Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-11
ENGINE CRASHES
INTO OAUTO, KILLS
W. |. HARRISON
INSTANT DEATH IS FATE OF
BUSINESS MAN
FAILS TO SEE DANGER UNTIL
TOO LATE
Prominent Oil Promoter and Former
Newspaper Publisher Loses
Life In Motor Car
Accident
VIZ HILE driving his automobile
wv across the railroad tracks at

w across the railroad tracks dI
w the Monte Vista road crossing,
a quarter of a mile north OF KOS
coe station, yesterday, Wallace l..
Hardison, vice president of the CO.
lumbia Oil Producing company, with
offices in the Tajo building, and for
merly a newspaper publlsner, was
struck by a Southern Pacific light en-
gine, No. 270S, in charge of Engineer .;
f. Taylor and Fireman Purcell, and
killed almost instantly. The body was
mangled and the motor car was reduced
to A. mass of twisted metal and splin-
ters.
The two men composing the crew OF
the engine were the only witnesses to
the accident. According to their re-
port to the chief dispatcher for that
division, the engine was running tWen-
tv miles an hour and was south bound.
Because of the dense underbrush near
the crossing the crew did not see Mr..
Hardison until he had driven his mo-
tor car nearly on the track. The en-
gine was about twenty-five feet away
at the time. Mr. Hardison evidently
was unaware of the approach OF tne
engine and did not realize his danger
until he was directly on the track. He
then attempted TO swerve to one side
and clear the rails, but before he could
do so he was struck. The engineer said
he made every possible effort 10 stop
the engine by applying the emergency
brakes, but the distance was too short.
and he succeeded only in diminishing
the speed of the engine before the col
lision occurred.
Body in Wreckage
The automobile was tossed to one
side of the track a distance of about
twenty feet. Mr.. Hardison was not
thrown from the car, but was found
in the wreckage when the engine was
backed to the scene of the accident.
When Taylor and Purcell reached the
victim Mr.. Hardison was still breath
ing. but died within q few seconds al
ter the arrival OF the crew. The body
was so tangled in the wreckage that
only with the utmost difficulty was IL
extricated.
The glass wind shield of the automo-
bile had been shattered and jagged
piece of glass had cut deep cash in
the forehead of the victim. The skull
was fractured and both legs were
crushed.
The body was left at Roscoe and the
engine proceeded to Burbank, from
which point the coroner was notified.
The latter after ordering Pierce Bros,
undertakers, to send attendants to take
charge of the body, sent deputy to
the scene of the accident.
Mr.. Hardison left his home in South
Pasadena yesterday morning to drive
To his ranch at Monte Vista. He asked
Mrs. Hardison to accompany him, but
owing to another engagement she could
not do so. Later Mrs. Hardison said
yesterday, he telephoned to her from
the garage in Pasadena and asked her
IL she could not arrange to make the
trip, but she decided she could not.
few moments afterward she changed
her plans for the day and telephoned
to the garage to tell Mr.. Hardison she
would go with him, but he had already
started.
He arrived at the ranch shortly after
9 o'clock. and after remaining there an
hour entered his motor car to drive to
San Fernando for some supplies for
the ranch.
obscured by Brush
The brush at the intersection of the
road and the railroad track is dense,
and 1t is not possible to get clear view
of the road or track until directly on
the right of way
It is thought that because of the en-
gine running light and not making
any noise Mr.. Hardison was not aware
of it's approach until he had driven on
the track directly in front of it.
Mr.. Hardison was one of the best
known men in the oil industry of
Southern California He was 55 years
of age and had lived in this state for
nearly twenty years. Ills early llIc
was passed in Pennsylvania, where,
after he grew to manhood, he became
prominent in the business and political
world, and for some time was menu
ber of the legislature of Pennsylvania
Becomes Wealthy
After coming to Los Angeles he en-
gagged extensively In citrus fruit cul-
ture and in the oil business He soon
became wealthy and about ten years
ago purchased the Los Angeles Her
aid, which he controlled for four years.
Mr.. Hardison is survived by his wife
and by one son and two daughters
children of former marriage, The
sson is Guy Hardison and the daugh-
ters are Mrs. Augusta Lemon of Palo
a student at Stanford. Two brothers
and three sisters are living. They are
AL Hardison of Whittier, j. H. Hardi-
son of Geneva, Ind, Mrs. f. w. Col
Inns of Maine, mother of Mrs. Florence
Collins Porter of this >city; Mrs. Ida
Brown of Santa Paula and Mrs. James
Bishop of Santa Paula. Mrs. Hardi-
son is a talented musician and both
she and Mr.. Hardison have been prom
inent socially.
The funeral has not been arranged
but relatives said last night the SER
vices probably would be held Wednes-
day or Thursday. An inquest will be
held tomorrow at the undertaking es-
tablishment of Bresee Brothers.
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