The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-22
AUTO TAKES TOLL
ONE MAN KILLED
From Mondays Daily.


jured internally is the toll taken by
an automobile today The accident
occurred on the highway one mile
north and a half a mile west of
Smiths Mill, at about eleven o'clock
this forenoon. The machine got be-
yond control of the driver, Fred
Lever, wobbled from one side of
the road to the other and turned
turtle on a fourteen-inch grade.
Mr.. Lever and his companion, Will
liam PREM, were pinned under the
machine. Mr. Lever was killed in
stantly and Mr.. PREM is injured Sc
riously, the outcome of which is
problematical.
Mr.. Lever and Mr.. Priem, who
were brothers-in-law. were en- route
to Mankato where they intended to
transact some business matters. In
another car a short distance in the
rear were Fred Hagermeister wife
and boy, who reside at Hector,
Mimi. Mr.. Hagermeister is a
nephew of both Messrs. Lever and
Priem. Mr.. Hagermeister and family
were en- route to Mankato after
spending Sunday and last night with
the family of Mr.. Lever. The speedo-
meter on Mr.. Levers car showed
that the party had made run OF
twenty-seven and one-half miles when
the terrible accident happened.
Could Not Stop Car.
The party had encountered no
trouble on the road and Mrs Hager
meister had made remark to her
husband complimenting Mr.. Lever on
his excellent driving abilities. A few
moments later Mr.. Levers CAL
sloughed and lodged from one side
of the road to the other. Mr.. PREM
asked Mr.. Lever why the car was
sloughing in such a manner and Mr.
Lever replied that he did not know
why don't you stop the carr" in
quired Mr.. PREM, who was becom
ing alarmed at the way the ma
chine was running from one side Of
the road to the other. 81 can't,
replied Mr.. Lever. Suddenly the
car slipped over a grade of about
fourteen inches and turned turtle
Both men were pinned beneath the
car.
Mr.. Hagermeister, who had wit
messed the accident, stopped his cal
and Immediately rushed to the over
turned machine. He succeeded with
the aid of his wife, in push
ing it over on its side, releas
ing the men beneath, but his labor
was in vain so far as Mr.. Lever
was concerned. Death in his case
had been instantaneous. Mr.. PREM
was injured seriously and arrange
ments were at once made to have
him taken to GAINESVILLE. A hurr!
up call was sent to that village fol
physician. One arrived on thu
scene shortly afterward and Mr.
PREM was taken in his machine tt
that village for treatment.
Mr.. Levers Head Crushed.
An examination of Mr.. Lewe
showed that his head was badl!
the windshield or the end of tn,
seat 1t was not long after the &C
cident that several farmers Twin:
in the vicinity FASTENED to rende
what assistance they could. Anon.
these were William Stanke. Thoma
Miller, Mr.. Lane and M. ]. Ryan, the
latter of Smiths Mill.
The accident happened on wha
is commonly known as the Stank
road. The roadway is in excellen
condition and the accident was evident
ly due to the fact that Mr.. Lewe
lost his head and the machine go
beyond his control and he could no
operate the steering gear or brin
the car to stop. No other caus
is apparent.
At the time of the accident tn
car was running at the rate Of be
tween fifteen and twenty miles al
hour.
The remains of Mr.. Lever wer
taken in charge of by an undertake
from GAINESVILLE, after they had bee
viewed by Coroner f. R. Kennedy
who had been notified Of the acc
dent and death by NJ. J. Ryan.
The family of Mr.. Lever were nc
titled of the sad accident, and a.
rangements were at once made t
receive the remains of the dead hu.
band and father at the family home
In Implement Business.
Mr.. Lever lived in Ostico, fou
miles north of Alma City. He wa
fifty-five years old. He is survive
by a wife and nine sons and daugl
tiers. His youngest child is eleve
years old. He was manager of tn
Independent Harvester company q
Ostico and was we'll to do and higl
ly thought of. He owned severe
farms in Waseca county and wa
possessed of other valuable prone
ty. He was a member of the &c
man Lutheran church.
Mr.. Lever was known as a care
full driver. He had operated his NJ
40 Buick car since last spring an
this is the first time an accider
occurred while he was operating til
machine. How he came to lose col
troll of the machine is unexplainabl
Mr.. PREM is also a farmer an
he lives in Ostico. He is well-to-d
and is interested in the harveste
company at Ostico.
Machine Not Badly Damaged.
The machine that figured in I'll
heart-rending tragedy is not vel
much damaged. The fender, win
shield and front axel are bent an
broken.
AS the accident occurred just owe
the line in this county, Coront
Kennedy was called to the seen
After making an investigation he d
cided that an inquest was unnece
sary.
Lifted Up the Car.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hagermeister turne
the machine over on it's side in q
effort to relieve the dead and i
jured. How they had strengt