Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-08-05
DISTRESSING ACCIDENT
TO AUTOMOBILE PARTY


w. 6. Moffett, D. L. Porter
and L.. Bowman all injured
Mr.. Moffett Perhaps Fatally
A damper was put on automobile
enthusiasm yesterday morning upon
receipt of the news that Mr.. Daniel
L. Porter's new car was total wreck
just south of Harrisonburg and that
Mr.. w. G. Moffett, Mr.. L L. Bow
man and Mr.. Porter were badly in
jured, the former perhaps fatally.
The accident occurred about 8
miles south of Harrisonburg at 1880
Friday morning as the party was re-
turning to STAUNTON. Mr.. Lee
Jones, chaffeur in the employ of
Mr. R. D. Apperson of Lynchburg,
was in charge of the machine, which
he says was only running at between
fifteen and twenty miles an hour. He
does not know whether the casing of
the rear tire on the left wheel came
off or what happened but the rear OF
the machine skiudded sharply to the
left, striking telephone pole, snap
ping it off like match about ten feet
from the ground, and practically
breaking the machine half in two.
From the shock of the impact, Mr..
Porter who was on the left front seat
was thrown ont of the car inf1icting
several bad bruises and breaking two
ribs. He is now in Harrrisonburg at
a hotel resting as comfortably as pos
sible under the circumstances. Inn
mediately behind Mr.. Porter sat Mr..
W. Z. Moffett, the popular represen-
tative of New Market lumber con-
Germ and we'll known in STAUNTON,
who received the full force OF the
collision and who is now at the Au-
gusta Sanatorlum in CRITICAL con-
dition. The car struck the post a
swinging blow which demolished the
entire left side from the front seat
back. Mr. Moffett was caught either
by the front seat or the tonneau door
shautering his left leg below the
knee and otherwise badly bruising and
cutting him. Mr.. L. L. Bowman, who
was seated on Mr.. Moffetts right, was
thrown violently out of the car, sus-
tanning sprained ankle, an ugly cash
above the left eye and other cuts
about the face and head. MI. Lee
Jones, the chauffeur, was the only oc-
cupant of the Car who escaped unhurt.
He did not so much as receive q
scratch and he says felt very little jar.
He picked up Mr.. Porter first, then
went to Mr.. Bowman aid. Just al
that time Mr.. J. L. Baugher, who had
left Harrisonburg only few min
utes behind the unfortunate party ar
rived in his automobile. HI
took the injured back to Harrison
burg, summoned physicians did every
thing for them that was possible
And when it was later de
cided to bring Mr.. Moffett bacl
to STAUNTON the offer of the use O
his machine was accepted. DR.. Fire
baugh of Harrisonburg attend
ed the injured men and &C
companied Mr.. Moffett here
Mr.. Baugher made the trip in recor
time, arriving at the Augusta Sana
torium at about three O'Clock in tn
morning. Up to- the time he reache
here, Mr.. Moffett was in full possess
ion Of his senses and at the time MI
| Baugher reached the scene of the &C
eident, was the most rational membe
of the party in spite of the fact ths
he was the most painfully injured.
The car was the 4O-60 Palmer -Singe
which has attracted so much attentio
here in the past few days, owing
it's yellow color, powerful appearance
and novel contour. 1t is car ths
Mr.. W. B. Miller, nephew of Mr.. F
D. Apperson, had been using in Texs
and Oklahoma for demonstrating pu1
poses and which, it is understood, Nj
Porter recently purchased. The ca
is not too badly. damaged to be repair
ed. The front part, containing tt
powerful six cylinder engine, is pra'
tically unhurt and the damage dor
to the rest of the machine is covere
by insurance. Mr.. Jones the chau
feur was thoroughly familiar with Il
car and is considered an expert in Il
handling of automobiles. The gen er
impression is, though, that the car mu
have been making considerably fast
time than 20 miles an hour to splint
a large telephone pole half way
the top; in the manner that this pol
is shattered. The accident is explai
ed by Mr.. G. P. Bowman, who has visit
the scene, thus; In rounding a cur
the car got off the pike proper and Il
wheels skidded into the side ditc
The grass offered no catch for t
wheels which continued to skid as
heavy wagon in crossing street C
track, thus side-swiping the pos
could the wheels have caught the c
would have righted and come up O
Of the ditch As it was, it did not.
AT a late hour last night M
Moffett s condition remained unchan
ed SO the physicians decided not
orerate. Mr.. Moffett has never ralli
from the shock and grave fears
i. entertained for his life. His sist
Miss Myra Moffett, Of New Mari
and brother, Mr.. ]. S. Moffett
Woodstock, have reached the city