New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-18
Wi|fred Jay and Charles J. Ross
Victims of Long Island Ex.
press at WeStbury.
CHAUFFEUR JUMPS SAFELY
Lost Head and Warned Passen.
gers Too Late-Large Polo
Crowd Overcome with
Horror.


crashed into q public automobile at
Westbury yesterday afternoon. They
were Wilfred Jay. editor OF the Bit
and Spur" magazine. and Charles J.
Ross. official photographer OF the recent
international polo matches at Meadow
Brook.
Jay was probably dead even before his
body struck a picket fence between the
north and south bound tracks. Ross
who was thrown many feet clear OF the
tracks. was rushed TO the Nassau Hos
pltal. at Mineola. in a private auto
mobile. He died two hours later.
Just before he died Ross regained con-
sciousness He leaped UP on his cot ana
shouted: "My name is Charles J. Ross"
and fell back dead.
Witnesses Of the accident said the
train was travelling at the rate OF at
least fifty miles an hour when II struck
the automobile, which was squarely In
the centre Of the tracks. SO great was
the force Of the collision that the heavy
automobile was lifted high into the air
II landed on the ground
! jay and Ross had taken the Westbury
train from this city. on their way 10 the
polo field at Meadow Brook. On the
same train were hundreds Of persons
going down TO see the match between
picked teams. Almost before the train
reached the station at Westbury. Ross
and Jaw we're on the steps Of the forward
car They were anxious 10 reach the
polo field before the great crush blocked
their way. Ross. in particular, wished
TO get some photographs Of the two
teams in action. and as the train neared
the station he signalled TO John Ban
mister. who had his public automobile
alongside the platform.
Misunderstood Faeman's Signal.
The two men leaped into the machine
and ordered him to drive directly 70
Meadow Brook Bannister turned MS
car in a semi-crcle and headed for the
tracks. the polo grounds being on the
further side OF the railroad crossing.
The train on which Jay and Ross had
been passengers had just drawn out OF
tho station as the automobile reached
the east side OF the crossing. The nag
man on duty at the crossing, Wnich mas
no gates. was waving his flag in warn
tne 70 Bannister, but the chauheur
thought he meant the train which hau
lust passed. and continued on.
When Bannister's machine was almost
! on the tracks he was started py 'ne
roar Of an onccming train. LOOKING up
the track he saw the flying express pear
ing down on him with terrific speed IL
was then that Bannister lost his nerve.
Had he put on full power ana sent MS
car ahead the chances are that all IN
the machine would have escaped. AS II
was however. he sought TO turn his car
around and go back the way ne hao
como He did succeed in yanking the
automobile about until its rear faced the
express. There II stuck. ana bahiiis'ei
became panic stricken
When the train was only rev !arus
avav ne yelled to Ross and Jay 10 jump
for their lives, and leaped TO the TRACKS
himself The two men in the rear or tne
o,,.or,obile were so earnestly engaged IN
ooryersation that they did not see or
bear the EXPRESS. and when they looked
I'm in answer 10 Bannister's warning
or, I, uas 70 see the train almost upon
them They had no time then 10 MAKE
sven a move. -
Tho huge engine hit the automobile
d,roctl,. ,r the rear. hurling IL high In the
air as though Il had been bit OF paper
Rose and jaw were shot from the ma
chine with awful force. their bodies ris-
irg fully fifty feet.
60 great had been the speed OF the
exnress that by the time the bodies OF
tho unfortunate men had descended 10
,bs ground IL was almost a quarter or
mile down the track.
Crowd Impressed by Horror
The accident had happened so quickly
that those on the station PLATFORM did
not fully realize what had occurred TOT
q moment. When they saw the smasheo
automobile and the mangled bodies OF
pnss and Jav. however. women began to
men went white.
Some one telephoned TO Or. George
siliman. who lives near the station, and
he came in his automobile. Seeing that
rav WAS dead he examined Ross. who
was still breathing. and then took him
to the hospital.
Robert Burgess. justice of the peace,
acting as coroner. took charge and had
th,. 5udies sent 10 the morgue.
Charles j. Ross was a photographer
who had specialized in taking action
photographs Of polo. His success during
the last two years had been so remark
able that he was chosen as the official
photographer for the recently decided
international cup matches. Mr.. Ross
had developed an intimate knowledge OF
polo and all that pertained to IT. lie
knew every player and pony at sight
and displayed shrewd knowledge OK
their playing abilities
So thoroughly had he specialized upon
the game that every member of the Eng
lish international team obtained from
him an album de luxe OF the photographs
ne took of the matches. All OF the lead
inc American players-Harry Payne
Whitney Larry Waterbury. Joseph b.
Thomas. n. l.. Herbert. August Belmont.
w. A. Hazard and others-recognized his
artistic success in reproducing the
stirring moments on the polo field. and
hfc "a,