Gordonsville, Virginia
February 3, 1950

Dear Claudia, Marijane and Hugo:

I see the account of the accident is in the Orange Review so I must write to you about it before you get unduly alarmed. Joan, Ellen, and Johnny Scott were pretty badly hurt in an accident in Richmond last Saturday, January 28th. They are going to be all right we feel quite confident. Ellen's condition is pronounced past danger and Joan is doing much better than the doctors thought possible. Johnny is going to be all right. Now to more details since I have tried to keep you from being too frightened in the very beginning. Johnny, Stuart Burford, and Martha Brook Chermside went to Richmond to the theater and stopped by Joan's house for supper. She didn't have enough for supper so they went out for groceries. About two blocks or so from her house Stuart drove slowly through a stop sign and a car going very fast (I presume) hit them broadside, threw the car twenty feet, turning it over several times. Ellen's leg above the knee was broken, compound fracture, with artery broken. Very dirty wound which had to be thoroughly scoured, which the doctor assured me they had done. She has her leg suspended and will have to stay in that position for six weeks, and then perhaps a cast, we don't know. She had pneumonia but is over it safely. Joan was by far the worst beat up. Crushed pelvis, torn bladder, punctured lungs, five broken ribs, bad cut over the eye, blow on the head. In really very serious condition. Johnny's face was broken but cheek bone has been reset and his teeth will be put into place in a day or so. Martha Brooke called us about nine-thirty p.m. Accident occurred about five but she probably waited until all were at the Medical Center and examinations made. Machi and I drove down at once. Johnny and Ellen had been treated and taken to their rooms so we did not see them that night. Joan was still having X-rays taken. We saw her and talked to her. She was very brave and bright. Knew us (though she seems not to remember anything of that now). After examination the doctor said he would have to operate on the bladder: sew it up. Major operation. Performed early the next morning -and entirely successful - Monday afternoon, breathing became labored and doctor said only hope was operation on chest. Two hours on the table and three transfusions during operation. Five ribs had to be wired and tubes etc. put into plural cavity. Now two tubes, one from bladder (or direct from kidneys) and the other from the chest. Both major operations and only Joan's wonderful health, will to live, and guts, are what are keeping her alive. Doctors say she is doing much better than they thought possible. We are very fortunate in that she is in the best equipped hospital I have ever seen and the doctors are wonderful. They moved her from one room to another because the second room was equipped with a suction pump which would help her bring up the matter which she inevitably must hawk up. Tomorrow will be a full week from the day of the accident and the doctors are still optimistic, so we are very, very hopeful. I hoped to wait a few days more before writing but am afraid you might hear through Meredith, or that the paper might reach you sooner than I think possible. I shall keep you posted often, but remember this. We are very, very hopeful. If Joan has lived this long through these two very serious operations plus the awful shock and broken bone, her chances of recovery are indeed good.

Ed has been wonderful throughout. I feel dreadfully sorry for the poor boy. It was all so very unnecessary; but there is no use in mulling over that. Stuart and Martha Brook were hardly hurt at all. The cars were both utterly demolished. The two men in the other car were not badly hurt. No insurance, and they have nothing. One is a garbage collector and the other worked for Liggett and Myers. The hearing is set for March 3rd. Both were breaking the law: one by going through a stop sign and the other by going too fast. Luckily Joan has hospitalization for herself and Ellen, but this will be a long expensive hospitalization.

Machi is holding up wonderfully and Nich and John have been marvellous. Scotty went to pieces and wept on Nich but is himself again I think by now. He has always been simply cracked about Joan, you know. By the way, he is going to marry Marion Fibre, though we don't know when. Speaking of marriage, John Dix came last night and told us he is marrying the widow with two children - in June. We are very happy for him.

I hate to have to write you this terrible news but want you to hear it from us first. We have Garrett here with us, and he is very immature about it all, which is a blessing. Much love to you all from all of us.

P.S. A brain specialist has examined Joan and given her all sorts of tests. No brain injury. There will be no noticeable scar over the eye. Johnny's face is black and blue but otherwise just like his own. A wonderful war face doctor worked on him, going in through the mouth and only one small incision near the eye.

I forgot to say, Stuart was driving, poor boy.

Monday, February 6th. I did not mail this after all as I did so want even better news to tell. Machi and I went down Saturday and saw Joan for about five minutes. She has had fish and potatoes to eat, is turning herself over, and seems bright. Why she has to turn I don't know unless it is to prevent pneumonia, but she says it is terribly painful because of the smashed pelvis. The tube has been removed from the chest but the bladder one may stay in place for some time. Ellen is doing well and not a complaint out of her. Johnny's teeth still haven't been put in place. I see his teeth are all there so it must be the jaw which is dislocated. Machi and Nich have gone to Richmond today. Jeff came Saturday night and stayed until the morning, but didn't go to Richmond yesterday as we thought it would tire him without doing anybody much good. No news from Ed yesterday so we are confident things are going well.

Much love to all, again.