Evening star., 1925-01-01
COASTER IS KILLED;
z OTHERS Injured
Police Order Close Guard OF
Streets Used for SIedS
After First Snow.

Already Washingtons first gener-
Gus snowfall has resulted In one boy
killed, two others injured while
coasting, and orders by Maj. Sullivan
for police to guard closely all places
in the District where danger turks
for children out for a gay time with
their new Christmas sleds.
Benjamin Tenn of 700 Irving street
northwest, was the first victim OF
the new coasting spree, into which
il seemed all youthful Washington
launched last night as soon as suffi-
cient snow had coated the streets.
He was fatally injured when struck
by an automobile driven by James A.
Flynn. "a, 654 F street northeast,
near Warder street and Columbia
road. The accident took place short
ly before 10 o'clock
Before leaving home this morning
Maj. Sullivan warned his 10-year-old
son of the danger Of coasting on the
streets and the boy, turning to his
father, asked: What is a boy going
to do these days? If he can't coast
on the streets where can be coast?
Maj. Sullivan advised the son to do
his playing on the sidewalk. fully
realizing, however. he said, that his
suggestion would not be adopted.
Dies at Hospital.
The boy was rushed to Garfield
Hospital and died there at 11:o5 o'clock.
Numerous children. taking adVan-
tage of the first snow of the season
that made coasting possible, were in
the vicinity of Columbia road and
Warder street when Flynn's automo-
bile, going West, appeared and the
accident happened.
Takes Boy to Hospital.
Flynn, member of the fire depart
ment and driver for Chief Watson,
took the injured boy to the hospital.
He was detained by the police until
released by order of DR.. Herbert E.
Martyr, acting coroner, for his ap
pearance at an inquest at the morgue
tomorrow morning.
Sled Hits Auto.
The two injured lads were hurt
when the bobsleds on which they
were riding crashed into an auto
mobile at the foot of Nineteenth
street hill at Florida avenue today,
one sustaining serious injuries. and
the other escaping with only minor
bruises.
The boys are Gordon wilkins, IL
years old, of 13 Iowa Circle, whose
injuries were pronounced slight: and
Ernest Anderson, IL, of 1885 Oregon
avenue. who was the boy seriously
hurt. They were rushed to Children's
Hospital for treatment. Young An
derson was Immediately taken to the
operating room. where physicians re-
ported his injuries very serious, but
refused to predict the possible out
come of his condition.
Mai. Sullivan had received from
several parts OF the city numerous
requests to protect children coastins
by closing off the streets, but unable
10 comply with these requests, he
issued orders to police captains to
survey their entire precincts and keep
a close watch over the flying sleds,
protecting children from intersecting
traffic.
Maj. Sullivan's order to the captains
reads as follows:
"Commanding officers are again di-
rected to give special attention to
points where children are coasting,
and to utilize as many men as pos
sible in affording protection to the
children.
Make survey of your precinct and
station men at the particularly dan
gerous points, and wherever 1t Is
found difficult to afford adequate po-
lice protection to the coasters, advise
them to desist from coasting at that
point.
For night coasting use red lam
terms wherever advisable, have SER
geants make continuous visits to
places where there is coasting and
see that the men on duty are alert
and helpful. l want the children to
enjoy themselves, but 1 also want
them kept safe from harm"