Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-26
5 DEAD, 13 HURT
IN AUTO ANDCAR
CRASHES IN FOG
FATHER, SONS AND DAUGHTERS
KILLED IN WRECK
DEATH TRAIN NTRlKEs TROLLEY,
lNJuFke NINE
Railway crossE Unprotected by
eates,-seIls ,Ny@smen-vIew
Of Tra&sthe gts off by
& II yoiy
fb4yeryigs
.contInaea from pare ono,


Ior her baby which she held clutched
closely to her breast. She declared
she tried to protect the little one when
she saw collision was unavoidable
and never had released her hold.
Mrs. e. o. Wentworth, who with her
husband conducts a general store at
Latin and within few yards of the
scene of the accident, was one OF the
first who reached the side of the dead
and injured. She states the first words
of Mrs. Jacobs were a pitiful cry for
her 6-weeks-old baby, who lay few
feet away with conclusion of the brain
and its right arm broken.
Mrs, Wentworth stated the crowd
which gathered from all quarters about
the wreckage in their excitement OF
the moment, came near trampling on
the dead and injured, and had 1t not
been for the presence of two Degrlmed
Mexicans who picked up the infant
from the wreckage, it would have been
trampled to death in the confusion.
Josephine Solan, the 18-year-old
sweetheart of John Jacobs, after be-
ing taken to her home and under the
influence of home surroundings gradu-
ally recovered from the first shock
sufficiently to tell what she remem-
bered. She said:
"Just before the collision ! remem-
ber that Johnny threw Frank out
of the machine and l screamed, we
are in the middle of the track. After
having said this much she broke down
and cried murmuring over and over
again between sobs, is 1t not aWtul Z
When calm again she spoke of her
first recollections after the disaster:
"The first thing 1 remember was
Johnny calling my name and point
ing to where his father lay soaked
in his own blood" Here she broke
down sobbing over and over again, is
it not awful?" Making a brave efort
to continue she said: II can't under
stand how l was saved when l was
sitting on the lap of Mrs. Jacobs on
the side that the car struck, while
Mamie and Kate, who sat next to us
ON the farther side were the unfortu-
nate ones"
Lucky Man Left Machine
Frank Jacobs also was an occupant
of the automobile, but luckily had
alighted a short distance from the
crossing and was waiting nearby when
the collision occurred He said the
family had been visiting family
named Lacy living in Latin, where
they ate Thanksgiving dinner Inc
autoists were on their way nome Wheh
the accident occurred.
The other two brothers., John ana
peter. were in such a nervous condl-
tion that they were unable TO give
coherent account OF the accident From
their disconnected story 1t is UNDER
stood that one of the brothers was
driving the auto and attempted TO cross
the tracks in front of the car when
the engine failed.
The survivors of the wrecked auto-
mobile declared there was no watch-
man or flagman on duty at the cross
ing and that because of the mlstlhs
rain and owing to the darkness they
msiudged the distance of the car ana
thought they would be able 10 cross
without running any risks.
Watts Car Is Hearse
After the bodies were placed on
stretchers improvised from the wrecked
seats of the automobile inbound Watts
car No. sos was tagged and the dead
and injured placed aboard.
The news of the accident was tele-
phoned to the. chief dispatcher mere
and he ordered the crew of the WATTS
car TO display the special sign ana
to run into Los Angeles WIN iisht "a
way over all other cars.
Several persons volunteered 10 ac-
oonnany the bodies and to care Tor
Mrs Jacobs and her baby. Among
these was Arthur l.. Mckaye, locdi
newsnaper man. He took Off his coat,
..onped If about the torn and bruised
forno Of the infant and held IL on
seat while the car was making rec
ord run to Los Angeles. IN
The ear raced at top speed, and while
within 100 feet of the crossing at sew
enta street and Central avenue MO,
.nr1,,an edward Manley of the special
saw southbound Central avenue car
No 419. in the charge Of Motorman j
n Graham and Conductor j. X. He'll
man. stop to discharge and take on
nassengers. Manley sounded his gong
and blew the whistle repeatedly
Crash on Central Avenue
He was running the special at a high
rate of speed and not until ne notlceu
the Central avenue car start 10 take
the right of way, as is the custom TOT
southbound Central avenue cars which
usually have the right of way over IN
hound Pacific Electric cars at the
seventh street crossing, did he shut Off
the power and apply the brakes. Be
cause of the slippery condition or the
tracks he was unable to bring the
heavy car with its load of dead and IN
iured to a stop, and it slid along the
tracks and crashed into the forward
end of the Central avenue car. The
southbound car was considerably
shaken and swayed to one side at a
dangerous angle.
Tho yellow car was well hlled ana
the messengers were thrown to the
door Women screamed in terror and
the man passengers made frantic ef-
forts to protect them.
Ten Are Injured
Among those who sustained cuts
bruises and who were shaken up gem
erally are William O. Spring, an cleo
+rical contractor of 971 East Forty-first
street, his wife and two small children;
7 FLETCHER. an automobile machinist
and his wife, Mrs. Mary Fletcher of
1237 East Forty-seventh place; e. Gill
Iette of 1856 East Fifty-fifrh street;
John Ferrell, a negro, of 1925 East
Fourteenth street; M. S. Pankhurst,
Thirty-third street and Central avenue,
and Mrs. f. J. Skenks, living on Ham
nell street. Just outside of the city linn
its The last named victim was the
most seriously injured, her back being
sprained and she sustained numerous
bruises and decorations on the face,
hody and arms. She was sent to her
home in an automobile furnished by the
railroad company, while the others
were able to go to their homes with
out assistance.
After the injured had been taken
into the drug store at Seventh street
and Central avenue and attended to- |
the Central avenue car, which had not
been deralled, proceeded on its way.
The crowd which had collected after
the collision then learned of the acci- |
dent at Latin station and made rush