| Notes |
- Youngest daughter of her parents
From Daily News: 1907 July 3
Monday's mail brought particulars of a shocking automobile accident at New Hampshire a fortnight ago, in which five persons were seriously injured and had a narrow escape from death. Even when the letter was wrote, a week after the awful mishap, it could not be said that all the injured would recover. One of the victims is Miss Lydia CHURCHILL, a trained nurse, daughter of Mr. Ambrose CHURCHILL, engineer, and sister of Mrs. VALENTINE, of this city. Miss CHURCHILL, who occupied the responsible position of matron and head nurse of the Metcalf Hospital, Wintrop, had been given a vacation, and went on a visit to friends at New Hampshire.
Her holiday was over, and she was returning home [to Wintrop where she was nursing], when the accident occurred. In the auto were Dr. METCALF, the head of the institution, his wife, two intimate friends - a Mr. and Mrs. CHASE - and Nurse CHURCHILL. All went well until the machine was going down a steep incline, when the brakes gave out and the car took charge of the driver. The Doctor is an experienced "chauffeur", and did not lose his presence of mind, but was unable to check the car. It dashed down the hill at lightning speed, and, before the occupants had time to think of jumping clear, it ran against a stone wall, several feet high. When the car struck, the occupants were thrown forward with terrible force, and the auto toppled over. The runaway was watched by several persons, but they could render no assistance. The scene at the wreck was enough to make the stoutest heart shudder. The car was broken and bent in pieces, and the party, which a few minutes previously had been a gay one, lay among the ruins, apparently dead. A crowd soon collected and physicians were on hand without delay. All the injured were found unconscious, and were immediately conveyed to the hospital. Examination showed that all were in a bad state. Nurse CHURCHILL, it was found, had five ribs, an arm and her collar bone broken, besides many small bruises about the body. Dr. METCALF's skull was fractured and both wrists broken. Mrs. CHASE's skull was also fractured and her face much disfigured, Mrs. METCALF and Mr. CHASE were both bruised about the head and face, but not as severely as the others. For two or three days they remained at the hospital, where the lives of Miss CHURCHILL, Mrs. CHASE and Dr. METCALF hung on a thread. But by careful attention on the part of the medical men and nurses, they improved sufficiently to be removed to their own hospital. Mrs. CHASE, Nurse CHURCHILL and Dr. METCALF were still on the danger list when the letter was written. The parents and friends of Miss CHURCHILL are in a state of great anxiety, as they fear the next mail will bring worse tidings. Her brother, Bert, who was at Beverly, Mass., was summoned to the bedside of his sister just after the terrible happening, as it was feared that she would not recover. It is possible that the young lady is on the mending hand, as if she were worse, Bert would probably have telegraphed.
Miss CHURCHILL left here six years ago, to train as a nurse. She had a great liking for the calling, and at the end of her course, graduated with honors. Her work was so satisfactory, that when the position of matron of the Metcalf Hospital became vacant, it was offered her, and she accepted. Last summer, she spent her vacation in St. John's. Her many friends will be sorry to hear of her misfortune, and hope she will soon be fully recovered. Dr. METCALF, who is only 38 years of age, is well known throughout the State of Massachusetts. It is thought that should he recover, he will not be able to practice again.
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1880 - Yes, date unknown