Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-26
SEIZE STORE GOODS|P|NNED UNDER CAR
District Tax Collectors Un- Miss Margaret Van Tasse Sc
able to Find Stone Bros. verey Hurt.
F STREET PLACE VACATED AUTOMOBILE TURNS OVER
Determine
o Philadelphia. Extent of Injuries.
RIG TRADE IN RUBBER GOODS ENDING
to Have Them Bru-Other
Exchan in
Miss Margaret Van TasseI Sc
vereIy Hurt.
AUTOMOBILE TURNS OVER
Surgeons to Use K Ray to Determine
Extent of Injuries.
SAD ENDING OF PLEASURE RIDE
Three Members of Party Suffer From
Bruises-Other Accidents
in the City.

Not until an N-ray photograph is taken
can il he determined how serious are the
injuries sustained by Miss Margaret Van
TaSsel. the nincteen-y ear-old girl who.
out riding with friends in the big touring
car of Alexander Graham Bell. was
thrown under the car when it turned over
on the road, about one mile south of
Highway bridge. last night. The physi-
clans at Emergency Hospital. to which
institution Miss Van Tassel was taken
last night, will take an X-ray picture
this afternoon.
Her general condition at noon seemed
more favorable TO recovery than there
was reason to hope last night Neverthe-
less. the physiacians are unable to hold
out any positive encouragement until the
N-ray diagnosis establishes how badly
she is hurt
OF the eight in the touring car party
three others, all women. received minor
injuries Miss Mabel Gibson had her lip
severely cut and Mrs. Christine Van
Tassel. mother of Miss Van Tassel, and
Mrs. II. c. GargeS also had their faces
cut and suffered numerous bruises All
went to their homes after receiving treat
ment at the hospital.
This accident was one of three that
occurred to many automobiles last
night. In the second accident John b.
Jacques and his two daughters were all
slightly bruised and scratched when their
auto car skidded and turned over on eth
street northeast, throwing them to the
street.
No one was hurt when an automobile
owned and operated by Harry S. Black
colllded with street car on Florida ave-
nue. northeast.
Out for Christmas Ride.
Chauffeur David c. jackson. EMPLOYED
TO operate the touring car for Mr. Bell,
took his seven friends out for Christ
mas night ride. around Washington and
crossed over into Virginia. The mishap
occurred on the road about one mile
south of the Virginia end of the High
way bridge. Those in the party were:
Miss Margaret Van Tassel of 10 Myrtle
street northeast; Mrs. Christine Van Tas-
sell her mother: II. c. Garges and Mrs.
Mabel Gibson of ts57 B street northeast:
Everett Van Tassel. II years old, and
Frank Dorsey of 227 18th street south
west
hurried to Emergency Hospital when he
learned of the accident to make inquiry
concerning the condition of the injured
persons He said he had not given his
chauffeur permission to take his friends
out for the ride, although the chauffeur
was under the impression that he had re-
ceived such permission.
Early in the evening, il was stated
Jackson went to the Myrtle street adj
dress and got the three members of the
Van Tassel family to take them to the
Garges residence to enjoy a Christmas
call. About IL O'Clock all entered the
automobile for spin around the speed
way.
Jackson afterward suggested a ride into
Virginia. The idea was acceptable and
the party started
Pinned Under the Car.
When going south from Highway
bridge. at spot where the only light on
the road is from distant electric lights
in the railroad yard, the machine swerv-
ed to one side and turned over.
Miss Van Tassel was pinned under the
car, but was soon rescued by the three
men in the party. A passing wagon was
stopped and the driver consented to take
the woman toward the city. Messages
sent by telephone brought the ambulance
from Emergency Hospital and the patrol
wagon from the fourth precinct.
The women were transferred to the
patrol wagon which was first to reach
them, and were hurried to the hospital.
The ambulance followed with the men
of the party as passengers All the physi-
clans on duty were summoned to the
emergency room. where the patients were
given treatment.
Miss Margaret Van TassePs condition
was regarded as serious. Her spine
seemed to have been sprained and 1t was
believed she had sustained internal in
juries besides minor cuts and bruises.
She was at once given treatment and was
subsequently placed in ward.
Mrs. Van Tassel, Mrs. Garges and Miss
Gibson sustained painful injuries. Miss
Gibson's lip was cut The men and the
boy escaped with slight hurts: Miss Van
Tassel was the only one OF the party
"A hoe tt1t
There is high ernbankment near where
the accident happened, it is stated,
ridge to the side of the road preventing
the car from going to the bottom of the
embankment.
Chauffeur Jackson entered a taxicab and
was about to return to the scene OF the
accident TO look after the automobile
when his employer appeared and stopped
him.
jackson Makes Statement.
Chauffeur Jackson offers this expla-
nation of the accident:
Not at any time during the ride" he
declares was the car going at a rate
of speed over twenty-five miles an
hour. and was never travelling on two
wheels At the time of the accident
the car was going on the third speed.
not faster than eighteen miles an hour.
In going through the park L had
driven carefully on account of the fog
when we crossed into Virginia L was
not less cautious. The accident was
caused by the slippery rails on the
crossover at the railroad The car hit
| the rails and swerved. We went on
| ten yards while the car was turning
over. -
II don't know whether Miss Van Tas-
! sci was thrown out or jumped. She had
| plenty OF time to jump. II is my i'm
preston that she did so, as the windows
on her side of the car were not broken.
/ We did not go over an embankment, nor