Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06

into which Wells was initiated, They
had been friends from boyhood both
having been employed in tho same bank
at Burlington Vt. before Rice took up
the study OF medicine. Near the close
OF the meeting DR.. Rice received an
emergency call from a patient, and Wells
volunteered to accompany him.
The call took them to Berkeley, and,
after attending the patient. the two
started for oakland travelling on San
Pablo avenue. n was by this time nearly
two o'clock in the morning.
No accurate version Of the accident
can be obtained, as both victims Of
the collision were rendered Instantly
unconscious, md the trainmen did not
see the accident 1t Is evident. from
the fact that tho brakes on the auto
mobile were found locked, while marks
in the roadway showed where the wheels
had slkidded for nearly fifty feet, that DR.
Rico saw the train crossing San Pablo
avenue and tried to stop.
The train had almost cleared the
street when tho collision occurred. the
automobile striking tho rear end of the
last car. Tho trainmen heard the sound
of an impact, and. thinking that the
there was some other trouble with the
train, brought II to a standstill short
distance from the scene OF the accident,
The nagman, who went out to guard the
roar OF the train, discovered the accident,
and warning was sent to the police, who
| took charge Of the injured mon.
Or Rice was still, seated in the auto
mobile, gripping tho steering wheel, and
breathing family. Wells wos lying half
out of tho automobile. unconscious.
AS soon as news OF tho accident reach
ell the police station word was sent TO
'he Receiving Hospital. and by unusual
coincidence. it was DIR. Itice's watch at
| that institution. lie bcinf; ono of tho hos
| pital staff. Assistant steward Thomas
| Rea telephcncd to Dr. IiCc'a homo In an
offcrt TO call him to attend the injured
| men. their identity being unknown Mt the
! time, and was Informed by Mrs. Rico
| that her husband was out on call. At
! that moment nc was dying in his automo-
bile beside the railroad tracks Both
! Rice and Wells were taken to the Rcceiv-
! ing Hospital, where Or. Rice had him
! self attended many similar cases, having
| for four years been attached to the hos
pital staff AS soon as he was taken into
! the institution it was seen he was be-
yond aid. lie died In about five minutes
after being taken to the hospital. Drs.
! Porter. smith Kane and Clark attended
| the injured men, Wells being this morn
ing transferred to Providence Hospital.
' DR. Rice was resident physician for the
Southern Pacific company. rs we'll as be-
ing attached 10 the Emergency Hospital
staff lie leaves a widow and three-year-
| Old hoy. Mrs. Rice Is Frustrated at the
family home, 2E Twenty-ffth street.
| A graduate of Vermont University, Or.
! Rice came to Oakland about seven years
ngo. A likeable man. and skilled IN his
| profession, he soon attained considerable
prominence in and about Oakland. and
had built up an excellent practice. though
only 81 years old.
Wells is % years old, md his immc-
date relatives NIL live in Vermont. IL
has been In Oakland for several years
AMI lived at the Athens Hotel He was
engn scd to wed Miss Jnre Cooper OF
Alameda. but the engagement was broker
of some months ago.
The train with which tho fatal col
llsion occurred was in charge of Motor
man J. NJ. Mcdonald OF 1916 F'orty-fifti
street and Conductor a. Schoeff Of 1863
Malvn street. They say that the position
of the automobile Immediately after thj
accident showed that it struck the trai,
at right angles, and this is ccrronoratet
by tho police, who exoncratc the train
men from blame. The train was the las
one Of the days service, and was return
Ing TO the pier depot to be housed TO
tho night at the time of the accident
making no stops at any stations el
route.