view raw text
AMERICAN TURFMEN MEET DEATH ABROAD. John E. McDonald and Charles F. McMcekin Arc Killed in a Railroad Wreck in England. John U. .McDonald, of New York, and Charles V. McMcekiit of Xicxiiigtoiiv-. Ivy., wore Jwo widely known American turfmen who. together with twenty-ono other persons from the United States, lost their lives in a railroad accident at Salisbury, England, about - oclock Sunday morning last. Messrs. McDonald aud McMeekin, the former accompanied by bis wife, took passage for England on the steamship New York, which sailed from New York June 23. The steamship arrived at Plymouth, Kngland, shortly after ! oclock Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald and Mr. McMeekin, along with 85 other passengers Itoardcd the Boat Special for London. The engineer had reached a" speed of about 70 miles an hour aud did not lessen it as the tralu approached the sharp curve just beyond Salisbury. Tin; engine, followed by its three passenger" coaches and guards van, left the rails, crashed into a mill; train on another track and was converted into .1 mass of twisted steel and splinted wood covering the scores of dead, dying and injured persons. Mrs. McDonald escaped with a few bruises. She told the reiKirters that when the accident occurred she was sitting conversing with Mr. McDonald white Mr. McMeekin, Mrs. LilliaS Ilurd Waite and her daughter, of New York, were sitting opposite them, the daughter sleeping with her head on her mothers shoulder. Mr. McDonald fell forward with his back broken and .Mr. McMeekin and Mrs. Waite were killed in almost identically the same way. The daughter was not injured. Mrs. McDonald cabled the sad information to Mr. McMeekins family at Lexington, Ky.. and she will return at once to America with the bodies of her husband and his friend. It was Mr. McDonalds sixtieth voyage across the Atlantic aud .Mr. .McMeekins llrst. Mr. McDonald made bis fortune on the turf and increased it through successful investments. He was u -bleeder of thoroughbreds in a modest way and some of his horses, among tliein Heusselaer, were raced abroad as well as in this country. He often represented W. K. Vanderbilt In transactions pertaining to racing in this country and abroad. The liurin.se of this last visit to Kngland was to spend the hot months with Richard Croker. Charles 1". McMeekin was owner of Oakwood Stud at Lexington. Ky., having bought out the interest of Colonel V. K. Applegate several years ago. Among the horses bred by Mr. McMeekin was lo Between, winner of the last Suburban Handicap, Rensselaer. Itauuockburu. Boundless, Ben Eder, Flo-i-arllne. Potentate, Amelia Fonso, Orinda, Lucasta, -Mc.AIeekin, .Teanette Edwards, Flyback and Broadcloth. Kensselaer was the means of establishing the close friendship between Mr. McMeekin and Mr. -McDonald. That stallion and ten mares belonging to Mr. McDonald are now at Oakwood Stud. The purpose of Mr. McMeekins visit to Kngland was to purchase a stallion to head his establishment, where Bowling Brook Is now the principal sire. .
