The Washington herald., 1915-03-23

Norton. were throwing buckets OF
water on the little blaze somebody rar
out and sounded an alarm from box II
at Pennsylvania avenue and Four-and-
Ia-half street, down the corner from
the saloon.
This alarm summoned nearly all Of the
downtown fire companies. Truck was
guided from its house at Fourteenth
street and Ohio avenue. ran north In
Fourteenth street and started east ir
Pennsylvania avenue at full speed. En-
gine companies "A and Is ran ahead OF
Truck 8 and the gongs Of the engines
cleared the avenue. so that the big truck
had clear path. Driver Charles E
Gibson turned on fun speed. and the hum
of the big Christie engine could be heard
for blocks.
Mourners in Crash.
At Sixth street the funeral procession
of Robert Thomas Harris. IS years old.
who died at his home. 7l6 street south
west. Friday evening, was crossing Penn
sylvania avenue.
A taxi filled with pallbearers. the
hearsc, and three other taxis. one con-
tanning the widow of Mr.. Harris. passed
north in Sixth street across the avenue
when the fire truck was more than a
block away
As the truck approached Sixth street.
the last taxi started TO cross. John
Brasse, IS years old. OF AZ Eleventh
street southwest. was at the steering
wheel of the taxi. Reside Brasse on the
front seat sat Jack Brown. q years old,
of sos F street southwest. a mourner.
Inside the taxi were Frederick c. Noack,
his wife. Mrs. Annie Noack, and three
sons of Mr.. Farris-Edward Harris. "a:
John Harris. 3 and their little brother.
Hardy, 10 years old, who is crippled with
rheumatism
Jack Brown. sitting with the chauffeur.
had an unobstructed view OF the oncom-
ing truck. Il heard the truck when II
was a block away" said Brown. land as
We emerged from Sixth street into Penn
sylvania avenue / saw the truck coming
toward us at terrific speed. The chaur-
feur slowed down until he was going
not more than a mile an hour. II seemed
to me.
Did Not Know of Danger.
The chauffeur didn't stop. and I saw
he was going to run into the side of the
truck. | jumped out OF the left side OF
the taxi Just as the wheel OF the taxi
hit the rear wheel OF the truck. The
impact knocked the taxi out from under
me- but l landed on my feet The
said they did not see or hear the truck
and didn't know OF their danger until
they heard the crash.
II was sitting in the rear seat Of the
taxi. looking forward said Mrs. Noack.
and the first I knew of the danger was
the awful noise and shock. ! can't re-
member what happened after that
Mrs. NoaCk was operated on some months
ago. and her physician fears that the
shock may have serious results.
The story Of Brasse, the chauffeur, diff
fers from the story OF Jack Brown and
the crew of the fire truck. Brasse was
arrested shortly after the accident by
Policeman w II. Rock and locked in a
cell at the Sixth precinct station on a
charge of Investigation" 1t IL under
stood Brasse will be held pending the
outcome of the injuries OF the firemen.
II saw tho truck running east on
the eastbound car track" said Brasse,
and when my taxi was about half
way between the curb on the south
side of the avenue and the car track
l put on the brakes and stopped. I
saw that the truck had plenty Of
room to pass me. and I made no at
temtp to cross in front of the truck.
Then l saw the tillerman on tho rear
OF the truck loose control Of his " heel
L
tracks and started swinging In a semi
circle toward me.
No Time to Move.
Il didn't have time to move. II all
happened in a Hash. One second the
.ruck was running along on a straight
curse that would have cleared mo and
.he next instant the rear of tho big thing
Vas coming toward me full tilt. The
ear right wheel of the truck missed my
'ront. left wheel, missed the front of my
and tore OF my right wheel.
That Is conclusive that didn't run into
he truck
"I am married man and have a
family OF several children. 1 have been
L chauffeur on and Off since 1911. and
his is the first time I ever have been
n an accident" Claude L. Barnette.
" the Barnette Taxicab Company. 209
Eleventh street northwest which EN-
oloys Chauffeur Brasse has retained
Attorney p. B. Dickcy to defend
Brasse.
Brasse's story is partly confirmed by
". W. Hysong. of the undertaking firm
u Hysong and Barnette. 1o14 Massachu-
'etts avenue northwest, who was In
,harge OF the funeral of Mr.. Harris. Il
was riding on the hearse." said Mr.. Fly
song. and my partner, Homer barnette,
was driving the hearse The hearse
rad crossed to the north side Of Penn
,ylvan,a avenue and was going north in
Sixth street when I heard the commotion
made by the truck. i looked back and
could see that the truck was skidding.
Then I heard a loud crash. I got
iown and ran back. The funeral went
N to Glenwood Cemetery and the body
" Mr.. Harris was Inferred. I phoned
o tie cemetery and told them what
lad happened
Not one OF Mr.. Harris sons-John.