party entered the park about
q o'clock and rode about the bride paths
until nearly O'Clock.
When near Pierce's Mil. on a bride
oath. Or. GraysOn ard Ensign Dowell
we're riding 800 yards in advance OF
lieut. Read. The men in advance were
-alking and had no knowledge Of an
accident until a riderless horse gaIloped
asst at fun speed. DR.. Grayson called
10 Ensign Dowell to catch the horse
The physician rode back to find the rider.
lot knowing the animal was the one
.idden by Lieut.. Read.
Turning a bend in the path, Dr.. Cray
son saw the Lieutenant lying face down.
ward on the side OF a clay bank near the
pathway. His knees We're doubled be-
cath him, and the ground near showed
signs Of a struggle.
Ensign DoweH reached the lieutenant
bout the time DR.. Grayson aIighted from
lis horse. and started 10 the assistance
y the PROSTATE man The ensign had
caught the horse after a sharp gallon OF
a few hundred yards. The horses side
and knees showed he had been down.
Found Unconscious.
Dr. Grayson found Lieut.. Read was IN
conscious and In a critical condition. he
csked Ensign DowelI 10 assist him in
carrying the naval officer down the Hill
10 a roadway. where automobiles and
-arTlages were passing. The three horses
we're tied to trees. and the physician and
ensign formed a sort Of chair with their
hands They lifted Lieut.. Read and car
ried him as gently as possible down the
steep embankment.
An automobile owned By c. +. Sehutt.
manager OF the National Hotel, was pass
ing when the men reached the road with
their injured companion The chauffeur
was hailed and stopped his machine.
When informed of the circumstances the
chauffeur readily consented 10 drive 10
the Naval Hospital.
While being lifted into the automobile
Lieut. Read groaned and partly reeov-
cred consciousness. He tried 20 open his
eyes and look arund. murmuring some
thing about the pain in his back. He
lapSed into Inconsistencies almost imIne-
diately.
Make Hurry Run.
A hurry run was made to the hospital.
where physicians We're in readiness 10 re-
ceive the patient. having been notified bv
telephone. A cursory examination showed
Lieut. Read TO be suffering from injuries
which might be fatal He was put under
an anaesthetic and a brief examination
made. It was found that his back had
been broken and the bones pushed against
his lungs.
II is thought the horse stumbled. throw
ing Lieut.. Read TO the ground. and fall
ing on him. At an early hour this morn
ing Lieut. Read was unconscious and in a
critical condition.