Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-26
PRESIDENT GRIEVES
OVER FATAL PLUNGE
OF REPORTERS CAR
Thomas F. Dawson, of Den
ve1 Third to Die-Caf
Drops 70 Feet Off Noun
tain Road

DENVER. Col, June 25.-By the
Associated Press.)-Burdened with
grief over the tragedy of yesterday
which resulted in the death of two
members of his party, severed the
life cord of a Denver host, and end
ed with another man identified with
his visit here in a hospital suffer
ing from injuries, President Harding
today faced his program with a
heavy heart, but compelled by neces-
sity and lack of additional time to
carry on as the original plans for
his stay required. These included a
parade through the city, greet
ing of school children at the state
house, formal address at the audi
forum and visit to Cheyenne,
Wyo., where another address was
to be delivered.
Henry C. Wallace, secretary of
agriculture, joined the party in Den
yer and will go through the Alaskan
itinerary with the president.
Before commencing the days du-
ties, the chief executive obtained re-
ports from the hospital as to the
condition of Donald A. Craig, man
ager of the New York Heralds
Washington bureau. who was in
1ured when, the automobile in
which he was riding yesterday
plunged over 75-foot embankment
and killed Sumner Curtis, of Wash
ington, D. c., a representative of
the Republican national committee,
and Tommie French, of Denver, who
was driving the machine as host to
the visitors of the presidential party,
and fatally injured Thomas F. Daw-
son, of Denver. Mr.. Dawson died
Of his injuries early Monday.
MIR. Curtis and Mr.. Craig were mem
bers of the party and personal
friends of Mr.. Dawson.
Dawson Veteran Reporter
President Harding was encouraged
by the reports he received and in
structed the hospital authorities to
keep him advised concerning the
condition of Mr.. Craig as he, con-
tinued along the route,
Mr.. Dawson was for twenty years
a member of the Washington staff
Of the Associated Press, and later
connected with various newspapers.
In recent years he has been director
of the historical department of the
Colorado Historical and Natural His.
tory society. Mr.. Craig sustained d
badly lacerated scalp; bruised Shout
ders and suffered severe shock.
Early this morning it was said at
the hospital where he was taken
that he would recover unless COM
plications developed.
Mr.. Dawson suffered a broken
ankle, bruised shoulders and scalp
decorations.
The newspaper men, who had gone
on the trip as guests of the Denver
Press club, had climbed Lookout
mountain and were returning
through the Bear creek canyon,
twenty-five miles from Denver, when
the accident occurred.
Car Drops Seventy-Fiye Feet
The motor car WAS rounding Look
ing Glass curve, one of the sharpest
bends in the Denver mountain park
highway system, when it was seen
to swerve toward the edge of the
road, crash through a stone pillar
and wire cable protecting rail, and
tumbled down the jagged incline al
most to the waters of Bear creek,
seventy-five feet below.
1t is believed that a broken steer
ing knuckle caused the car to be-
come unmanageable. Curtis was
pinned beneath the car and Craig
had been thrown clear. French was
found few feet from the wrecked
automobile and Dawson about fifty
feet down the incline. 1t is believed
that Curtis was, killed instantly.
French was alive when other mem
bers of the party reached the vic
TINS of the accident, but died before
he could be brought to Denver.