The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-06-29

Detu SeeH pdSSlnS IhlOuSH EdSlc Lake
going toward Madison Lake about
three o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Some time during Saturday night,
some miscreant came along and stole
new tire from the Ford, taking with
it crushed wheel that lay under the
car.
What the Men Say.
The parties occupying the truck of
the Patterson Mercantile company
were Michael Laven, the driver, Fred
Cain, shipping clerk, Louis Thomp-
son, Paul Meyer, William Goodrich,
George Schmidt and Fred Schmitty,
all employed by the company in the
warehouse, and Louis Bienapf of the
Free Press force of employees. They
had received permission from Mr.. H.
A. Patterson to take the truck and
go fishing Saturday afternoon, there
being a half holiday. They had start
ed about 2 p. m. and went directly
to Duck lake, without stopping either
in Eagle Lake or Madison Lake. They
took picnic supper and a case of
beer with them. as is not unusual
with fishing parties. They fished I'M
til dark, and started for home shortly
before ten o'clock, and did not stop
in either village. .s
Mr.. Laven, who was driving, in
formed The Free Press today that
the accident is unaccountable to him.
He had just passed the railroad track
when he for the first time saw light
that for a second blinded him, and
the next thing he knew there was a
collision. He said that neither he
nor any of his party was under the
influence of liquor, nor had they been.
He was driving rather slowly, about
eight to ten miles an hour. He did
not see the Ford car at any time. The
Ford seemed to have been at the
right of the road, and the truck in
the middle of the road. When the
collision had occurred. the Ford had
been pushed into the ditch and near
ly crossways of the road, and the
truck was facing about the same way
and the front of the truck was about
the middle of the side of the Ford.
Three wheels of the Ford were off,
the windshield broken and other
damage done it. The axel of the
truck was bent and the windshield
broken. Mr.. Laven started the en-
with a grinding sound, and he thought
it safer not to proceed, as he did not
know what might happen to the en-
CINE of the truck and it went, but
dies of this city were on their way
home from Madison Lake, when they
stopped at the scene of the accident.
He was asked if he would not take
the family home, which he readily
to do, leaving his compani-
ons at the Eagle Lake garage while
he did so.
all of the men stayed with
the truck, except that one telephoned
in for Mr.. Hinton to come out and
tow them in, which he did.
Denies Trying to Get Away.
Mr.. Laven denies that the men
tried to get away, or that they did
not help the Mention family, but on
the contrary he says they at once
went to the assistance of the family
and helped to get them up and away.
He denies that any of his party made
he remarks to the Mentions attribut-
I'd to them. He says that it was a |
spectator, many of whom gathered, |
who made the remark about anybody |
being a fool who drove a Ford car
He did not hear the remark made to !
Mrs. Mention.
1t was H. Herbert of LeHuillier who |,
:ook the Mention family home. He
and another young man and two Ia
On his return, he picked them up, |
md also Fred Cain and Mr.. Bienapfi, |
md took them to the city. Mr.. Cain
lad been seated beside Mr.. Laven |
md had sustained bad cut across |
lis forehead from the glass of the
broken windshield, and he was taken
o DR.. Andrews office and thirteen
stitches were taken. The only other
me who was injured in the truck was
Mr.. Thompson, whose face was
scratched and bruised. All of the
nen were on duty today except Mr..
Jain.
Bud Cain, brother of Fred, drove
ut yesterday and called on the Men
on family to see how they were get
ing along, and found them resting
is comfortably as could be expected.
Mr.. Mentions car was a new one,
hat he had had only a week or ten
avs. He resides two miles east of
Iagle Lake.
Mr.. Laven has driven the Patterson
ruck for more than two years and
as never had an accident before. He
as been employed by the company
or ten years past, and has always
cen a careful man, so Mr.. Patterson
tates. None of the men are known
D have been addicted to drink, and
Ir. Patterson did not think that any
them so far forgot themselves as
D take too much. Mr.. Patterson, and
he men in the truck, all regret the
ccident exceedingly.
Mr.. Mention called at the office of
ne Patterson Mercantile company
MS morning before Mr.. Patterson
ad arrived, but did not remain.