The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03
THREE IN WRECKED
AUTO BURN TO DEATH
Woman, Man and Boy Help
lessly Trapped Under
Overturned Car.
CHILD, CAUGHT ESCAPES
Mother Braves Flames in En-
fort to Save Little Girl
PinfOned by Car.

kEARNY, N. j.. May 2.-Three persons
Including woman. who were pinioned
under an automobile that had run down
an embankment and turned over, were
burned to death about 10 o'clock tonight
In the Kearny meadows at the intersection
OF the Belleville Turnpike and the Green
wood branch Of the Erie Railroad The
right arm OF little girl. who was caught
under the car was burned severely.
The dead were Mrs. John j. Walsh.
whose husband Is a lawyer and secre-
tary to Surrogate John Egan of Jersey
City: Samuel S. Willis. a wholesale to-
bacco merchant with business In New
York. and his son. Walter. Is years old.
all living at IS Reservoir avenue. Jersey
City.
Ailene Willis. years old, whose arm
was caught under the overturned car.
had her right arm and right leg burned
The leg probably will have to be ampu.
tated.
The car belonged to willis, who hal
his friends Mr.. and Mrs. Walsh out
with his family for a drive. With vii.
lis We're his wife. his daughter. Ailene
and his son Walter. Willis had one other
son. Samuel s.. Jr.. IA years old. who
however. was not In the party.
Smnsh at Lonely CrOssiaE.
The spot where the accident happened
lie In the meadows. several miles away
from the nearest house. and utterly de-
serted There Is no Waterman at the
railroad crossing. though bells are used to
give warning of the approach OF trains.
Complaints against the lack OF a watch
man have been made to the railroad.
Willis was driving the car on its way
back with his party toward Jersey City.
As he neared the railroad crossing willis
heard the warning bells as the train ap.
preached. He swung the car of the road
to avoid dashing straight ahead In front
Of the oncoming train. Tho automobile
rolled down ten foot enbankment. A.
II struck the foot Of the incline II turned
over. 80 p
Walsh and Mrs. willis were hurled
clear OF the car. Willis, at the wheel. his
son. Walter who was in the front seat
with him. and Mrs Walsh were caught
under the car. Little Aileen was thrown
partly clear Of the machine. but her. arm
was pinioned under It.
Help Reaches Little Girl.
The moment the car overturned the
gasolene tank was wrenched from it's fas-
tening and smashed open. The spark
Before Walsh and Mrs. Willis could rise
Before Walsh and Mrs Willis could rise.
the entire machine was ablaze. They
could not 10 near IT, though they could
hear the cries Of the three imprisoned I'M
der the machine.
The little girl was struggling to free
herself Mrs. Willis rushed into the
flames to try 10 wrench ner daughtee
free, but neither she nor Walsh was
strong enough.
At that moment an automobile bound
for New York whizzed up. The occupants,
leaping out. finally pulled the little girl
free. The heat had become 80 intense
by that time that they were badly
scorched. They put Mrs. Willis and the
little girl in their car and hurried to
Christ Hospital, Jersey City.
Walsh, left behind could do nothing %
help the three who were under the car,
Another car, owned by Vincent Mcbride
Of Passaic, n. j.. bound for that city, APP
peared Mcbride took In the situation
at a glance and then hurried to North
Arlington. where he picked up Patrolman
Schultz and several citizens and also
notified the Fire Department, He hur-
ried back to the scene Of the accident.
followed by IA chemical wagon from North
Arlington.
The chemical was used In an effort to
extinguish the blaze. but by the time the
fire was out there remained nothing OF
the automobile except the chassis. After
a time the debris was lifted up and the
charred bodies Of the three were picked
up.
In the Christ Hospital Jersey Citys II
was said that the surgeons hoped to save
| the arm of the little girl. but II seemed
necessary that the right leg be ampu
| tated.