The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-12
Mrs. e. &. Fuller Was in Automobile
Accident tourney Which Turn
ed Out Rather For
tunate.
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE
J. L. Tapp and Family in Machine
When Brake Refused to Work and
and Death Seemed
Near.


as one of our citizens, had miracul-
GUS escape from death Saturday at
Quincy in an automobile accident.
She suffered broken arm in the acct.
dent. She is the mother of DR.. F.
M. Fuller and Charles M. Fuller of
this city and has been making her
home with her daughter at Quincy for
the past five years. The Quincy
Wing of Sunday, gives the following
account of the thrilling experience of
the Tapp family:
Was Miracle.
AS If by miracle ]. Lewis Tapp and
family were saved from death yester-
day. In less than three minutes they
underwent an experience which they
will remember as long as they live and
1t was an experience which would
make interesting material for melo-
drama of the most exciting variety.
Taking advantage of the pleasant
weather yesterday afternoon Mr.. Tapp
took his family automobile riding. The
party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Tapp,
their five-year-old daughter, Mildred,
and Mrs. E. E. Fuller, the mother-in
law of Mr.. Tapp. After touring over
several streets of the city they started
at four o'clock out south Of town on
the new road leading out by the Gard
ner Governor Works. Going at a fair
ly fast clip the car dipped down the
hill near the governor works. The hill
Is long and steep and there is an alb
rupt turn at the bottom. When the
auto was within about two hundred
yaro of the bottom, steel cord which
connects the foot lever with the back
brake snapped suddenly. There was no
othe- brake to use. At each revolu-
ton of the wheels the machine was
gaining momentum. 1t soon was 60
ing at terrific speed. Mr.. Tapp real
'zed at once his predicament. At the
foot of the hill was the sharp turn.
too dangerous to attempt to turn.
Straight ahead was precipice over
which meant instant death to all
Grasping the situation Mr.. Tapp grab
bed the steering post and with sud-
den lurch directed the run-away-car
into bank on the right of the road
There was no alternative. The car
struck the embankment and tumbled
over on it's side in an instant. Each
person thought surely that the others
of the party had met with instant
death. All had escaped injury except
Mrs. Fuller. 1t developed later she
lad broken her left arm at the elbow.
William Wall and other men en-
ployed at the Gardner Governor Works
had come to the party's rescue and
had assisted the women to their feet.
The Quincy Transfer company was
communicated with by telephone and
a carriage was sent to the scene and
carried Mrs. Fuller to the Tapp home
at 1454 Vermont street DR.. R. j.
Christie Jr. dressed the wound and
later said that he expected her soon
to recover.
The automobile which figured in the
accident was twocyclinder Cadillac,
touring model and had a canopy top.
Mr.. Tapp believes that the top helped
save the lives of the occupants. After
the car had turned and was lying on
It's side the engine kept running and
continued to run until Mr. Tapp threw
off the clutch. After the machine was
righted it was found that the only
damage done to it was a dented top
Mrs. E. e. Fuller is widow and
has lived with Mr.. Tapp and mis- fam
fly for the last five years. She form
erly was from Keokuk
II never want to experience any
thing so exciting as long as / live
said Mr.. Tapp when speaking of the
incident. Now that it is all over
can talk about it but | tell you fo
time it was a terrible strain. hat
to think as quick as the mind coult
act of the proper thing to do and a
the same time my mind was on tn
safety of my family. What can / d
to save them? ! thought. 1t was nott
ing short of miracle that saved us
I had no idea that car on such
grade as that was could gain in spec