Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-23
TRIED TO CROSS AHEAD !
OF ROCKVILLE TROLLEY
Big Limousine Crushed and Victim
Pinned in Wreckage.
GEN. BELLS RIB BROKEN
Chief of Staff Of the Army Also
Suffers From Cuts and Bruises,
Husband Of Mrs. Slocum
Summoned From Gov y
ernors Island.

Maj. Gen. ]. Franklin Bell,
chief of staff, U. S. A., was
severely injured and Mrs. Her
bert ]. Slocum, wife of Mai. Slo-'
cum of the 9TH Cavalry, u. S.
A., and sometime instructor of
the National Guard of the Dis.
trict of Columbia, was almost in
stantly killed in an accident in
Wisconsin avenue this morning,
in which Gen. Bells automobile
was struck and overturned by q
south-bound trolley car of the
Washington and Rockville line.
Gen. Bell received a scalp wound
and bruises and had one rib
broken. The chauffeur, Sergt.
Edward Ward, U. S. Signal
Corps was uninjured.
The collision occurred a short
distance south of the intersection
of Massachusetts, and Wisconsin
avenues, and its force was sufi-
cient to practically demolish tho
automobile. Gen. Bell, who was
on the front seat of the auto with
the chauffeur, was thrown to the
ground. Ward was pinned under
the Car for a moment, but re-
leased himself, and with Gen. Bell
sought Mrs. Slocum.
PINNED IN THE wRECKAaE.
They found her body doubled
under the seat within the imou-
sine body of the automobile. She
was unconscious, and her death
occurred on the trolley car, which
was used as an improvised ambu-
lance, on the way to Georgetown
University Hospital.
The trolley car was we'll on the way
into Georgetown when an automobile.
owned and driven by Benjamin woodruff,
passed. and in MIR. Woodruffs machine
Maj. Bell and Mrs. Slocum, who had not
yet been given up for dead, were rushed
to the hospital. They were met at the
hospital door by corps of surgeons, who
pronounced Mrs. Slocum's life extinct
While the others were waiting instruc.
tions regarding the disposition Of the body
Gen. Bell asked that the car be driven Inn
mediately to his home at the Fort Myes
army post. where his injuries were treat
ed by the post surgeons.
Were on a Pleasure Ride.
Mrs. Slocum, whose husband is a neph.
ew of Mrs. Russell Sage, was visiting her
sister. Mrs. II. L. Green of this city. ana
was Gems Bells guest on a pleasure ride
when the accident occurred.
Because Of the pleasant weather OF the
early spring morning the drive was ex.
tended through the suburbs in the NORTH
west section of the District The route lay
out Massachusetts, avenue and the auto.
mobile had just been turned into WiscoD.
sin avenue when Gen. Bell noticed q
shady by-path leading toward the grounds
Of the Naval Observatory, to the east or
avenue, and he directed his
chauffeur to turn into it. Ward spun his
steering wheel around and the automobile
tracks when the trolley car, approaching
from behind. crashed into it.
The automobile was lifted partly of the
ground, turned partly to the side ana
feet distant. Gen. Bell undoubtedly owes
his escape to the fact that he was riding
outside, SO that he was thrown free OF
the car by the force of the collision. Mrs.
and as 1t was thrown over and crushed
she was pinned in the wreckage. Her
death was due to internal injuries.
The point where the accident occurred
Is about on the line of Garfield street,
but that thoroughfare has not been inn
proved. and 1t is not regular crossing OF
the trolley tracks.
Ward, the chauffeur. stated afterward
that he made the turn across the tracks
upon receiving Gen. Bells
and he did not know that
the trolley car was approaching. He did
not look back to see II the way was clear.
Chauffeur and Carmen Held.
The trolley car was In charge OF Mo-
torman w. ]. Speinbaugh and Conductor
n. J. Norris. Speinbaugh said he had
,ust slowed up for the Massachusetts, =
avenue crossing. and Was not moving
faster than seven miles an hour. when
the automobile was suddenly turned in
front OF him. He jammed on the brakes.