The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-08-12

park at about $3.50 o'clock last even
ing. on West Front street, his car
collided with boy, slightly injuring
the latter. The boy was Dietrich
Wigen, twelve year old son of c. L.
Wigen, who is an employee of the
cooper shop.
Mr. Hubbard states that he was 60
ing slowly, as street car was pass
ing, and when about in front of Will
lam Siebert's store he suddenly saw a
boy dart out from the sidewalk as
though trying to catch ride on the
street car. The boy was running as
fast as he could with his head down,
and seemed utterly oblivious to every
thing but the object of his pursuit.
1t was quite dark, and Mr.. Hubbard
had his lights lit.
Tried to Avoid Hitting Boy.
As the boy was crossing the street
just in front of him, Mr. Hubbard
did not have time to blow his horn,
but bent his efforts to trying to avoid
hitting the boy. He applied his brakes
with all his strength and at the same
time turned his car away from the
boy. The car came TO stop almost
Immediately, but not before the boy
had run into and broken one of the
lamps. AS the boys head was down,
he struck the lamp with his face, and
was Knocked over, and his lips were
cut and three lower teeth pushed back.
1t is fortunate that the car was in
such good control that it did not pass
over the lad. as the latter fell in front
of one of the front wheels.
Mr. Hubbard at once took the boy
inc the store and sent for physicians,
and two arrived shortly. The boy
was then taken to his home cou-
pie of blocks away, and the physicians
made an examination and found that
his injuries were not serious. They
thought that the teeth could be saved
Persons standing near, who observed
the msbap, say that it was not due
to the driver of the car. but to the
boys own heedlessness. Mr.. Hubbard
appears to have done all possible to
avoid an accident, and did all that the
circumstances called for afterwards
Children Are Reckless.
People passing the stores in West
| Mankato are aware of the fact that
crowd of boys ASSEMBLIES in front
of them nightly, playing on the side
walk and in the street. in spite of the
! fact that the latter is well travelled.
The same thing is true of several other
point in the city, notably North
Broad street, where the smaller chill
dren are particularly reckless, and it is
wonder that some of them have not
been hurt. The street is not the place
to play, especially after dark, and if
it becomes necessary to cross it, care
should be taken. Where drivers use
all care possible, accidents may occur
! if children are careless and dart out
! in front of vehicles, as was the case
last night.
Witnessed By Bystander.
! G. +. Gunstrom, the meat dealer, saw
the accident. He states that the boy
ran from the sidewalk with the evi
dent intention of catching upon The
street car, and ran directly in front
of the automobile. Mr.. Hubbard stop
ped his car as quickly as he could
which seemed very quick. Mr.. Gun
strom eXonerates Mr.. Hubbard from
any blame and says that it was duo
4 to the boys carelessness.
Charles Mailman, proprietor of q
store close to where the collision oc
Cured. saw it, as he was in front OF
his store, about to lock up for The
night. He, also, says that Mr.. Hub
bard was not at all to blame. but thai
the boy heedlessly ran in front of thu
car and collided wifi it, in spite o
Mr.. Hubbard's efforts to avoid col
lsion.