The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-08-15
Former Residents Of MI. Vernon Killed
In Auto Accident
Joseph B. Borders Wife And Daughter Roasted To Death
When Automobile Falls Off OF A Bridqe---Dead
Man Editor Of Paper In Mt Vernon A Few Years
Ago


the Mt. Vernon independent, while
that paper was in existence in this ci-
ty, his wife, who was Miss Alta San
derson, also formerly of Mt. Vernon,
their daughter Isabel Borders, aged 6,
and Abraham Paul, tailor, aged 26
years, were all burned to death in Co.
Iumbus Tuesday night when the Bor-
ders automobile caught fire after 60
ing through the East Broad street
bridge over Alum creek.
Both MIR. and Mrs. Borders were
quite we'll known in Mt. Vernon where
they resided for some time. Borders
s was at one time employed by the Re-
publican as solicitor and later start
ed the Daily independent of which he
was editor. His wife was the daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Sander
son Of Delaware, Ohio, and was known
by many Mt. Vernon people.
The complete details of the terrible
accident are given in the Columbus
Journal as follows:
Roasted to a torturous death be-
meath the body of a wrecked automo-
bile which fell 30 feet from the Broad
!. Street bridge over Alum Greek, four
persons are dead as the result of a
peculiar accident which occurred at
8:15 last night.
The Dead
J. B. BORDERS, 35, manager Ma
tional Circulation Co., office in Harrf-
son Building, residence 237 East
Broad.
MRS. J. B. BORDERS, S2, same ad-
dress.
ABE PAUL, 26, tailor, same address.
ISABEL BORDERS, 6, same ad-
dress.
Isabel Borders, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Borders, by heroic work of res
cuers, was pulled from beneath the
wrecked car and, though terribly burn
ed, was hurried to Grant Hospital,
where everything possible was done
to relieve suffering and sustain life.
She died at l o'clock this morning.
Injured in attempting relief work
were:
Frank A. McElroy 51S East Town
Street, burned about the face and left
hand.
Warren Hill of Steubenville, burned
on both hands and face.
When the big six-cylinder car, turn
ing turtle, reached the ravine below
the bridge, all of the four persons un-
der it are believed to have been alive.
Their cries brought rescuers and the
police and fire department in rapid
succession.
Flames Follow Flash
Cropping in the dark, it was impos-
sible to render practical assistance
and some one struck a match. In
stantly there was a flash of fire, roar
car was enveloped in flames.
This necessitated the calling of the
fire department. but such was the
heat developed by the burning gaso-
line that it was impossible to touch
the car. 1t was necessary to attach
ropes and pull the machine to one
side before it was possible to reach
the charring victims of the accident,
whose dying cries filled the air.
Those wh( knew how the accident
occurred are dead, but the inference
of those best acquainted with the cir
cumstances is that as the car was pro-
ceeding westward across the bridge
the approach of a train on the Nor
folk and Western track rendered a
quick stop expedient. Mr.. Borders,
who was at the wheel, is thought to
have thrown the car into reverse,
Then in starting he must have forgot
ten to shift his gears, and the auto
started at once backward at full
speed. This careened it through the
south railing, toward the west end of
the bridge.
In the somersault the machine
turned completely over, with its
wheels in the air and it's nose pointed
south, pinioning all of its passengers