The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-30
Body of James Genereau,
Killed in Auto Accident,
Taken to Montreal
CAR WENT OFF BANK
IN EAST MONTPELIER
Genereau's Skull Crushed,
Probably by Steering
Wheel

From Heaton hospital in Montpelier
came information this morning that the
patients there who were injured in the
automobile accident in East Montpelier
Yesterday afternoon when James Gener-
eau, chauffeur, of Woodlands, p. O., was
killed, had passed fairly comfortable
night and have favorable chances for
recovery. The two most seriously in
iured when the car went over the bank
were Mrs w. ID. Ross of Woodlands, I. O.,
and James Van Wagenen OF New York
City, who with Mrs Van Wagenen was
Mrs. Ross guest in an automobile tour
through New Hampshire and Vermont.
Mrs. Van Wagenen seems to have es-
capped serious injury, and the other oc-
cupant of the automobile, Miss Alice
Ross. daughter of Mrs. Ross, had one ell
bow sprained and shoulder dislocated.
Mrs. Ross sustained a broken ankle
and it was feared that one hip also was
broken. An X-ray examination was
planned for to-day to determine the lat
ter. She coughed up considerable blood
during the night, which would Indicate
that she received internal injuries. Her
husband arrived in Montpelier this morn
ing, accompanied by DIR. Herbert Ross OF
Montreal. Mr.. Van Wagenen also
eoughed up blood during the night and
the exact extent of his injuries was not
certain, although it was known that
several ribs were broken. Both Mrs.
Ross and Mr.. Van Wagenen are past
middle life. Miss Alice Ross is 90 years
of age.
The party left Breton Woods, n. H.,
yesterday morning and were on the way
to Burlington, where they planned to
stop before crossing Lake Champlain
into New York state. They were drIy-
ing a big 1918 Cadillac touring car which
was not damaged greatly, as the drop
from the road was not more than SIX
feet. The car bore the Canadian regis
try number OF 6044.
Ii was early afternoon when the ma
chine passed through the village of East
Montpelier. 1t passed Charles Hamblett,
who was driving toward Montpelier on
what is known as the river road. and
Mr.. Hamblett was the first to discover
the accident, some time having elapsed
while he was reaching the scene about
half a mile from the place where they
had passed him. First he saw where
the car had apparently skirted along the
edge of the little bank while the chauf-
feur was making his vain effort to get
back into the Travelled highway.
II is believed that the car must have
struck depression in the road while
travelling along at good speed in ap-
preaching a turn, which must have
caused the machine to swerve slightly
to the outer side of the road and to-
ward the low embankment. The marks
along the edge of the bank show where
the car balanced along for considerable
distance. the driver apparently eXerting
every effort to keep the car on the bank
by going ahead rather than by stop
ping
Going along little further Mr.. Hamb-
lett came across the automobile turned
on its side in the meadow and the mem
bers of the party scattered about in va
rious positions Mrs. Ross and her
daughter were lying in the bushes, while
a few feet beyond was Generau, and at
a point nearer the road, Mr.. and Mrs.
Van Wagenen. The conscious members
of the party were calling for help, and
Mr.. Hamblett's first move was in the
direction of the chauffeur, who seemed
the worst hurt. However, his examina-
tion revealed that the man probably
was hevond help, and Mr. Hamblett
started back toward East Montpelier for
assistance.
On the way he notified Richard Cop
pins. on whose farm the accident oc
Cured Mr.. Coppins made at once for
the bend. while Mr. Hamblett began to
telephone Montpelier for ambulance and
physicians. By the time Mr.. Coppns
reached the spot, at least two members
of the party had been able to move to-
ward the chauffeur. Mr.. Coppins be-
lieves that the man was breathing, al
though lightly. At any rate, he was
unconscious and few seconds after the
first aid arrived, he expired without ut
tering word.
Meanwhile. Volholm's Montpelier am
bulance, a physician and Mrs. l.. ID. TAFT
in an automobile made a hasty trip to
the scene of the accident. Genereau's
body was removed to undertaking rooms
in Montpelier and an ambulance carried
Mrs. Ross to the Heaton hospital. Miss
Ross rode in the ambulance with her
mother and remained at the hospital.
Mr.. and Mrs. Van Wagenen were carried
to the capital in Mrs. Taft's car.
When picked up, Genereau was free of
the machine. The car had evidently
turned turtle completely and was lay
ing on its side. Genereau is thought te
have received his fatal injuries when the
car first turned over, having been struck,
perhaps, by the steering wheel or the
windshield. The right side of his face
from the eve down was crushed in COM
pletely. although the skin was not brok-
en-. Physicians who examined the body
sav he must have lost consciousness in
stantly, with death following in a very
few moments afterwards. The man was
virtually a member of the Ross family,
having been reared by them since the
age of IL. He was only recently mar
ried, and leaves a wife and a child, six
months old. He was 26 years of age.
The body will be taken to Montreal to-
day.
Damage to the automobile will not be
great. The wind shield was shattered
bv the turnover and the steering wheel
was put entirely out of commission.
NIaybe one of the aXles was sprung