Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-07-19
Tragic Death of MIR. B. w. Bet
tis at Hendersonville, N. c.

happy III tne anIlclpallOn OF a
pleasant vacation in the mountains,
not dreaming that Fate would soon
deal SO cruelty with him, Mr.. B.
w. Belts left his Trenton home
Wednesday morning, July 5th, in
his large touring car, accompanied
by Mr.. S. T. Hughes, Jr., and his
chauffeur. He stopped at Glenn
Springs two days, where Mr.. Hughes
remained, and then went on to
Greenville for a stay of two or
three days. From the latter place
Mr.. Belts went to Hendersonville,
N. G., being driven by his chauffeur.
.& Wednesday evening of last week
Mr.. Bettis attended social gather
ing at a neighboring hotel in Hen
dersonville, taking seven or eight
friends with him In his large car
which was driven by his chauffeur.
Among the friends were Mrs. Bow
man, Of Sumter, and her two daugh-
ters, Misses Lena and Mabel, who
were spending the summer at Hen
dersonville in their mountain home.
The party returned, from the So
cial gathering about 1880, and
on reaching their hotel it was sug-
gested that they take a ride up the
Asheville road. The car being some
what crowded, Mr.. Belts left his
chauffeur at the hotel and took
charge of the car himself. Misses
Lena and Mabel Bowman were on
the front seat with him and their
mother occupied the rear seat with
other friends.
About three miles from Hender-
sonville a curve was reached in the
road and, evidently believing that
he was meeting some one, Mr.. Bet
tbs steered to the right, going not
nearer than two feet of the edge of
the embankment which was about
ten feet high. There was a small
gully or washed place in the road
not sufficiently large to be observed
at night, and when the front wheel
dropped in it, the soft earth on the
outside giving way, the Car turned
turtle down the embankment, bury
ing the occupants beneath it. Mr..
Belts was crushed and instantly
killed by the steering wheel, which
his lifeless form was gripping when
removed. Miss Lena Bowman, to
whom it is reported Mr.. Belts was
engaged to be married, was also
killed. The other occupants, though |
under the heavy car for
IN hour, suffered no very serious in
Jury.
The two bodies were carried to
Mrs. Bowman's cottage, she being
for Mr.. Belts body to
De carried to the hotel. The mother
If the young lady who was killed
Mr.. Belts from any
,ensure or blame. When examined,
he car was in intermediate gear, in
licating that the speed was not high
It the time.
The body was brought to Tren-
on Thursday night and buried in
he family square in Ebenezer ceme-
cry Friday afternoon. The funeral
vas conducted by DR.. w. S. Dor
ct. Of the Belts family there are
My two sisters left, Mrs. Emma
5ettis Mood of Charleston and Miss
Natalie Belts.
On account of his kind and gen.
rous nature, Mr.. Belts made
riends wherever he went. All who
new him held him in very high es-
eem. He was strong, manly, noble
nd true, being utterly devoid of
nat narrow and selfish spirit which
hows no consideration for others.
Ie could never do enough for his
riends, being generous to fault.
he memory of Bub Belts will long
e cherished in many hearts, not {
My in Trenton but in Edgefeld
nd throughout the county.