Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-24
WAGON IS STRUCK
BY AUTOMOBILE
MRS. WILL WAiTMER SERIOUSLY
INJURED; COMPOUND FRAc-
TURE OF RIGHT THIGH.
CAR OVERTURNED
Three Young Men Thrown From Road
ster Receiving Minor Injuries;
Vehicles Are Both
Wrecked.

Mrs. Will Whitmer, residing about
mile south OF Fremont, was seriously
injured Monday night when an auto
mobile driven by Jack Cram struck q
spring wagon in which Mrs. Whitmer
her husband, son and daughter were
riding. The occupants OF the car with
Mr. Cram were thrown out and bruised
but none Of them seriously hurt. The
accident occurred shortly before IL
o'clock and within short time other
cars arrived on the scene and the in.
jured women was taken to her home
nearby.
Medical aid was summoned from
Fremont and everything was done to
relieve the condition Of Mrs. Whltmer
who suffered a compound fracture Of
the right thigh, the bone being broken
in two places and protruding through
the flesh. One arm was broken and the
other badly bruised. Her condition is
considered critical.
Other members of the Whitmer fam
lily were thrown out of the wagon
when the car struck the vehicle and
were slightly injured.
Thrown From Auto.
The three young men in the Cram
car were pitched out when the car
turned turtle and John Simmons was
caught beneath the auto and his left
leg bruised. He remained at home to-
day. Don Miller alighted In q muddy
pool some ten feet from the overturn-
ed car and this probably saved him
from more serious injury. AS it was
he suffered several cuts and bruises
about the face and head but Is able to
be at his work today though consider
ably stitfened by tho jolt received.
Jack Cram who was driving the car,
alighted some distance from the auto
and for time thought rib was brok-
en- but has been about today as usual.
Don Miller, one of the injured, In
telling of the accident expressed his
regret that Mrs. Whitmer was injured
and told how the accident occurred
He stated that the three young men
north from Ottumwa. He says that
they we're making a speed of forty
miles per hour and were in the middle
of the road when they sighted the
team which was coming toward them
apparently from Fremont
Strikes Rear Wagon Wheel.
Miller states that when they saw
the Whitmer party, the latter were on
the wrong side Of the road and the car
could have passed them If they retain
ed that position, but that the team
turned to the other side of the road
and then Cram turned the car as
quickly as possible to the opposite
side to avoid a collision and skidded
into the ditch, striking the rear wheel
of the Whitmer wagon and turning
turtle in the ditch.
The wheel of the wagon was broken
and the occupants thrown out and the
overturning of the auto pitched the
three young men out. Simmons sit
ting on the right right side Of the car,
was caught by it when it turned over.
a portion of the seat resting on his
left leg. The steering gear of the auto
was broken and the car generally dam
aged.
A local garage sent out crew and
brought back the wrecked auto this
The spring wagon was con-
damaged and both vehicles
attracted much attention to spectators
drawn to the scene this morning. For
q time after the accident Monday night
the road was blocked to all traffic and
as the cars approached they were
tagged and commissioned to get doc
tors or carry the injured persons home.