Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-01
CAR IS BURNED;
LADIES INJURED
Otto Huber's Big Limousine Explodes,
and Mrs. |. Huber and Daughter
Are Hurt.
BOTH ENvELOPED IN FLAMES
Occupants of Machine Sustain Painful
Burns in Accident on Fort Arm
strong Avenue.

Mrs. |. Huber and daughter, Miss
Lily Huber, were the victims of au
automobile accident last evening and
sustained very painful injuries. Their
White Steamer limousine car, valued
at $4,000, was totally destroyed and
their escape from death was little
short of marvellous Mrs Huber and
her daughter were returning from
Davenport about II o'clock, being
members of party that had
another automobile and car
riaSe containing a number of their
friends. Just as the limousine. which
was in the lead, turned off the Rock
Island bridge into Fort Armstrong
avenue on the arsenal, the gasoline
tank exploded with a report that was
heard by people living in Davenport
several miles away. The tank was To-
Gated under the rear seat of the car.
the one on which Mrs. Huber and her
daughter were seated The force OF
the explosion blew out the rear end OF
the car, which was a closed one, AM,
hurled the ladies towards the front of
the cab. Instantly the entire car was
enveloped in a mass of flames from
the gasoline which came from the
tank.
Are Taken From Car.
The prompt action of James Houlds-
dorth, the chauffeur. who has been
with the Huber family for eight years
without doubt saved the lives of the
two ladies. Without setting the brake
and so stopping the car which would
have caused the flames to envelope the
car more completely, he sprang from
his seat and jerked open the door of the
cab. The ladies were in a mass of flames
by this time and the chauffeur's hands
were badly burned as he dragged the la
dies from the blazing interior of the cab
BY this time Oscar Schmidt, who
with Mrs. Peter Fries. was in the car
riaSe behind the Inflated limousine,
came TO his aid, and assisted in re-
moving the ladies from the burning
car
Immediately following the explosion,
the street passed over by the burning
car became a veritable furnace. The
gasoline from the tank flowed steadily
from the car at it swept along and the
whole street seemed to be afiame. M.
Schmidt jumped from his carriage and
dashed through the flames to the car
He assisted the chauffeur in gettine
the ladies out and then the men wrap
ped them in blankets to eXtinguish
the blaze which still covered them
The machine which had stopped By
this time was mass of flames and il
was soon total loss
Mrs. Huber and Miss Huber were
placed in Mr.. Schmidt's carriage and
taken to their home. 1914 Third ave
nue.. Physicians who were called i'm
mediately after the accident arrived
soon afterwards and medical atfcn
ton was given to the victims of tbs
accident 1t was found that both TIL,
ladies were severely burned about tbs
face and arms and that their hair wa:
burned somewhat Houldsdorth's in
jufies were confined to his face an;
hands which had suffered from thu
flames and heat while he was engaged
in getting the ladies out of the cal
q Mrs. Huber. being of rather advance,
age, is in precarious condition from
the injuries and the shock followin:
the accident. Miss Huber was not s.
seriously burned, and suffered les
from the shock.
Break Into Drug Store.
The physicians who were summone'
were unable to find a drug store opel
at that time of night where they coul
procure cotton and bandages wit
which to dress the burns so they brok
window in one of the down tow,
drug stores and helped themselves t
what they needed, leaving word 70