Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-22
PROMINENT GARDINER MAN
AMONG KILLED IN AUTO'SPLUNCE
over PREC|PICE NEAR NICE, ITALY
FUNERALS TO-DAY

Nice, Aug. 21-(By A. P.)-Fu-
neral services will be held tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock in the station
here for the five Americans and one
Frenchman who were killed yesterday
when a sightseeing motor bus
plunged through a parapet on the
road between Nice and Evian and
fell into the Var river.
Those killed were the Rev. Hiram
Grant Person and Mrs. Person of
Newton, Mass; Mrs. Alexander
Sondheimer of Muskogee, Okla; Mrs.
ID. S. White of Washington, D. c.;
Charles II. Gray of Gardiner, Me,
and Louis Vallerino a French chauf-
feur.
The room In the station where the
bodies are lying has been trans
ferred into mortuary chapel by the
municipal authorities. After the
services the bodies of the Americans
will be taken to Marseilles for trans
portation to the United States.
Mrs. Meta Mooney. the only one Of
the % occupants of the bus to es-
cape injury. was highly praised today
for pluck and energy after the acct
dent. Mrs. Mooney worked all after
noon aiding the rescue party and then
sat upX throughout the night nursing
the injured.
The accident occurred near the viii
lage of Guilames about 40 miles from
Nice.
At the point where the accident oc-
Cured the mountain road runs close
70 Y,in hn dy.i, ~ q
bus was apparently unable to
straighten out his car after making a
sharp turn and the huge machine
jumped the parapet, turning a COM
plete somersault before landing in the
torrent. far below.
Tourists led by Professor Russell
b. Miller of the Wesleyan Univer-
sity, arrived in Nice Sunday happy
and care-free. after a beautiful tour
throughout Italy. They left here,
accompanied by photographer Rugg,
yesterday morning. The passengers
stopped for luncheon at noon at the
little hotel Alivier in the village of
Guiliudes. perched high in the
French Alps. leaving for Briancon at
Boclock after the Americans had
gracefully agreed to make room for
a Frenchman. Jean Paul of Nice.
who was desirious OF getting a lift
to Barcellonette.
Paul escaped with slight injuries
and was able to relate his exper-
fences. The car. he says, proceeded
at normal speed over the dangerous
roads along the left bank of the
river Var. ranging from 800 to 900
feet above the level of the rived bed.
About IL miles south of Gull
EaunuS the road crossed one OF the
small torrents common in the vict-
nifty. The bridge over this stream
is reached by a hairpin turn down
the side of the mountain. the road in
its steep incline dropping 100 feet
in less than 1000 yards.
The car gathered terrific speed.
descending the hill. the chauffeur,
according to NJ. Paul. apparently
losing control of the vehicle as the
brakes did not seem to respond. He
negotiated the bridge safely. never
theless. but was unable to take the
sharp turn at the opposite end. the
car crashing into parapet and 60
ing over at full speed.
The passengers who were killed
outright were those who were un-
able to extricate themselves from
the seats and were crushed under
the heavy vehicle.
The shrieks Of terror as the car
fell were succeeded by the walls of
the dyine and appeals for help from
the wounded Insensible only
momentarily. Paul dragged himself
to the parapet and gave one look
into the chasm.
II never saw and I never expect
to see a more terrifying scene" he
told friends today. land have been
through four years OF war" he add
ed