The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-12-05


ell were almost instantly killed and
Glen Long very critically injured
when the enjine of Train No. 26
struck their Chevrolet roadster at the
Monitor grade crossing about $3.50
last Thursday afternoon.
Accounts as to how the accident
happened vary, as no one has been
found who could give a clear descrip-
ton of the accident. One version is
that the car was racing in an endeav-
or to cross ahead of the train while
another is that the automobile went
dead on the track and the occupants
were unable to get out of the car in
time to save their lives.
Mr.. Slocomb and his son, accom-
panied by Glen Long, who was en-
ployed by the Slocombs started for
Wenatchee from their home located
ut the top Of the Hill only a few hun
dred yards from the Monitor crossing.
1t is impossible as yet to secure a
statement as to whether they saw the
train coming as Glen Long who still
survives, has not yet sufficiently re-
covered to relate an intelligent story
of the affair. Tt is stated however,
that Cecil Slocum was at the wheel.
The engine struck the car almost
squarely and tossed it up against the
station which is located within 100
feet of the crossing. Mr.. Slocum and
his son were both believed to be alive
by members of the train crew who
stopped the train and picked up the
victims, bringing them to Wenatchee.
Coroner A. Jay Templeton was at
once notified and DR.. A. f. Gergardt
was called He found that both the
Slocombs were dead and that Long
was seriously injured about the head.
The bodies of Mr.. Slocomb and his
son were removed to Hall & Temple
toms undertaking parlors and Glen
Long was taken to the Wenatchee
General Hospital.
Coroner Templeton informed the
Daily World that the bodies should
have been left where they were, es
pecially as it was quite evident from
anexamination that both Mr.. Slocomb
and his son had died almost instantly.
Their removal makes it very difficult
to secure any accurate information as
to the probable conditions that sur
rounded the accident. The members
of the train crew will be called as wit
nesses at the inquest.
Glen Long, the young man who was
in the wreck with the Slocombs, was
reported to be still alive and regain
ing consciousness. An examination
shows fracture of the skull and con-
sequent brain injuries.
Coroner Templeton spent Friday
making further Investigations of the
accident All witnesses were called
upon to be ready for the inquest in
the afternoon in case preparations
can be completed. The train crew
was notified by wire to return to Wen
atchee from Spokane, and they came
in on No. 1.
A most tragic feature of the acci
dent is brought out by the fact that
Mr.. Slocomb had been agitating the
installation of a signal man at the
Monitor crossing which is one of the
most dangerous in the state of Wash
ington. The highway parallels the
railway for a considerable distance,
but the view is shut off completely
by an intervening warehouse. A fast
train may pull in from the west with
out being seen or heard by an auto
mobile driver until the car starts
across the track.
As a result of Mr.. Slocomb's per-
sistenee some great Northern officials
recently assured him that they would
endeavor to have some measures tax
en- to prevent accidents at the cross
ing, but could not promise to have it
done this year.
Mr.. Slocomb and his son, accom-
panied by Glen Long, who worked for
them, started for Quincy to look after
new WHY'S Six car that Mr.. Slo-
comb had purchased, and that had
caught fire while being driven over
from Spokane.
Harold Simonson, a nephew, had in
tended to go along but as the Simon
sons had not finished dinner when
Cecil went over to the house to get
Harold. the latter owes his life to his
being too late. He even ran out Of
the house and down the road in an
attempt to catch the Slocomb's car,
but was unsuccessful
Evidence shows that Mr.. Slocmb
was driving the car when struck by