The Owosso times., 1911-09-29
THREE KILLED
And One Injured When Train Strikes
AutomobiIe-Two Deaths
instantaneous.


The fast Grand Trunk train east SUI
dry evening struck an automobile col
tanning Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Almer
dinger of Flint, Miss Marie Baughma
OF this city, and Burr j. Warner {
Lansing, at the crossing near the Thos
Clapp farm four miles west of Owosso
instantly killing Mr.. Almendinger an
Miss Baughman, injuring Mrs. Almen
dinger 80 that she died about two hour
later at the Miller hospital in this city
and severely injured Mr.. Warner.
Mr.. and Mrs. AlmendInger and Mr.
Warner came to the city from Flint
Saturday evening, and left with Mis-
Baughman early Sunday morning t.
spend the day with Mr.. Almendinger'i
mother, and with Mr.. Warmers wife
and children in Lansing, Mr.. Warmers
wife and Miss Baughman being sisters
They reached Lansing before z O'Clock
and left at 3 on the return trip, coming
via st. Johns. The rain had made the
roads heavy and according to Mr.. War.
ner's statement the automobile was
running slowly on the road alongside
the Crank track to the Clapp crossing
and just as the machine ran onto the
railroad the flash of the headlight was
seen and at that moment the machine
stepped-either having lost its power
coming up the grade to the track or
the driver, Mr.. Almendinger, became
confused and stopped it accidentally
when he intended to put on more pow
er to get out Of the way of the fast ap.
preaching train. The train struck the
machine with terrific force, driving it
through fence and smashing it into
many pieces, and threw the occupants
many feet with the result stated above.
Mr.. Warner, who was on the rear seat
with Miss Baughman, evidently escap-
ed in some manner the force of the blow
from the train and was also fortunate
in striking in a soft spot at the roadside,
so that his injuries while severe were
not fatal. He was able to make his way
to the Clapp home and summon help
before the train was stopped and backed
to the scene Of the accident. Mr.. AL
mendinger was found beneath part
OF the automobile, his head practically
gone; Hiss Baughman was found in
ditch little farther away. her skull
smashed and her body severed with
frightful bruises; Mrs. Almendinger
was found in an unconscious condition
and with Mr.. Warner was brought to
this city on She train and taken to Mil
Ter hospital. Later in the evening the
three bodies were removed to the under.
taking parlors of Knapp & Smith and
many hours of labor were required to
prepare the bodies for shipment, the
bodies of Mr.. and Mrs. Almendinger
being taken by relatives to Lansing for
interment, and that of Miss Baughman
to the home of her parents near Hast
ings Mr.. and Mrs. Almendinger had
lived in Lansing until last May when
they removed to Flint, where Mr.. Al
mendinger engaged in the liquor bust.
ness They were each about 30 years
of age. Miss Baughman came to this
city three weeks ago to accept a position
as trimmer in the Lawrence depart
ment store. She was an estimable
young lady and her death was great
shock to the friends she had made dur
ing the time she had been in the city.
Her age was 81 years. She is survived
by her parents and eight brothers and
sisters.
Coroner Guy A. Cole was notified
Immediately after the accident and
hastened to the scene, when jury was
impanaled and the inquest set for 10
o'clock Saturday morning in this city.
Until that tlme-and possibly not then
the exact facts will not be known.
1t is understood the engineer claims to
have blown the whistle as usual for the
crossing and says he did not see the
machine until the train was almost onto
it. 1t Is apparent that none of the peo-
pie in the machine made any endeavor
to ascertain whether a train was ap-
preaching for 1t could have been seen
coming for q distance of nearly two
miles.