Saunderstown, RI Automobile Accident, Aug 1907

TWO KILLED IN AUTO.

BOSTON BROKER'S MACHINE TURNS TURTLE IN RHODE ISLAND.

ITS BRAKES FAIL TO WORK.

CAR GOING SO FAST IT TOPPLES OVER AND PINS CHAUFFEUR AND ONE PASSENGER UNDER IT -- FOUR OTHERS THROWN SOME DISTANCE.

Saunderstown, R. I., Aug. 26. -- W. WALDO MERRILL of 915 Beacon Street, Boston, a State Street stockbroker, and ERIC LANDSTROM of Mattapan, Mass., a chauffeur, were killed by the overturning of an automobile which crashed into a stone wall at a sharp curve in the road leading to Narragansett Pier. Four other occupants of the touring car, MR. and MRS. FREDERIC L. MILLIKEN of Milton, Mass.; their daughter, MISS RITA MILLIKEN, and MRS. MERRILL, wife of W. WALDO MERRILL, escaped with slight injuries, although MISS MILLIKEN is believed to have sustained a fracture of the wrist.
The party of six persons left Newport in MR. MILLIKEN'S big touring car for Narragansett Pier. MR. MERRILL riding on the front seat with the chauffeur. The latter, according to MR. MILLIKEN, has been over the road before and was familiar with it and was usually a careful driver. Just before reaching a corner known as the South Ferry, five miles out from the pier, where the road takes a sharp turn, LANDSTROM apparently attempted to slow down, but there was some trouble with the brakes and the big car swung around so rapidly that it overturned. The momentum was sufficient to carry it in this fashion across the road against a stone wall. MERRILL and LANDSTROM, being caught beneath the car, were instantly killed. The four occupants of the tonneau were thrown a considerable distance.

Daily Times New Brunswick New Jersey 1907-08-26
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!