Milford chronicle., 1917-11-02
GOV. TOWNSEND'S Wife
KILLED AS AUTO UPSETS
Governor Bruised And Lacerated
But Escapes Serious Iniury-Mrs.
Townsend Buried Wednesday.

Mrs. John C. Townsend Jr., OF Selby |
vile. wife of the Governor OF Della |
ware, was killed about 10 o'clock on
Saturday night. at Dagsboro, Sussex
County. when the automobile in which
she and the Governor were riding
overturned. Governor Townsend was
bruised and lacerated on the arm and
shoulder but escaped serious injury
The funeral of Mrs. Townsend was
held on Wednesday afternoon at one
O'Clock from the Townsend residence,
and interment was made in the Red
Mems Cemetery, Selbyville.
The funeral was largely attended
bv persons from all parts of the state
| Governor Townsend on Saturday
afternoon was the orator at the cor
nerstone laying of the new dormitory
/ in course of construction at the Wo-
mems College. at Newark. MIS-.
| Townsend, and their son, Julian =.
| Townsend, and the latter's wife, had
accompanied him to Newark. FOL
lowing the exercises they got into the
machine of the Governor and started
/ for their homes in the lower part Oh
the State, Governor Townsend driving
| the machine himself.
At Georgetown. Mr.. and Mrs. Jul
! ian Townsend went to their own nome
and the Governor and Mrs. Townsend
continued on their way to their home
| in Selbyyille. They were traVellng
along the DUPONT Boulevard Wheh
overtaken by the severe storm. II was
pitch dark and the rain was falling
in torrents, making it difficult to see
very far ahead of the car.
I Skidded Avoiding Collision.
They had just passed Dagsboro
whom a team loomed up in the glare
of the headlights, only a few rect IN
| front of the machine. II was a horse
being driven by a lone farmer. Gov
ernoT townsend clamped down the
brakes in an effort to bring his ma
chine to a stop and avoid crashing
| into the team. >.
This caused his car to skid and II
sIinDed off the paved section OF the
boulevard and struck the sand shoul-
dar of the road. There it turned oV-
or falling on its right side, with Mrs.
Townsend pinned under the auto
| Governor Townsend was also thrown
from the machine, and when ne was
able to get to his feet he succeeded IN
lifting the heavy car sufficiently 10
oct Mrs Townsend from under It.
| Mrs. Townsend was not crushed Dy
the auto. but was pinned down Dy H.
a man named Truitt. of Millsboro,
came along the road about that time
in an automobile in which were sew
eral other passengers. When ne
learned what had occurred and the
identity of the victims, Trultt ana
Governor Townsend lifted Mrs. Town
send into the machine and started on
a hurried trip to Selbyville.
Spoke Only a Few Words.
Mrs. Townsend spoke a word or
two after being taken from under the
wrecked machine, but she only lived
a few minutes. Her cOllarbone was
broken. but this was the only appar-
ent injury with the exception OF Few
bruises and decorations.
AS soon as she was taken to her
home DR.. Evans and Dr.. James were
called. and they both concluded that
Mrs Townsend died as the result OF
shock. She had been complaining
during the day, Governor Townsend
said. about her heart, and it is believ-
ed that the shock of the accident was
too much of a strain and resulted IN
: her death.
News of the tragedy spread through
{ the state rapidly, and caused a pro-
! found shock.
Mrs. Townsend was A years old
BEFORE her marriage she was Miss
, Jennie L. Collins, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Edward Collins, of Wor-
cester county, Maryland. In addi-
ton to her husband she is survived
, nv six children, Julian E. Townsend
Mrs Edith Tubbs, John G. Townsend
Srd. Lyle. Pauline and Preston Town
3 send.
Governor Townsend is an enthusi-
astic and careful motorist and IS
! prObably the most ardent champion
of lower Delaware of the dupont
! Boulevard, on which the accident oc-
: Cured.
. Because of her charming personal
{ ity. Mrs. Townsend had a host OF
I friends, especially in lower Delaware
| and in Worcester county, Md. she
! was active in affairs of the Methodist
/ Church. of which she was leading
( member.
/ Governor Townsend received a food
of letters and kilograms OF coincidence
from all parts of the state. While
he was bruised by the e1ects OF the
accident, no bones we're broken.
D In many churches of Delaware sun
: day. prayers for divine support and
( comfort of the Governor in his hour
r of bereavement were made by the pas
tors.
? Because Of the distressing effect OF
t the accident in Selbyville, no ser
. vices were held Sunday in the NJ. E.
/, Church there, of which Governor and
t Mrs. Townsend were members.
icUrIT C01VCU WFFTS HFRE IN 1918