Duncan often wore scarves which trailed behind her, and this caused her death
in a freak accident in Nice, France. She was killed at the age of 49 when her
scarf caught in the open-spoked wheel of her friend Ivan Falchetto's Bugatti
automobile, in which she was a passenger. As the driver sped off, the long
cloth wrapped around the vehicle's axle. Duncan was yanked violently from the
car and dragged for several yards before the driver realized what had
happened. She died almost instantly from a broken neck. The tragedy gave rise
to Gertrude Stein's mordant remark that "affectations can be dangerous."
Other reports say it was a rented car, with a chauffer, some say the scarf
wrapped around the rear wheel, some say the rear axle.
David W. Jones
'62 Mk II BT7 tricarb
Cumberland, RI USA
----- Original Message -----
From: davidwjones
To: STEV0001@aol.com ; alan@andysnet.net ; dwflagg@juno.com
Cc: sbyers@ec.rr.com ; healeys@autox.team.net
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: An interesting question
I know it was Isadora Duncan, --I believe it was an Auburn Boat-tail, and I
had always heard that the (v. long) scarf was caught under the "rear tire"
I'll see what I can find....
David W. Jones
'62 Mk II BT7 tricarb
Cumberland, RI USA
----- Original Message -----
From: STEV0001@aol.com
To: alan@andysnet.net ; dwflagg@juno.com
Cc: sbyers@ec.rr.com ; healeys@autox.team.net
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: An interesting question
The movie star you're referring to was Isadora Duncan and I believe the
event occurred in the 1920s.
Steve G.
Benicia, CA
# 43007
1974 TR - 6
1979 MGB L/E
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