Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-23

wreCkage.
News Causes Excitement
at War Department
The earliest reports of the occurrence
reached the War Department from the
telegraph operator at Fort Myer. They
told Of the death Of Mrs. Slocum and the
injury Of Gen. Bell and at first located
the scene of the accident at the Great
Falls railroad crossing near the army
post. Later reports referred to the Ten
leytown road as the scene of the accident.
There was considerable confusion among
the officials and friends of the parties
until the matter was Strengthened out.
Secretary Dickinson got his first IN
for nation OF the accident through Gsn.
Bel himself When Gen. Bell reached
he Fort M!er hospital he immediately
~cnt TO the telephone and called up his
office in the War Department. Mr.
ed the call. Gen. Bell told him the es-
sential features Of the accident and
instructed him to inform Secretary
Dickinson. Gen. Bell said that he mad
been badly shaken up, but was not serI.
Ously injured.
Later in the morning full details Of the
accident were telephoned to the War De-
partment by Capt. Johnson Hagood of the
General Staff Corps. who is Gen. Bells
military secretary. who went to him at
the Fort Myer Hospital as soon as he
heard what had happened. His state
ments corroborated those obtained by The
Star from the police and other sources.
He said Gen. Bells limousine was struck
by a trolley car on Wisconsin avenue,
near Garfield street. and that Mrs. Slocum
was fatally injured and Gen. Bell badly
shaken up The two we're placed on a
car and hurried to the Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital but Mrs Slocum died
before reaching there.
She and Gen. Bell were Immediately
| carried to Fort Myer. An examination
of Gen. Bell showed that one rib was
broken, his scalp lacerated and that he
had received a bad shock That his con-
dition was not critical was shown by
the fact that he was able to leave the
hospital and go to his own quarters at
the post. where he was put to bed and
made as comfortable az possible
At his request Capt Mahood teiephoned
to Secretary Dickinson at the War De-
partment that Gen. Bell had been badly
shaken up, but was not seriously injured,
and that there was no use in the Secre-
tary's hurrying over to see him, as ne
was getting along nicely. The message
was in response to information that the
Secretary had said he would go over to
Fort Myer as soon as his car was ready
Mourn Mrs. Slocum's Death.
Universal regret was expressed in army
circles at the death Of Mrs. Slocum, who,
It seems, was one Of the most popular
women In the service. and was highly
esteemed for her lovable character and
many virtues. She was the daughter Of
DR.. Benjamin B. Brandreth OF Ossining.
n. Y, and married Maj. Herbert ]. Slo-
cum. It'll Z: s. Cavalry. about TWEEN
grown sons-Jermane slocum. who is
with his father at Governors Is
land: n: Y. and Theodore. or
Teddy, Slocum, who is q student at
Princeton University. Mrs. slocum was
in this city to visit her sister. Mrs.
Greene. widow Of Commander Greene of
the navy. who has apartments at the
Wyoming.
property near Wisconsin avenue which
she desired to purchase, and 1t was to
look 1t over that Gen. Bell took her out
in his automobile this morning. Mrs.
Bell and Mrs. Darlington, wife4 of In
spector General Darlington, were among
Mrs. Slocum's most intimate friends in
this city. Mrs. Darlington was on her
way to visit Mrs. Slocum when she heard
Of her death and went to Fort Myer at
once and Joined Mrs Bell in doing all
that could be done under the circum-
Maj. slocum is inspector general on the
staff Of Gen. Wood, Wi-li 81 tion on row
ernors Island. N. p Fl. was mott .el
of his wife's sudden CCath and is ey-
ected to arrive here this evening to
make TIE necessary funeral arrange
ments. Mai. Socum Is from Ohio, and
was graduated at the United States Mill
tary Academy in June, 1876. He Is a
NJ phew OF Mrs. Russell Gage.
Gen. Bells Social Popularity.
Gen. and Mrs. J. Franklin Bell from
the time they came to this city have
stood out prominently in the line of en-
tertainers, and have been themselves
widely sought on all sides. Their social
career has been g. most interesting one.
Their first residence was at the High
lands, where their apartment. adorned
with the souvenirs OF travel and of their
life in the Philippines, became one of-the
most notable Of social centers. Since TAX
ing I'D quarters at Fort Myer. their home,
with greater space it afforded and the
military environment Of the station, was
additionally charming to their wide circle
Of friends. Their Inequalities were con-
Quoted on q large scale. and often took
the form Of buffet breakfast Or luncheon
parties. to which hundred or more
guests were asked. These often preceded
the drills, which have become associated
In the public mind as the important
feature Of life at the post This past
winter. owing to the deaths OF Mrs. Bell 8
father and mother, she withdrew entirely
from society.
Mr. and Mrs. Taft have been the guests
overnight Of Gen. and Mrs. Bell at Fort
Myer several times while the former was