Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1915-10-07
PORTAGE ACCOUNT
Of AUTO WRECK


near Portage on Saturday night, the
Register, among other things says:
Richard Malher, Baraboo, was driv-
ing the Overland car and he with Miss
Viola Dunn of Portage occupied the
front seat, while Miss Hazel Fuller and
Esther Fritz of Portage with Otto
Ritzenthaler, and Kendall Layden,
Baraboo, were IN the rear seat of the
Overland.
George Bremner, who was coming to
the city happened along the road and
witnessed the collision and he asserts
that it was simply miraculous that sew
eral of the party were not killed out
right.
Ernest Wendt and Richard Kelly,
VINO are employed on the Walter Har-
vey farm in Caledonia, had finished
their chores and work about the farm
and were driving leisurely to Portage.
They observed the Overland coming
along at rapid speed while both
Wendt and Kelly assert the Ford was
running from eight to ten miles an
hour, and they made every possible
effort to clear the road. About two
hundred feet west Of the small bridge
crossing the creek the autos met.
The Baraboo car was seen to cross
the creek bridge at a high speed and
from the appearance the driver of the
Caledonia car turned to the right as
far as possible as the wheel tracks of
both machines indicated. From this
one would Judge that the Baraboo car
came along at full speed occupying the
main highway.
Wendt turned his Ford car to the
right as far as possible without going
into the ditch. The Overland, from Bar
abOo, struck the front axle of the Ford
and tore off the Tenders and part of the
siding and the Overland then went into
the ditch turning absolutely and com
pletely over. The top Of the Overland
was complete wreck and it was st
first thought that the. driver Mailer of
the Overland surely had been killed as
he was under the wreckage as were sew
eral others of the party.
When the collision occurred Wendt
who was at the steering post of the
Ford, remained in the seat but his part
ner, Kelly, was hurled by the impact
through the windshield, falling back in
to the seat bleeding and bruised. Kelly
was cut about the head and face by the
glass and he hurried to Portage where
Dr.C. W. Henney attended his Injuries.
The three girls escaped serious in
jury. Miss Fuller was injured about
the limbs and body, Miss Fritz was bad
ly shaken up but beyond few bruises
WAS uninjured, and Miss Dunn it is
understood was practically uninjureI.
loo many accidents Of this character
occur and those violating the law should
be severely dealt with. Joy riding
should be condemned at any time and
there is no occasion for it in town the 1
size of Portage. +
The Ford car was brought to the
wright & Robbins garage on it's own
Nheels while large truck came out
from Baraboc and picked up the Ov- I
erland, the forward part riding on the
truck while the rear was carried on its
own wheels to Baraboo.
Chief of Police Curry, together with
Sheriff Briese and Officer Luethge
were on the scene promptly and facts
of the happenings were recorded. There
appears to be no doubt but that the
car was violating the speed
ordinances and that the car was running
contrary to safety rules. 1t is very
probable that besides fines and costs
there will be suits for damages as Mr.
Wendt and Mr.. Kelley of the Caledoni a
car suffered injury and loss.
This is the second accident to hap
pen to Baraboo cara in Portage within
a short period as it will be remembered
q touring car went into the ditch and
turned turtle near the 500 depot on
the night of August 20, and at that
time there were a number of BaraE 90
youngsters implicated.