Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-07-18
THREE AUTO ACCIDENTS
BIG MITCHELL CAR TOPPLED IN
DITCH NEAR HESPER.
Ford Car Rolled Down Embanlkment
As Feet, Near Highlandville.

Automobile accidents are becom-
ing quite numerous in this vicinity
of late. Sunday evening about $40
an accident occurred eight miles
from DEBORAH out towards Hesper
that resulted very fortunately for all
the occupants OF the car. A party
of Decorahians in two automobiles
had been out to the Peter Ramlo
home near Hesper and spent the day.
One car. a big, new seven passenger
Mitchell, owned by Henry Fretheim
and driven by his son Joel, had as
occupants the Misses Clara, Emma,
and Dody Nesheim, Miss Ida Ramlo
and Mrs Mida Hegner. The other
car was driven by Oscar Bergan and
the occupants were the Misses Gertie
and Anna Moe, Minnie and Amanda
HeXom. Mr.. Bergan was driving
little ways ahead of Mr.. Frettheim,
and the latter came up behind a
couple driving a horse and buggy.
The road was pretty narrow at this
particular place and Mr. Frettheim
was unable to pass. He drew out to
the side of the road and had practic-
ally stopped the car, when he saw
he could not pass; the soft earth OF
| the bank gave away and the car
toppled over, and turned upside
down. Miss Amanda Nesheim, who
was in the car ahead, happened to
turn around just as the accident hap
pened, and Mr.. Bergan turned his car
around and went to the rescue or
those imprisoned under the other car.
Fortunately all were able to crawl
out. with the exception of Miss Ramlo
the car pinni1g her down. The car
was lifted up enough to permit her
to get out, and after an inventory,
was made. the principles decided that
! no bones were broken, and about the
only damage done was to their feel
ings. OF course, several of the ladies
were bruised somewhat, but luckily
escaped any serious injuries. Just
to be sure, DR.. Jewell was called on in
DEBORAH and he soon convinced
alrthat they were not injured, but as
to being frightened, there was plenty
evidence of that. The top and wind
shield of the car was smashed, and
the steering gear bent up some; but
nevertheless Mr.. Frettheim drove 1t
back to DEBORAH with his party.
Last Friday Soil Propp, of Chicago,
a young man who has been here for
some time delivering enlarged pict-
ures, had little excitement with
his little old trusty Ford up near
Highlandville Louis Lang accomp-
anied him on trip up in that section.
Propp was driving, and was about
two miles east of Highlandville, when
the Ford began acting up along
roor stretch of road The rear end
sided into a ditch. and the first thing
they knew the car was going down
an embankment about As feet, and
rolled over several times. Lang was
thrown out about twenty feet from
the car, but Propp stayed by the ship.
His face and right wrist were cut
up by glass from the windshield, but
luckily he escaped without any bro
ken bones. Lang received several
cuts about the face. Alex Grinna
came along on his motorcycle about
the time the accident happened and
he secured the assistance of farmer
with a team AID they pulled the Ford
out of the ditch. While they were
getting the car out of the ditch Dr.
Conrad was called and went out and
dressed the boys injuries. The car
was not badly damaged.
Sunday forenoon Knute Tolstad
and a farmer from near Madison
township had collision near the Pub
fishing House corner. Mr.. Tolstad
was driving south and when he
reached Water street, didn't make
wide enough swing and the other car
was going west on the right hand
side of the road, and consequently the
cars crashed together. A wheel was
ripped off the Tolstad car and the
fender was bent. The other car was
uninjured.