Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-09-10
AN AUTO ACCIDENT.
Narrow Escape Fsom Death OF
Several Well Known Gentlemen /:

What came near meaning deatl
for several well known BartOl
county gentlemen,o was can alhc
accident occurring near Ellin
wood about three O'Clock Monday
afternoon. There are several dif
ferent versions of the accident
The one that must. be the nearer
correct would be one coming from
eye witnesses. 0This owe 'have in
the report brought to the city by
Ed Dodge and Wilb Harris who
were at the scene Of the accident,
Their report is about like this,
o 1--WE were on QUIT way to Elm
wood to attepd Che Eagles picnic.
As We were nearing that city, we
passed an automobile driven by
George Helm. There were four
other passengers in tho car, only
one of whom we knew at that
time. 1t was Will Klein. The
auto was obeing driven at q very
rapid rate. We Thoughts nothing
more about the party after pass
ing, though the remark was made
by one of us sothat that was very
fast and careless driving We
continued on our way, end just
as we got to the northeast part OF
the city, one Of us booked
around and saw the same auto ap
prOaching us from Che rear, com
ing at q lively gait, fully as fast
as before. No whistle had been
blown Chat we heard, Of any 9th.
or alarm given. Whep we saw
Che auto we barely had time to.
get OUT of the way. A sharp hit
with the whip made the horses
jump, which is about all that say
ed us from o collision. The driv
er of the machine attempted tt
turn south az the corner. dn do.
ing so the machine skidded, caus
ing the tires on the right band.
wheels to come off, and that IN
turn caused the 4nachine to be
thrown over on its side and
against a telegraph pole, from
which it rebOunded. Our ohOPses
became frightened at theo Aoise
and ran for about a block before
we got them stopped. We return.
ed to the scene ofe9he accident,
and found three men, Geo. Helm.
Will Klein, and jerry PAler, lay.
ing face down up on the grade.
Peter BerScheidt waS0On his feet
practically unharmed, and Frank
Bear, the fifth occupant Of the
car, Bas partially under it, 'only
slightly injured. The three men.
first mentioned wereDunconscims
We turned Chem over, and tried
10 assist them, but did not 'Suc
eeed very yell. In a few min
utes other persons arrived, Vhe1l
medical aid was summoned. Mr
piller tyas cut about the head
and bruised, but he came Go il
q short while and was yemoyed {
hiS home. Klein and Helm were
removed TO the Helm home in the
city and were treated. Il was.
then that Klein could not
possibly recover,
Mr.. Helm, who drove Che car
regained consciousness early on
Tuesday morning, and in CONVEX
sation with the doctor said That
he was forced to make the turn
on the road for the south ct the
high speed he did, to save col,
liding with the buggy. We have
net heard whether or notohe said
he gave any alarm to the occu-
pants of the buggy or not At last
reports, Mr.. Helm was progress,
ing very satisfactorily and viii
soon be out. Dr.. Meade who was
called to attend Klein said he was
Very badly bruised up and shock
ed, but that there was no fracture
Of the skull and that he would
recover, although the last GRE
port the dOctOs gave US Mr.. Klein
was still unconscious.
The car they were driving was
a new Selden, 20 H. P. It issa
total wreck. ,
There will be many different
tales told concerning this accbden
We have given it as given us tg
an eye. witness. It is fortunate
that no one was killed, and while
not as bad an accident as it NIGH
have been, it is bad enough. 1t il
by far the most serious one to oc-
cur in this section of athe state