New-York tribune., 1919-04-28
Two Ribs Broken, Pos.
sibly Hurt Internally
When Broadway Trolley
Car Smashes His Auto
Labor Leaders Age
Is Grave Handicap
Night Bulletin States He
Is Resting Easily, but
Suffering From Shock

Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor, sus-
tanned two broken sribs, severe bruises
about the back and right leg and pos
sible internal injuries when a cab in
which ne was riding was struck by
streetcar at Forty-frst Street and
Broadway yesterday afternoon The
exact extent of his injuries will not
he determined until this morning, when
it is expected an X-ray photograph will
be taken.
Because of his ycars-Mr. Gompers
was sixty-nine in January last--and
the fact that he recently returned
from the peace conference worn, half
sick, to find his wife suffering
from second stroke Of paralysis, his
trends were frankly worried last even
ing. The evening bulletin, however,
gave no indication of this, following
Mr.. Gomperss instruction that as lit.le
be said of his case as possible.
At o'clock last night it was stated
at the Hotel Continental by James E.
Roach. an organizer for the American
Federation of Labor, that Mr.. Gompers
was resting easily, that his temper
ature was normal and that the only
outward evidence of his injuries was
"a slight hesitancy due 30 the shock"
Mr.. Gompers is attended by DR..
Charles R. Hancock, of II East Thirty
eighth Street.
Was on Way to Hotel
The accident occurred at $3.50
o'clock, when Mr. Gompers was on his
way 20 :he Hotel Continental. Forty
hrst Street and Broadway, where he
Ives when III New York. He had had
laach With his lifelong friend, John
'iorr.ccn, at the lattcr's home, 3Sl
Nesu fifty-tirst Street. and after a
stro'. up Broadway took the cab of
Wiioam P. Goldberg, at Eighty sixth
Street, FOR his hotel, where he planned
L dress for a musical being given at
,ye home of Ralph NJ. Easley, chair
tan % the National Civic Federation,
at "a Fifth Avenue.
At Fortv-second Street Goldberg was
held up momcr,arily by a sight seeing
bus. When it had swung out of his
vay he turned cast, heading into
Forty.hrst Street. and was moving
slowly when n northbound car of tn.
New York Railways Company smashed
into his rear wheels.
kA 4
heap in the bottom of the car, threw
Goldberg into the street and landed
the cab on the north curb of Forty
nrst Street Patrolman Joseph Frank,
Of the West Thirtieth Street station,
aeard the crash and with Fred J. Hol-
leran, passerby, rescued Mr.. Gompers
from the wreck He was conscious.
but in great pain. The two took Mr..
iompers to his hotel, across the street,
frank sending in hurry-up call to
the New York Hospital for an ambu-
ance.
Worried About His Wife
Hugh frayne and James E. Roach.
organizers of the American Federation
Of Labor, and Matthew j. Vol, inter
national president Of the Photo En-
gravers Union, were in the hotel lobby I
waiting for Mr.. Gompers when Frank
and Hollerau brought him in. TO them
ae appealed 10 keep the news Of the
accident from his wife in Washing
ton
"for Gods sake don't let this get to
per- he said. at will kill her.
aope the papers Will not notice it,"
II was explained to him that any at
.empt at suppression could only result
y exaggerated reports Of his condi.
Won being circulated. so he directed
nat hs home be called Up and ar
tsngements made TO keep. the Wash
'agton papers from Mrs. Gompcrs
Explain TO thcm" he said, that it
nothing, that will be all right in
day or so"
*hen Dr. Balenswcig arrived on the
Ambuance he found Mr.. Gompers al
Aost in collapse. After administer
,ng heart stimulant he made an ex-
mihation and advised that Mr.. Com
ssfs be taken 10 hospital and an X
''sy examination made. His examina-
~'h showed tho ninth and tenth ribs
p the night side TO have been broken.
sae nsht hip 10 be spraincd at the
ssint and severe confusion Of the
Hght ankle
Objected TO a Hospital
Af Compers demurred against go
- ~ HobpltdI, lHbbllHR tnHL ne
.oald be all right after he had a
sass sleep, 30 the ambulance surgeon
ssplied temporary bandages, after ad
N,ng that Jr. Gompers's own ply
s<isn be called in. This, IL was agreed.
sspld be done later in the day. Soon
s.*f the surgeon left Mr. Gompers was
'sp'fted 10 be asleep.
,ns@<oreing 70 Goldberg and to Frank
ffNllh, of 257 Fast Thirty-ninth Street:
ysrze Hughes. Of z75 west Thirty f
ssh'h street. and John KIRK, Of 1898
sn..hpson street. who we're standing on
81 corner If forty~fret Street and
Tgs.s,ssd~ay ~ the time Of the accident,
.ssiyllabsTg bad the eight Of way. These
x s fAtrolman Frank the Compers
~ wss moving alowiy and had all but
sssa1sa ibe north bound track when
GseS 70 thsm IL appeared ~ though
ls1fs hoyna, the notorgnan, had mis-.
ssksa The speed OF the cab.
~ 'ssna had no explanation 10 give
~, ps'lesmsn. HIS conductor. Walter
49, WA llkewite without explana-
s.. no. having seen the crash.
- eFasfe pf Mr.. Gampsss no arrests