The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-06-07
SCHOOL PICNIC
HAS AN ALMOST
FATAL ENDING
a.
THREE PERSONS STRUCK BY
FALLING LIMB OF TREE-NAR-
RoWLY ESCAPE DEATH.
PROF. |. S. DUKE BADLY INJURED
Principal Of Columbia High School
Was Attending commencement at
Bingham School In Williamson
County--Two Ladies Injured.

Struck on the heads and chests by
a large falling limb from a tree under
which they were seated at school
picnic near Franklin Friday afternoon,
Prof. L. S. Duke, principal of the Co
lumbia High School, and Mrs. Cor
nelia Mcpherson and Mrs. Blazer of
Franklin, were rendered unconscious
for several hours and narrowly
escaped death. Prof Duke is at The
Kings Daughters Hospital in a SER
ious condition. The two ladies are at
their homes near Franklin and are be-
Iievad to have been more seriously in
jured than was Prof. Duke.
Prof. Duke was reported this after
noon to be in favorable condition al
though he remains most of the time
in a semi-conscious condition.
Dr.. X. s. Hewlett of Franklin re-
ported by long distance telephone to
The Herald this afternoon that Mrs.
Mcpherson and Mrs. Blazer were
somewhat better, although their con-
dition is considered serious. The
chances for their recovery is still con-
sidered favorable Both of them suf-
fered severe head conclusions and in
juries to their chests. Mrs. McPher-
son suffered two broken ribs. Al
though neither of the ladies was UNI
conscious as long as Prof. Duke was,
their condition is considered more
critical than is his.
AS a feature of the commencement
exercises at the Bingham school five
miles from Franklin, of which Miss
Mary Duke, sister of Prof. Duke, and
Miss Bonnie Blankenship were princf-
pals, a picnic was given Friday. The
party had just been seated around the
spread under a large Beech tree about
/ O'Clock when a dead limb Of the
tree fell. Its force was partially
broken by striking another limb,
which probably saved the lives of the
three persons who were struck. All
three Of them were rendered uncon,
scious.
Mrs. Mcpherson, who is about go
years of age, suffered an eight inch
ant nd ;rir Nil IN hnr
chest and side. She was carried to
her home as soon as the wound was
dressed.
Mrs. Blazer, who is about As years
of age, suffered a similar but hardly
as serious injury. The cut on her
head was about 2 inches long and her
other injuries were hardly so serious
She is a sister of Mrs. Walters of
Saw Dust, Maury county. She was
carried to her home and was reported
to be resting well this morning.
Although the skin on Prof. Dukes
head was not broken, he suffered a
conclusion which rendered him uncon-
scious for several hours, and one rib
was broken. He was so badly injured
that it was considered unwise to re-
move him to Franklin, so he was car
ried to the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Rogers, adjoining the school
grounds, where he remained during
the night. He was brought to Column
bia this morning in the ambulance of
the Cotton undertaking establishment
of Franklin. and was said to have
stood the trip well. being reported in
more favorable condition when he
arrived at The Kings Daughters
Hospital than when he left Bingham.
He was resting well this morning.
All of the injured persons were at
tended by DR.. X. S. Hewlett of Frank
lin at Bingham and DIR. W. X. Shed
dan is attending Prof. Duke here.
Mr.. and Mrs. ], H. Duke Of Frank