The Robesonian., 1917-12-31
A FATAL JOY RIDE
2 People Killed and 5 Injured at
Richardson - Auto Driven at
Terrific Speed Under Cotton
Platform-Mr. and Mrs. Colonel
Hester Killed and Z Children
Made Orphans Christmas Day.

AS the result of an automobile ac-
cident Christmas day Mr. and Mrs.
Colonel Hester of Bladen county are
dead and five others-Mr. and Mrs.
Chas. Storm, parents of Mrs. Hester;
Mr.. Grad Storm, brother of the dead
woman, and Mr.. and Mrs. Dudley Pate
all Of Bladen county, were more or
less injured.
The fatal accident occurred at
Richardson, station on the Seaboard
just across the Robson line, about 2
p. m. Christmas day when Mr.. Hester
drove the car at rapid speed under
meath a cotton platform, the heads
of the occupants striking the sills.
The automobile, Chevrolet, was own
ed and driven by Mr.. Hester, and ac-
cording to Mr.. Storm, one Of the oc-
cupants of the car, it was running at
the rate of so miles the hour when
it struck the platform. There is
quick curve in the road near the plat
form and by failing to slow down
. Mr.. Hester was unable to make the
turn and the car ran underneath the
platform, knocking it some IL feet out
of place and dropping it down on the
: occupants of the auto. 1t was some
time before the passengers could be
removed from underneath the wreck
age.
Immediately after the accident DR..
J. F. Norman of Bladenboro and Drs.
]. N. A. Thompson and John Knox Of
Lumberton were summoned to the
scene and rendered medical aid. Mr..
and Mr.. Grad Storm were brought to
the Thompson hospital here Tuesday
e night, coming on the 6:19 Seaboard
train. Mr.. Hester died about o'clock
Wednesday morning and Mrs. Hester
n died about the same hour Thursday
e morning. Neither Of them regained
e consciousness after they were hurt
:. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hester were bur
n ried at the same time in the family
: burying ground between Richardson
k and Dublin Thursday afternoon.
a Mr. and Mrs. Hester are survived
IS by seven children. Mr.. Hester was
r 81 years old and prosperous farmel
II and sawmill man, while Mrs. Hester
was p years old.
: Mr.. Hester mad his left shoulder
w broken, his skull fractured, his face
a, badly lacerated, his tongue cut Nant
suffered internal injuries about tEl'
breast. Mrs. Hester had her righ
jaw bones broken, conclusion Of tn
IS brain, besides internal injuries. Mrs
d Chas. Storm was perhaps the wo1s
N hurt of any besides those who died
ID and it is thought she will recover. Sh
I'd was badly cut about the face and tn
of cheek bones were depressed. MI
r Chas. Storm suffered bad cash O
I'd his forehead and minor injuries
le Mr.. Grad Storm was cut about tn
is face and his left leg badly hurt. MI
t. and Mrs. Dudley Pate suffered mino
Mt injuries, but were not brought to tn
s. hospital.
ed There were nine people in the ca
ne at the time of the collision and all ez
cept two small babies, one belongin
ne to Mr.. and Mrs. Hester and the othe
he to Mr.. and Mrs. Pate, were hurt.
Those who saw the wreck say a
the occupants who were not kille
MS had miraculous escape. The aute
mobile was completely demolished.
When asked about the affair by
', Robesonian reporter, Mr.. Storm, WI
n II was able to leave the hospital Thurs
~ day, said that Mr. Hester was dri7
es en ing the car at full speed and was NAL
Vt ing so miles per hour. He saw tn;
1N' the car was going to strike the pla
form, but did not have time to jun
or speak before the thing had happe1
ed. Mr.. Storm said that while he he
but little use for an automobile al
usually called on driver to slo
ost down if he ran fast while he was ri
I'D ing that on this occasion neither he nj
lot any of the others in the car made al
to complaint about the way Mr.. Hest
1ly was speeding Mr. Hester had on
owned the car a few weeks.
It was a most horrible thing. On
to of the most sad things about it
that seven children were made Q
phans by the recklessness Of fathe
~ who, it is said, was under the infl
a. a. ence of wine.
'e's = xxv1 IT,,