The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-15
SEVEN ARE INJURED.
C. r. STEMM AND PARTY OF RELA-
TIVES HAVEA RUNAWAY.
ALL THROWN INTO A DITCH.
Horses Take Fright at an Electric Car
and the Carriage Was Upset.
None of the Injuries are
Considered Dangerous

One of the most serious runaway
accidents that has ever occurred in
this city occurred Friday evening just
north of the city limits, and as a
result Ex-Chief of Police G. f. Stemm
and six of his relatives were seriously
injured. While the injuries to none of
the party are dangerous, all of them
will be laid up for some time.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stemm were receiving
visit from Mr.. Stemm's sister, Mrs.
w. A. Gerkin, and his niece, Mrs. Paul
F. Beich, of Bloomington, Ill. For the
entertainment of the visitors carriage
ride had been planned, and for this
purpose {, three seated rig had been
procured In it were Mr. and Mrs
Stemm and their two children, Helen
and Arthur, Mrs. Gerkin and Mrs.
Beich and little Otto Beich. After
they had been driving around the city
for some time it was decided to drive
out TO the residence Of c. a. Dickhaut
north of the city The horses which
Mr.. Stemm was driving were rather
excitable, but he had held them in
check during the afternoon and under
ordinary circumstances be would have
had no trouble with them. They had
only gone short distance north of the
city limits when an electric car on the
M. R. Il z. road approached and the
horses at once reared up and attempted
to run away. Mr.. Stemm signaled the
motorman to stop, but the fellow paid
no attention to the signal and the car
came on at a great speed. The horses
SHE'D to the right, and as the car
passed the carriage was turned over,
and before the occupants could have a
chance to leap from the vehicle all
were thrown into the ditch, and the
carriage was dragged over the women
and children.
When the motorman saw the acct
dent he stopped the car and returned
to assist the injured people. All of
them were taken to the residence of
William De Berge near the scene of the
accident, and were cared for as well as
possible. Later they we're brought to
their homes in this city.
All of the occupants were more or
less injured and it was miracle that
some of them we're not killed. Mr..
Stemm came out of the accident with
badly sprained ankle and several
bad bruises. Mrs. Stemm was struck
by the horses in their attempt to get
away and her hat saved her from a
serious injury, as it was she suffered
several bruises on the face and the
shock of the accident completely I'M
nerved her. Arthur was cut in four
places, in what manner it is not possible
to determine. Little Helen Stemm
suffered a severe cut on the face just
above the eye. Mrs. Gerkin was badly
bruised about the face and also seri-
ously injured by the shock. Mrs.
Beich and son escaped with slight
bruises.
The injured ones were all resting
easy at the Stemm home this morning
and it is hoped that the accident will
not result in any serious or permanent
injury to anyone. Eye witnesses who
saw the accident say that it resulted
wholly from the negligence of the
motorman in not stopping the car
when signaled by Mr.. Stemm. The
vehicle was completely demolished, but
the horses escaped without injury.