The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-06
VANDERBILT HAS
NARROW ESCAPE
His Life Saved by Desire to Pro-
tect Mrs. Pelrs Paris
Gown.
BREAKS DOWN ON STAND
He Tells How His Companions
Were Killed on Auto
mobile Ride.
Especial to The Ttmes-D;sn.t.h :

tSPeclal 10 The Times -Dispatch.J
Long Beach. N Y. August 6-That
William x. Vanderbilt. Jr.. had a mar
row escape from death In the auto
mobiie accident that claimed the life
OF ). osEood Pell and William Lain
/ beer, because of the fact that he wished
TO protect Paris gown worn by Mrs.
i'ell. became known for the first time
to-day when he testified at the inquest
into the disaster in which the two
wealthy men and their chauffeur
perisheo.
Vanderbilt would have been in tho
machine that was struck by n Long
Island train Sunday night had he not
stopped to secure linen duster with
which to cover Mrs. Pelrs gown
The rest of the party went on with
out waiting for the couple who took
another car and followed They were
so close behind that they almost saw
the disaster.
Witness freaks Down.
Vanderbilt broke down when testi-
flying before the public service COM
mission at the hearing.
Chairman Decker, of the Public
Service Commission. conducted the ex-
animation which brought out some sur
prisinE testimo ohy.
Anson b. Smith. "a fagman at Jekyl-
Hyde Crossing, the one next below that
where the accident occurred said that
gard to an accident. He had red
lamp. he said. and he knew that II was
to be used in case OF an accident
What would you do at night If a
train approached one way and an auto
mobile approached anothcr?" he re-
piled:
Il would hold up my hand as
signal. The passengers in the auto
mobile might see il By the fare OF the
train lamps"
Smith testified that he was largely
left to use his own Judgment In re-
gard to signals.
Mr.. Vanderbilt gave his testimony in
a low voice
Il had gone to Long Beach In my
own car" said Mr.. Vanderbilt. 1T was
the first time / had been there | vas
with the Pell family ana a friend. Rich
ard Peters, and we had dinner at the
Trouvelle. / was not feeling very we'll
and decided to go home early.
While / was waiting. the Laimbeers
and the Pells came toward me- We all
agreed to go home together. Mr.. Pell
his driver and the two Laimbeers got
INTO the Pell car. and / said I would
take Mrs. Pcll In my car.
The Pell car started up and five
minutes later l left. AT Wreck Lead
crossing we came upon a blockade
There were a number of cars between
me and the crossing.
! ulu NOT know what was the mat
ter. stopped my engine. Then got
out OF my car and told Mrs. Pell that
would go forward and SEQ what was
the matter. l went ahead. leaving her
in the car.
II heard that several people had been
killed on the tracks. | caught up I
brakcman's lantern and hurried ahead
J saw body that resemhlcd Jr Lam
beers form. Then somebody said that
there was Il dead body up ahead.
went ahead and saw what looked TO DO
Mr.. Pell There was Il hat lying upon
,he tracks 1 picked II up. II was
his.
Knew PclI Was Killed.
Il know to certainty that Mr.. Pell
had been killed, but l could not think
of which way TO break the news to his
wife out there in the automobile"
Mr.. Nanderbilts voice sank as he
proceeded
II returned to my automobile an.l
told Mrs. Pell that terrible accident
had taken place. said that we would
Continued on Third Pago.)