The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-08-24
BAD AUTO

Tuesday evening about nine o'clock
Morall Hall, the twelve year old son
of Philo Hall, while driving his faith
er's auto, ran down the horse and
buggy driven by Mrs. A. A. Poole.
The accident occurred near the resi-
dence of E. J.. Ray on north Main
street. Mrs. Poole was driving south
toward the business section and the
auto was travelling north. Reports
are conflicting as to how the accident
happened and it is hard to determine
which was at fault, but apparently
both turned the same direction, see-
saving back and forth and drawing
closer to each other all the while. Fin
ally the auto lunged forward, striking
the horse ~squarely and knocking him
down and went on fifty feet until
it struck a big tree in front Of the
Ray residence.
Mrs. Poole jumped when she saw
that a collision was inevitable and
escaped injury, but the occupants Of
the auto did not get away SO easily.
Young Hall vas knocked insensible
by a blow on the head and lost con
troll of the machine after it struck the
rig. The car did not strike the tree
very hard and it is thought that he
received all of his injuries in the
first collision. When taken from the
machine it was found that he had
was badly bruised and cut about the
head and face. In the auto with him
at the time were Thelma and Char
mion Brictson and Forrest Simmons,
all about his own age. Thelma
Brictson was seated in front with
Young Hall and was badly cut by the
flying glass from the broken wind
shield. She sustained severe cuts
across the face and on one arm which
necessitated several stitches. The
other two occupants of the auto es-
capped injury. The two little patients
were reported to be getting along
well yesterday and will no doubt be
all right in the course of time.
The horse was quite badly injured,
being cut on the shoulder, side and
legs, besides being bruised. The bug
gy was pretty badly smashed up. The
auto was not injured to any great
extent, which is probably due to the
fact that it slowed down after strik-
ing the horse and before hitting the
tree. The wind shield was smashed
to pieces, the front axle bent and the
radiator denied, but otherwise no
great damage was done.
1t was the worst automobile acct
dent that has ever happened in Brook
ings, and it turned out very fortunate
indeed for all parties concerned. The
little Brictson girl was on the side
where the horse struck and the ami
NAL was thrown clear upon the ma
chine with it's head and the thils of
the buggy into the front seat and it
is a wonder that she vas not crushed,
but the cut from the flying glass and
a few bumps are her only injuries.
Young Hall is the worst injured of the
two and it is thought that his collar
bone was broken by being thrown
against the steering wheel. The
youngsters can consider themselves
fortunate hat they are alive, under
the circumstances.
The four were out driving about the
city without the knowledge or con-
sent of their parents. We do not
know that it was due to their care
lessness that the accident happened,
but it is certain that children have
no business driving automobiles, with
or without their parents permission.
If they come down town driving a
car they should be taken in charge
by the police and escorted home, as
they are a constant menace to life
and property. They may get along
we'll enough under ordinary circum-
stances, but the time comes invariably
when they are called upon to exercise
quick judgement, they lose their pres
ence of mind and a bad accident re-
suits. It seems to us that there is al.
together too much carelessness in
handling autos for the safety of the
people of the city anyway and it isn't
all confined to children either, and
it might be we'll for the police to
make a few arrests. It may have a
good affect.