MATHIESON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 04:26:01 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, May 29, 1913
Page 1

Ross Man Killed in Auto Accident

John Gregory Mathieson, son of Frederick E. Mathieson of Ross, received injuries in an automobile accident on Saturday night from which he died at six o’clock on Sunday morning without regaining consciousness.

Conrad Meussodffer and some friends were in the Meussodffer seven passenger touring car on Saturday evening, when young Meussodffer said that he was not feeling well, and wanted to go home, and that if the boys would like a little ride, they might leave him at his own gate, and motor where they pleased until it was time to leave the car at the Ross station for his parents, who were coming home on a late boat.

This proposal was accepted and the machine, driven by Roy Richards, was en route to Ross station, passing along Laurel avenue, at ten o’clock, when to avoid several large trees growing directly in t he centre of the road, the driver hugged close to the right, and in so doing the wheels on one side of the car sunk about two inches in the soft soil, throwing the top of the machine a foot out of the perpendicular, at a curve in the road. The front seat passed safely under a large pendant bough of an oak tree, but the overhanging limb caught the rear of the car, striking your Mathieson across the chest, and pressing against his body with such force that the back seat was torn from the machine, and his skull crushed.

The young man was hurried to Hund’s Sanitorium, where it was known at once that he was beyond human aid, and despite all efforts to restore him, he died without regaining consciousness.

There is no blame whatever attached to any one on account of the accident. Roy Richards, who was steering the machine, is accounted one of the most careful drivers in the valley, and he was going slowly when he encountered the overhanging tree.

The other occupants of the machine were the Misses Sullivan and the Misses Dardill.

One of the girls was thrown out but no one sustained any permanent injuries, except young Mathieson.

The deceased was taken to the undertaking parlors of Coroner Sawyer, where Doctors Kuser, Wickman, W. F. Jones and H. O. Hund performed an autopsy.

The funeral took place from the home of Mrs. Marks, in San Francisco and the interment was in Cypress Lawn cemetery, beside the mother who died a tragic death three months ago.

The Fire Company of Ross, of which Mr. Mathieson was a member, attended the funeral in a body, and the Ross Fire house was draped in mourning.

Jack Mathieson was a handsome, prepossessing young man, over six feet tall, with a disposition that rendered him a favorite among his companions.

On the day of his death, notification came of a legacy of $60,000 left him by an uncle in Vermont.