The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-06-17
HEAVY CAR ROLLS
OFF ENHANCEMENT
Sister OF X. +. Fleming, Of this city,
ara Several others Severely In


Il. f. Fleming OF this city. narrowly
escaped fatal injury near Ashcvillc
Friday when a heavy automobile in
Which she was riding plunged over an
cmhankmcnt and was totally destroy
ed, pinnng her and one other occu-
nant underneath. Miss Frances Mar
shall, daughter Of Mayor Marshall of
Grccnviiic, was SO severely injured
that at one time it was thought she
would die. However, from the latest
reports all OF the injured are imDrov-
ing and are on the road to recovery.
The Following account of the accident
was taken from the Ashcvillc Citizen
of Saturday:
"Plunging through the railing of the
flaw Creek bridge and turning turtle
into the waters of the creek, an auto
mobile carrying five passengers pin
ned two women under it yesterday af-
en- as the reason for the accident. The
machine was occupied by Miss Bette
Blythewood and Miss Frances Mar
shall, Of Greenvillc; Miss Louise Flem-
ing and Ellison McKissick, Of Green
wood, S. c., and Mrs. II. c. Thatch. OF
Alban, Ala. A defective brake is Civ
Oh as the rtason for the accident. The
party was on its may from Asheville
to Black Mountain on tour Of the
Land of the Sky from South Carolina.
when the machine plunged into
the water Miss Marshall was pinned
under it beneath the surface and Miss
Fleming WAS also caught partially
undtr the side while the other men,
bers Of the party were thrown clear
Of the wreck and received no serious
injuries. Fortunately several work
men at nearby house saw the acci-
dent and ran to the assistance of the
tourists. They managed to lift the
heavy machine sufficiently to get Miss
es Marshall and Fleming from under
II but not before the former had been
rendered unconscious by stangula-
ton. The bridge is about five miles
from Asheville.
"An ambulance from the firm OF
Norad, Brown and company and re-
lief automobile from the Chambers
and Weaver garage were summoned
to the scene and the injured women
were taken to the Mission hospital for
treatment while the other members of
the party were taken to the home of a
friend. Miss Marshall was revived
short time after reaching the hospital
and although an examination revealed
many bruises about the bodies of both
these are not thought to be serious
and 1t Is expected that both patients
will be able to leave the institution in
a short time.
According to the account given of
the affair by Mr.. McKissick, owner and
driver Of the machine, the party has
been attending the Y. w. G.. A. con-
ference at Black Mountain and had
motored through the country from hi.
home at Greenwood The visitors had
come to Asheyille earlier in the dav
and were on the return trip to Black
Mountain when the accident occurred
Being unfamiliar with the various
curves in the road, Mr.. McKissick stat.
ed that he allowed the rmachinc to gain
greater speed than It should and tb,t
"hcn he reached the sharp curve at
bridge his brakes failed to work prom
erly, the heavy car crashing through
the railing of the bridge as if it had
been constructed Of paper
"rhc bridge stands about twelve
feet from the water, which is about
two feet deep where the machine land
ed. 1t is considered miraculous that
none was killed and even the occu
pants Of the machine are unable to ex-
plain the matter in which they cscaped
death.
"Thc machine is complete wreck.
Tho top was crushed ana torn to
shreds, the body was bent out Of shane.
the hood was crushed in, the wind
shield was shattered. the chassis and
steering gear We're lady broken and
the damage to the engine has not been
estimated. After the car haa been lift
cd from the water to the road 1t was
towcd into the city and will be repair
ed If possible.
"As soon after the accident as nos
siblc the relatives Of the members of
the party were notified and It Is ex-