Hervey Whitaker Bishop, aged 19, of this city, was instantly killed and Fred Barnes, aged 25, of Miami, Fla., and Durham, was slightly injured when a car in which they were riding swerved from the road at a point about six miles south of Oxford about 6:15 o’clock Friday afternoon, and jumping an embankment on the left side of the road, turtled, throwing the car on top of its occupants. It is thought that Barnes was driving the car at the time of the accident and that they were riding at a moderate rate of speed. Bishop was thrown against a large stump in the ravine beside the road, striking his head, instant death resulting.
At the time of the accident there were a large number of travelers on the road, and when the car was reset it was found that young Bishop was already dead. He was taken with Mr. Barnes to the Brantwood hospital in Oxford, where it was reported at an early hour this morning that Barnes was resting very well, and did not seem to be suffering with any serious injuries, although he was not able to tell anything concerning the details of the accident.
According to people who found the car a few minutes after the accident happened, it was discovered that one rod connecting the steering wheel with the front axle was broken, and it is considered likely that this caused the accident. It appears from witnesses that the young men were driving along the road at a moderate rate of speed, when the car suddenly lurched and swerved to the left, running into a ravine or ditch fixed for draining the highway, and turned completely over pinning the young men under it. At this point the road is practically straight and there was no occasion for a turn in the driving of the car. It is thought that had the car been going at an exceptionally high rate of speed both the young men would have been killed.
The body of the young man was not badly mutilated, giving rise to the assumption that death occurred immediately. The only discovered injury was a broken right arm with slight abrasions on the right leg and head. When brought to a local undertaking establishment the body was carefully examined and it was decided that death resulted from a concussion caused when the head of the deceased struck the stump in the ravine. The injuries of Barnes are thought to be entirely confined to abrasions and bruises, although internal injuries may be exposed when a careful examination is made this morning.
The deceased was the son of Mr. and Mrs. N.M. Bishop of Jackson street, and was well known in the business and social life of the city. Up until a few months ago he was connected with Gilmers’ Inc., of this city, and served as assistant in the advertising department of the store. Recently Mr. Barnes and young Bishop became associated with a firm known as the B. & B. Signs Systems, with office and shop on Church street. Their business was that of painting and building road and street signs and doing special work in advertising decoration. The company has grown steadily since its organization and was regarded as an enterprising business establishment of the city. The deceased member of the firm had just been successful in closing a large deal for some sign work that would have placed his firm on a substantial basis.
The young man was a member of the West Durham Baptist church and was interested in the activities of the church and the community. He was regarded by the people of Durham who knew hm in his business dealings and associations as a young man of exceptional sterling qualities and of stead, irreproachable habits. These qualities made him well liked by many.
He had attended Durham High school and taken special courses at the University of North Carolina, and was regarded as a very promising student of art, that of specialty advertising. At one time he was a member of the Durham Machine Gun company and was relieved of his appointment only because his work required that he be out of the city so much. Both his fellow employees and general associations were loud in their praise last evening concerning their contact with the deceased.
No definite funeral arrangements have been completed this morning but it is probable that services will be held Sunday afternoon, conducted at the home. Rev. Thomas M. Green will officiate at the services. Interment will be made at Maplewood Cemetery.
The deceased is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N.M. Bishop, his father being at present connected with the American Tobacco Company, but a former member of the local police force; six brothers, Joseph, Marvin, Carl, Charlie, Louis, Hugh, and one sister, Celesta.
Pall-bearers and floral-bearers will be selected by the family from among the intimate friends of the deceased.
From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Saturday, Nov. 3, 1923
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