The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-23
find FOR STRIKERSIH is Fortunate
Trolley A. X. Postmaster
Fought Unions. Unhurt.
Men Justified in Belief That Auto Turns Turtle without a
Union Was Opposed or Break.
BEFORE GRAND JURY NOWIHE JUST GRANKED IT UP
Both Sides Are Telling Their After 1t Righted
Machine 40 Town.
Conduct Did Wind
abuse Of dOfM Machi
A. X. Rodgers, Postmaster, in
Ten Wrecks Unhurt.
Auto Turns Turtle without a
Scratch or Break.
HE JUST CRANKED IT UP
After 1t Was Righted and
Drove Machine 90 Town.
Did Not Even Break the Wind
shield of Machine.

Automobiles desiring a charm more
sure than accident policy should ap-
ply to Mr.. A. A. Rodgers. Twice in
less than two weeks his machine has
turned over, spilled the occupants. and
left the wind shield whole; each time
the car has been hauled out, cranked,
and driven back to town.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. A. Rodgers, Mr.. and
Mrs. A. K. Rodgers and Miss Mary
Rodgers returned Monday night from
a trip to Ottawa, where they were
taking Mrs. Belle Black. who has been
visiting in Topeka.
Sunday morIfing they were driving
near Centropolis ana discovered that
the farther north they went the more
slippery the roads became; the car
slipped back and forth, and Mr.. Rodg-
ers put on the chains. He and Mrs.
WaSson of Ottawa were in front. Mrs.
Black and the two Mrs. Rodgers in the
tonneau. At the top of a low hill the
car began to skid desperately. There
was a ditch choked with weeds on
either side, and a wooden bridge at the
bottom; the brakes were powerless,
and the car spun faster and faster.
Thought my time had come" OBJ
served Mr.. Rodgers. II remembered
all the good things 1 had done, and
passed the bad ones by"
At the foot of the hill the front
wheels tore up the pIanks Of the
bridge, and the back wheels sunk into
the mud; the machine fell several feet,
and lurched over on its right side. The
in the air, and crashed to the ground:
If anyone had been hit the result
would have been sickeningly fatal.
Strange thing about it ALL" unused
screamed. Everything was absolutely
quiet
He was pinned behind the wheel
and was not thrown out; the others
were hurled into the mud. Mrs: Rodg-
ers was the only one who uttered a
word. Looking at her husband. VINO
was in the most perilous position, she
gasped, Poor Fred"
poor Fred" disentangling himself
stood up, surveyed the muddy motor
lists deep in dirt, stuck his hands In his
pockets and shouted.
The Rodgerses are an optimistic
family; they picked up their shoes
and their glasses and put them where
they belonged. Each one, by the way.
wore nose glasses. which were not
even cracked.
'oThe whole thing was a miracle
said Mr.. Rodgers, shaking his mead
A spring wagon was secured from
farmer and the party drove to Ottawa.
Early last morning Mr- Roogers
and a couple of garage men motoreo
to the scene of the accident. raised
the machine. and drove it back to
unfortunately we couldn't start on
the spark" Mr.. Rodgers observed
laughing. I'VE were obliged to crank,
but that was all. Anything huTtE
Well. the runningboard was scratcheo,
and the levers bent slightly; we
them out and the car
seems to run more smoothly than
ever" ,o
Two weeks ago To-Day WI Io-
Rowse was driving the Rodgers car
this side of Elmont- While packing
a bridge. he cramped the car
a trife too much, and it slid nine rect
into a ditch Mr.. Rowse picked him.
self up, observed that the WIND snlelo
was slightly cracked, came to town
for chauffeur, righted the machine
and drove to Topeka. =