The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19
Special Union Traction Car from the
North Crushed Machine and Ground
the Driver TO Death.
CLAIM MADE BY SPECTATORS
ALLEGED THAT INTERURBAN CAR
WAS RUNNING AT GREAT SPEED.
Different story Told by Claim Agents
of the Company-Dead Man Promf-
nent i'm His Home Town.

The first serious automobile accident
since the use of the machines has become
common in Indianapolis occurred yesterday
morning at Twenty-seventh street and Col
lege avenue in collision between a U1ion
Traction Company interurban car and an
automobile driven by DR.. Charles Howard.
of st. Paul. Ind, who was instantly killed.
Richard Ryse, of isis Sutherland avenue.
DR.. Howard's companion In the automobile.
badly injured by being thrown from
the auto, which was demolished. The troll
ley car was badly scratched and many
of the panes of glass in its windows were
broken.
The accident, which occurred at 10 o'clock
in the morning. was caused by unfortu-
nate combination of circumstances that
led DR.. Howard to drive his automobile di-
rectly in the path of the interurban car,
which, running at a rapid rate of speed.
was hidden from DR.. Howard when he
turned from the east TO the west side Of
College avenue to get around two street
cars and a horse and wagon which OBJ
structed his progress on the right-hand
side of the street going north. The people
living in the vicinity Of College avenue and
Twenty-seventh street say that the inter-
urban car was running at a speed greater
than that permitted by city ordinance and
was going at rate of more than twenty
miles an hour. but the crew of the car dis
puted the statement and said that an ordi-
nary rate of speed was being made when
the collision occurred. the speed had
been cut down in making the turn at the
loop of street car tracks at Twenty-seventh
street
Dr. Howard, the man killed in the coll
lision, was thirty-two years old and promi-
nent in public life at his home He was
the son of ex-senator Howard, Of ST. Paul.
Ind, and was a member Of the board OF
school trustees of that place. He was IL
the city making purchases OF school sup
plies from Mr.. Richard Ryse, school sup
ply agent, who has his place of business
in Jackson place. DR.. Howard had taken
his automobile, which he has used for some
time and was skillful in its use. from re-
pair shop where il was undergoing altera-
tions and invited Mr.. Ryse to ride with
him to the latter's home on Sutherland
avenue Mr.. Ryse said that DR.. Howard
was manipulating the controlling levers OF
the machine like an expert and seemed TO
be an excellent chauffeur.
MR. RYSE'S STORY.
According to Mr.. Ryse's description OF
the accident the automobile was travelling
north on the east side OF College avenue
at an ordinary rate Of speed as IL ap-
preached Twenty-seventh street At that
point a horse and wagon stopped at a
horses drinking fountain at Twenty-sev-
enth street and obstructed the further prog
ress of the automobile. Dr. Howard was
unable to turn into the street-car track be-
cause of two College-avenue street cars
which were stopped directly opposite the
fountain Without stacking speed and un-
concernedly Dr. Howard turned the auto
mobile across the street-car tracks, intend
ing to go around the obstruction by pass
ing to the west side of College avenue.
AS he made the turn a big interurban
car of the Union Traction Company. spe-
cial car No. 255, in charge Of Motorman
Walter Eller and Conductor o. Johnson.
which was approaching from the north,
crashed into the auto and before the car
could be stopped had dragged DIR. Howard
under its wheels, where he had fallen, for
several feet and thrown the wrecked ve-
hicle some distance from its front by the
fender Mr.. Ryse was thrown from the
automobile with great violence on the curb
ing to the right. The automobile was de-
molished and was scattered about the street.
Or. Howard, when taken from beneath
the trucks of the car, dead His alb
domen was crushed and his lower limbs
mangled. Bruises on the head and face In
dicated that the violence OF the collision
with the car was sufficient 10 have caused
death without the mangiing which his
body received under the car. Mr.. Ryse was
scratched about the face and head and
suffered much from a confusion on his
head. He was thought TO be injured inter-
naIly. as he complained of pains In his
stomach. He was able TO walk. however.
to the residence of DR.. ]. G. Fisk at Twen-
ty-fifth street and College avenue where
he was attended by that physician. and
later was able TO proceed to his home on
Sutherland avenue. DR.. Howard's body
was taken in charge by Dr. Towles. Of tho
City Dispensary who transported IL to the
city. morgue. from whence II was removed
later by an undertaken retained to care for
IL by the family.
The automobile was so badly wrecked by
the collision that few parts of IL remained
intact. The tires were stripped from Its
wheels and the box body OF the vehicle was
crushed out of shape. The mechanical
rangements under the machine were mashed
and torn beyond repair. Many OF the win
dows of the street car were broken and
the vestibule smashed considerably by the
collision
INVESTIGATION MADE.
After the excitement. which was intense.
had died away. discussion OF
the causes OF the accident re-
suited I'm the general belief that
the Union Traction Company car was run
ming at dangerous rate of speed This
fact has been a source OF much worry ana