The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-06-29
Smash Occurred At Night On
The Eagle Lake Road
FORD BADLY DAMAGED
Mother and Her Baby in Hit
Machine Narrowly Escaped
Death
rom Mondays Daily.

An unfortunate accident happened
n the Eagle Lake road late Saturday
light, causing the demolition of the
ord car of Frank Mention, farmer
living near that village, and the in
Jury Of himself and every member OIL
the family. The car was struck by the
4 large truck of the Patterson Mer-
camille company, which was convey
ing seven or eight men back to Man
kato from Madison Lake. Mike Laver
was at the wheel or the truck.
According to the account given
The Free Press of the accident from
the Mention home this morning, Mr.
Mention had been to Mankato Satur-
day afternoon with some corn which
he had sold. When he got home and
figured up the deal, he found that a
mistake had occurred and he was SIT
short. He decided to return at once
, while the transaction was fresh in
the minds of everyone concerned, and
have the mistake rectified. So, after
supper, he took his car and the men,
bers of his family, who were anxious
for the ride, and came to the city.
After transacting his business, he
started for home. 1t was cold, and he
occupied the front seat alone, while
Mrs. Mention and the four little chill
dren were in the back seat to be out
of the draught
Truck in Middle of Road.
1t was about 1920 o'clock when
Mr.. Mention approached the village OF
Eagle Lake. When two blocks this
side Of the railroad crossing, he
noticed large truck approaching
from the village very rapidly, and as it
held to the middle of the road and
did not show signs of turning out, he
drew to the right, into the grass, and
shut off his gasoline and applied the
brake and came practically or en-
tirely to a stop. The truck seems to
have kept right ON and came to that
side of the road and struck the Ford,
crushing it and throwing it into the
ditch. While. the remains of the car
remained upright, every one of the
six occupants were thrown out except
the youngest child, Airline, who round
ed out her first birthday last Febru-
airy. Mrs. Mention had been carrying
this child in her arms, and when the
o"
hurled forward over the front seat and
dropped the baby on the front seat.
Mrs. Mention, herself, was hurled
out, striking the ground on her back
rod and, a half from the car. The
baby was found unconscious, having
sustained severe bruises on her face
and top of her head. Mrs. Menton's
back was injured and her hands and
feet were cut by glass from the brok-
en- wind shield. Mr. Mention sustained
a cut on his left knee, and his left
leg was bruised, and also one shoul-
der and hand. Ethel, the oldest of the
children, was cut above her left eye
and cannot see out of it, and was
bruised in her side and elsewhere.
Stanley, aged six, was cut on the knee,
and Glenn, who will be five on July
4th, was scratched and shaken up.
All were bruised, and none of the
children realized what had happened
to them that evening. This forenoon,
Mrs. Mention, Ethel and the baby were
confined to their beds, but the two
boys were out playing. Mr.. Mention,
although stiff and lame, was able to
be brought to the city this morning.
Did'Not Offer to Assist.
According to the Mention family, the
men in the truck did not offer to as
sist them in the least, but seemed to
be intent on getting away as rapidly
as possible. They tried to get their
truck engine started, but it would not
work, so after repeated efforts they
left. The truck was somewhat dam
aged, and Ike Hinton, who had not
been with the party, went out at two
o'clock this morning and towed it in
to the city. ...
One or the men in the truck is
credited by the Mention family with
remarking to Mr.. Mention: "Only a |
damn fool would drive a Ford car"
The same man is also credited with |
saying to Mrs. Mention, who was cry
ing, in her fright and anxiety over her |
child Don't cry, baby"
Touring Party Assisted Injured.
A touring party from Tracy came |
along directly after the accident and |
stopped and assisted Mr.. Mention and |
family and took the entire family |
home. These tourists consisted of two
gentlemen and two ladies', and they
showed the true Samaritan spirit, very
much in contrast with the actions !
credited to the men on the truck. AS
soon as the family reached home, DR..
j. s. Holbrook of this city was sum-
moned and dressed the injuries of the
different members of the family. All
are expected to get along all right, but
the baby seems to be the worst off. She
has slept most of the time since the
accident, or been in comatose con-
dition.
The sMentdn car was dragged into
The Eagle Lake garage yesterday fore
noon. This cat had its lights on at the
time of the accident. according to the
Mention statement The truck also had
it's lights on. NJ Mention was expected
to consult legal advice on his visit to
the city today, but Just what steps
would be taken we're ont known. 1
. Soon after theSaccident, parties at !
Eagle Lake are aid to have notified
the police of this city of the accident
and told OF the fHilure of efforts to
learn the identitY'of the men in the
truck, and asked that they be appre-
hended on their arrival in the city.
This is said to haf been done, except
that no one was aiken into custody.
The police receivH information to
the effect that thelmen, or some of !.
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