In DecemÂber 1931, havÂing just embarked on a 40-stop lecÂture tour of the UnitÂed States, WinÂston Churchill was runÂning late to dine with financier Bernard Baruch on New York City’s Upper East Side. He hadn’t bothÂered to bring Baruch’s address, operÂatÂing under the incorÂrect assumpÂtion that his friend was so disÂtinÂguished a perÂsonÂage, any ranÂdom cab-driÂving comÂmonÂer would autoÂmatÂiÂcalÂly recÂogÂnize his buildÂing.
Such were the days before cell phones and Google Maps.…
EvenÂtuÂalÂly, Churchill bagged the cab, and shot out across 5th Avenue mid-block, thinkÂing he would fare betÂter on foot.
Instead, he was very nearÂly “squashed like a gooseÂberÂry” when he was struck by a car travÂelÂing about 35 miles an hour.
Churchill, who wastÂed no time pedÂdling his memÂoÂries of the acciÂdent and subÂseÂquent hosÂpiÂtalÂizaÂtion to The DaiÂly Mail, explained his misÂcalÂcuÂlaÂtion thusÂly:
In EngÂland we freÂquentÂly cross roads along which fast trafÂfic is movÂing in both direcÂtions. I did not think the task I set myself now either difÂfiÂcult or rash. But at this moment habit played me a deadÂly trick. I no soonÂer got out of the cab someÂwhere about the midÂdle of the road and told the driÂver to wait than I instincÂtiveÂly turned my eyes to the left. About 200 yards away were the yelÂlow headÂlights of an approachÂing car. I thought I had just time to cross the road before it arrived; and I startÂed to do so in the prepossession—wholly unwarÂrantÂed— that my only danÂgers were from the left.
Yeah, well, that’s why we paint the word “LOOK” in the crossÂwalk, pal, equipÂping the Os with left-leanÂing pupils for good meaÂsure.
AnothÂer cab ferÂried the woundÂed Churchill to Lenox Hill HosÂpiÂtal, where he idenÂtiÂfied himÂself as “WinÂston Churchill, a British StatesÂman” and was treatÂed for a deep gash to the head, a fracÂtured nose, fracÂtured ribs, and severe shock.
“I do not wish to be hurt any more. Give me chloÂroÂform or someÂthing,” he directÂed, while waitÂing for the anesÂthetist.
After two weeks in the hosÂpiÂtal, where he manÂaged to develÂop pleurisy in addiÂtion to his injuries, Churchill and his famÂiÂly repaired to the Bahamas for some R&R.
It didn’t take long to feel the finanÂcial pinch of all those canÂcelled lecÂture dates, howÂevÂer. Six weeks after the acciÂdent, he resumed an abbreÂviÂatÂed but still gruÂelÂing 14-stop verÂsion of the tour, despite his fears that he would prove unfit.
Otto PickÂhardt, Lenox Hill’s admitÂting physiÂcian came to the resÂcue by issuÂing Churchill the Get Out of ProÂhiÂbiÂtion Free Pass, above. To wit:
…the post-acciÂdent conÂvaÂlesÂcence of the Hon. WinÂston S. Churchill necesÂsiÂtates the use of alcoÂholic spirÂits espeÂcialÂly at meal times. The quanÂtiÂty is natÂuÂralÂly indefÂiÂnite but the minÂiÂmum requireÂments would be 250 cubic cenÂtimeÂters.
PerÂhaps this is what the emiÂnent British StatesÂman meant by chloÂroÂform “or someÂthing”? No doubt he was relieved about those indefÂiÂnite quanÂtiÂties. Cheers.
Read Churchill’s “My New York MisÂadÂvenÂture” in its entireÂty here. You can also learn more by perusÂing this secÂtion of MarÂtin Gilbert’s biogÂraÂphy, WinÂston Churchill: The WilderÂness Years.
Note: An earÂliÂer verÂsion of this post appeared on our site in 2016.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
What HapÂpens When MorÂtals Try to Drink WinÂston Churchill’s DaiÂly Intake of AlcoÂhol
Oh My God! WinÂston Churchill Received the First Ever LetÂter ConÂtainÂing “O.M.G.” (1917)
WinÂston Churchill Goes BackÂward Down a Water Slide & LosÂes His Trunks (1934)
Ayun HalÂlÂiÂday is an author, illusÂtraÂtor, and Chief PriÂmaÂtolÂoÂgist of the East VilÂlage Inky zine. She lives in New York City, some 30 blocks to the north of the scene of Churchill’s acciÂdent. FolÂlow her @AyunHalliday