The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-27

is one OF the I0nClicst parts of the
road. The nearest habitatiOn il
about Il mile away. Ii took him
ABOUT an LOur 10 go there anu
return.
Al the house at which ne sought
aid he was met with absolute refusal
OF any assistance whatever. He de-
parted in disgust.
When he neared the point in the
road where the auto had stalled was
visible horrifying sight.
Shooting up all about the machine
were great tongues OF flame, and by
the light of the fire he saw that
one OF the men was sleeping on the
ground, apparently Needless of what
was going on.
What had become of the others
ne knew not Putting all the speed
he could behind his feet. he rushed
to the scene.
" hen he arrived there he found
three passengers sleeping in the car,
enNeloped in flames. The chauffeur
ana the single passenger found ON
me ground went to work heroically,
LUX II was only after seriously endan-
a 50 n 5 t"C mSe!vcs ana having their
clothes burned in many places that
Gated.
One of the male passengers was
extraordinarily difficult to rescue, as
his foot had in some way become
NouSnt an the meC nanlsm OF the ma
chine. His clothing was already afire
ana the rescuers were in momentary
Tear that they would have TO aban-
don their efforts on account of the
fercenesS of the breeze famed
flames. lie was finally saved, but
only after one of his arms had been
severely burned.
Wearied OF waiting for the return
o. the chauffeur and tired by their
Journey, the passengers had decided TO
4 IA Ion int 81,
Der, little dreaming OF the rude
awakening which was coming to them.
1t was impossible this morning to
Iearn the names of the four Joy Rid
erS who We're the victims Of the har-
a.i0winS experience; inquiry at the Of
elected a refusal to discuss that phase
of the affair.
Evidently no one living in the neigh
oorhood OF the scene of the accident
saw the fire. for no one came to the
rescue. and the four passengers and
the chauueur were compelled to walk
10 West brook Sanitarium, which is To-
Gated about five miles from the spot at
which the accident occurred, and from
mere phone 10 Richmond Tor aid. \
taNlcaD was sent from the local offices
OF the Virginia TaNiCab COMPANY and
about o'clock this morning more
dead than alive, the four Joy Riders
and the chauffeur were brought TO
Richmond. They presented a terrible
sight. Part of their clothing had been
burned OF. The hats OF the two men
had been completely destroyed by tn,
nr9. Tie male passenger who was
burned was SUITE ring eNcruciating pail
and. it is understood, went immediately
TO n physician. How badly his arm
was burned il was impossible to ascer-
tain.
- fault is imputed to the chauffeur
Cr he company for the accident. as il
i> Just one Of that kind OF accidents
which is likely TO happen at any time
when the gasoline tank OF an automo-
bile springs n leak as il did in the
accident on Brook Road
IA the contrary, the chauffeur. to-
gether with the other male passenger.
.howed marked heroism in endanger-
ing themselves to rescue the other
three passengers from the flaming car.
Although not completely recovered
from the excitement of the occurrenc.
Chauffeur White was able to discuss
the details of the accident with con-
siderable calmness. He said that the
automobile was apparently in perfect
order when he took it out from the
garage and that the gasoline tank was
certainly not leaking at that time. In
going over rough places in the county
roads one of the bolts of the tank evil
IDENTIFY was jolted out of place and this
caused some OF the gasoline to be
burning when the car had been shut
off entirely. The engine, he said, had
stopped working completely, for efforts
to crank the machine proved a failure
The loss to the company, which
owned the car. is estimated at about
$4,000. The number of the car was
1854.