Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-04
Harry Bottorff and William
Cheek Killed In Wreck
North of the City
TWO WOMEN AND BOY
ARE ALSO INJURED
Sister of Driver Expected
to Die; Wife and Little
,.,,os maj ,sa1aso ,a,.s;, e,a,s ,pital L

Harry Bottor6 was instantly killed,
William Cheek. his brother-in.law,
fatally injured, Mrs. Cheek, sister Of
Mr.. BottorR. is expected to die, and !,
Mrs. Bottorff and little SON Lewis arc
both suffering from injuries ct tho
hospital as q result OF q race between
two autos last evening The Bottorfl
home Is mile and half south OF
Farson in Competine township.
The accident occurred near the
Elmer Moore corner, some four miles
north OF the city limits, shortly before
= o'clock last evening. The dead and
injured We're brought back to Ottumwa
a short time after the wreck and the
dead removed to an undertaking
establishment while the injured were
taken to the hospital, arriving there
about 1885 o'clock.
William Cheek died within two
hours after arrival at the hospital. and
his wifes death is expected mo-
mentarily.
Mrs. Bottorff when seen at the hos
pftal this morning stated that they
were enroute home from day in OF
tumwa. She said 1t was between 8
and Z o'clock when the accident oc-
Cured. When some distance out
from Ottumwa car was sighted in
the road ahead Of them and Mr.. Bot
torn began to speed UP his auto. The
machine In the lead was driven by
Bert Harmon. whose wife accompanied
him. As they drew nesser the desire
I to SpAss led MT: Bottor6 TO open wide
the throttle OF his steamer and u race
ensued 4. " 4! 4
Passed thu Harmon Car.
Z The Harmon car retained It's lead
only for q time before the Bottor6
auto overlook and passed 1t near the
Elmer Moore farm Just how the &C.
cident actually occurred Ii not clear
to Mrs. Bottorff. who In describing It
said that in passing the Harmon car
the two machines nearly struck and
after getting the lead her husband a.
tempted to swing the car back into
the road from the side to which 1t had
inclined in making the sweep past the
Harmon auto.
HE must have lost control, said she.
"for 1t was under full speed and leaped
and then 1t turned over, seemed sew
AT this point her feelings were such
6AO Woo uAuDl0s " uW0Il lUIJuCE uHOA
the terrible happening that meant the
loss of dear ones to her.
Was Going Very Fast.
II do not know how fast we were
going" said she. II know that the ma.
chine was capable OF making fast
time and my husband would let It out
full speed. The steam would register
q very high pressure SO 1t must have
been going fast. believe he lost con-
troll after we passed the Harmon car
for the road was excellent and there
were no bad spots that caused the
swerve Of the machine and made II
leap, as It did. We women folks and
Lewis. my little boy, were in the rear
seat. am not hurt much and Lewis
Is feeling better this morning."
Mrs. Bottorff was sitting up In the
bed with her little son when seen 1t
the hospital and was able to relate the
story of the accident Her injuries
consist of skinned nose and scratches
up on face, and other bruises.
Lewis Bottorff, aged years. had his
left arm broken between the shoulder
and forearm.
Mrs. Cheek sustained bad fracture
Of the skull and was internally injured.
She has remained unconscious since
the accident and It is believed her
spinal cord is injured. She is not
expected to live.
Men In Front Seat.
William Cheek, who sat with Mr..
Bottorff in the front seat. suffered
fracture of the skull, like Mr.. Bottorff.
as we'll as other injuries, and he con-
tinued unconscious after being brought
to the hospital until death relieved his
struggles some two hours later. Mr..
Bottorff met instant death.
The Car Was Wrecked.
The survivors of Harry Bottorff are
his wife and seven children: Clarinda
May, Ina, Elizabeth. Grace and Rex.
Emery and Lewis One brother.
Emanuel, residing near the home
place, and sister, Mrs. Mary Kriese.
of Eldon. .
The time of the funeral will depend
upon the outcome Of Mrs. Cheeks
condition.