Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-14
.PEGRAM LOSES LIFE IN
RECKLESS DASH TO FIRE
Chauffeur of Fire Chief Joynes Al.
most Instantly Killed on
Broad Street.
JOYNEs AND MANN INJURED
Third Man to BE Killed by Fast
Speeding Automobiles of Chiefs.
Fire Itself Unimportant, Loss Not
Exceeding Cost of Wrecked Car.

Rushing last night through crowd
cd street IN n vain and reckless effort
to reach an nnImnortant iire.s the yau :
tomobile OF Chief William II. Joynes
was smashed into splin,.rs against a
light pole at Brook Avenue and Broad
Streets. Chauffeur Thomas H. Pcgram
was almost instantly killed, Fire Com
missioner John Mann, Jr, suffered n
fractured hip, and the chief himself
was badly injured.
Running at breakncck speed. Pegram
attempted TO pass n big touring car
and was caught between the other ma
chine and tho light pole. He made r.
desperate effort 10 pass the pole, and
had almost turned TO safety when his
car struck the pole a Glancing blow,
and crumpled up. Pegram was hurled
through the windshield against the
pole, and was literally shattered into
a shapeless mass.
Chief Joynes was thrown thirty feet
from the left side OF the car. and Com
missioner Mann was hurled like dis
tance from the opposite side. Such
was the force OF the cars momentum
that the base of the pole was broken
into small pieces. and the machine it
self was entirely wrecked
PEGRAMS nODY MASHED
TO SIIAPELESS PULP
PoCram's head struck the heavy iron
standard and his skull was crushed.
His teeth were knocked out: both legs
and arms were broken, and his body
was mashed into pulp. He was un-
conscious and dying when picked up,
and breathed his last moment after
being taken into Virginia Hospital.
Chief Joynes was picked up by Frank
Hayward formerly connected with The
Times s-Dispatch, His first words were
an inquiry for Pegram. John Mann
was picked up by bystanders on the
other side of the street. The car was
firmly wedged against the pole, part
of the chassis lying across the east
hound car track. All traffic was
stopped. and even jitney buses were
diverted into other avenues. Within a
moment. almost, the corner was alive
with people. and in less than half an
hour. so fast had the news OF the fa-
tality spread. more than 5000 people
were gathered on tho scene.
Captain George L. Pollock, acting
chief of police during the absence of
Major Werner, and Captains Epps and
Sowell. with a special detail of police,
remained on the scene until nearly
midnight to keep the curious on the
move and to prevent congestion.
FIRE IN MEAT MARKET
. on WEST BROAD STREET.
The nre TO which Chief Joynes was
rushing was at Munford and Broad
Streets. The fire started in n small
frame building attached tn the rear
of the Elba Meat Market and Provision
Company, managed by NJ. d. Bloom, and
spread to n small extent into the Evans
Hardware Company, 700 West Broad
Street Little damage was inflicted by
the flames, and more loss il is said,
was caused by water The total loss
will hardly equal. it is thought, the
value OF the fire machine which was
destroyed.
It is claimed that there was no neccs-
sity for Chief Joynes's terrible speed
Assistant Chief Wise was on the scene.
and had the fire under control with
Engine Companies &. and 6. and Truck
No. 3. He thought it advisable. how
over. to summon No. 10 Company from
Lomhardy and Broad Streets.
Chief Joynes was at headquarters
when tho call for No. 10 came in. 1t
was not second alarm, and there was
1Confin,Ied an Second DoIo : -