The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-08-14
UNAWARE OF ACCIDENT
r A Romans Gives His Version of
Auto Accident at Dow City

MIR. r. A. Romans who is now
touring Illinois with his family, hav-
ing seen the account of the unfortu-
nate accident at Dow City as pub
lished in the Review. writes to give
his version of the affair. Mr..
Romans says in part:
GAS you will probably issue the
Review again before my return wish
to make certain corrections in your
last article. although wish you to
understand that feel that you did me
entire justice. having only one side
to go on. Your closing paragraph
would indicate that we were driving
fast which was far from the fact-and
again, if any citizen at Arion had in
formed me of the accident would
have turned back just as quickly as
having been informed by the mar
shall and again. we did not toot the
horn when passing the horse. If any
blame attaches to me. for | was in
the car. will stand for it. NO
matter who is to blame. the regret.
exceedingly deep remains just the
same.
AS there is such a prejudice
against autos. l feel that nothing
should be published derogatory with
out just cause.
Now as to the facts as observed
by me. When we left Dow City
there were three teams some distance
ahead of us. going in the same direc-
ton. MIR. Kepford. farmer in the
rear another farm team in front, and
Mr.. Curtis in the middle in a buggy
with the top dropped back. We
slowed down as slow as horse would
walk and footed the horn repeatedly.
The back and front teams saw US and
Mr.. Kepford turned out of the road.
The man in front looked back and his
horses frisked up. thought it was
impossible that the man in the buggy,
did not know of our presence.
We pulled to the side of the pike
at very slow speed and got out so far
we almost tipped over the bank and
we were running so slow that we had
to change the gear to save us. When
we got by the side of Mr.. Curtis
horse. said "that horse is quiet"
and then l yelled to Rob that we were
going to upset and to get back on the
pike. Our own dangerous condition.
and the team in front. just at the
turn of the R. X. crossing engaged
our attention and | did not look back
until we turned the corner. and as a
cornfeld cut off lower view l could
only see Mr.. Kepford standing IN his
wagon as he had been when we
passed. We both believed Mr.. Curtis
horse safe one and did not think of
any danger.
The real trouble lay in the poor
harness used on the horse. | have it
from Mr.. Curtis himself that the horse
is not vicious and that had he had a
safe harness there would have been
no accident. He said the first move
the horse made broke the belly band
and the buggy shafts shot up above
the horses. head and made him I'M
manageable. Next the WORKOUT
double bride bit broke in the middle
and of course the results followed.
If Mr.. Curtis could have. or had,
stayed in the buggy he would have
been all right. as the horse went
direct to his barn, with buggy right
side up and nothing broken but the
dash board. where. suppose Mr.
Curtis went out.
do not want to be placed in the
position of being reckless or negli
gent unless deserve it and in this
case do not.
Mr.. Curtis knows how badly feel,
how anxiously have watched his
progress and that have offered ev-
erything within my power to aid him.
He being Methodist minister. strug-
CLING to educate his children. with a
sick son just returned from San Fran
cisco. you know that he has my sym
patty. Anything that the Review
may do. in the light of the facts, to
remove this stigma from me will be
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely yours.
d A DOMANC