Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-05-09
ACCIDENTLY
KILLED By
AUTOMOBILE
E. R. Griffith Was Killed Tuesday
Morning, May 7th while Cross
ing Grand Avenue

| The uncertainty of life is ever pres
| ent with US. In the midst of the ac-
| tivities Of life we are cut down like
| snuffing out of a candle. How little
E. R. Griffith, an old time resident of
Grand Rapids, thought that his life
| would be snuffed out as the snuffing
out of a candle when he left home on
Tuesday morning. How little Edgar
| Kellogg, thought that he, while driv-
ing his fathers Ford 20 horse pow
er Truck car in the regular discharge
| of his duties would be the means of
running down an old friend and neigh
Dor. But this did happen about 10
o'clock Tuesday morning May 7, 1918,
in front of the Dixon Hotel on Grand
Avenue. AS we understand it, the ac-
cident occurred as. follows:
Edgar Kellogg, employed by the we'll
known lumber firm of Kellogg Bros.
Lumber Co., of this city, was driving
their 20 horse power Ford Truck east
on Grand Avenue. When he approach
ed the Fourth Avenue crossing he says
that he slowed down for that crossing
and looked both north and south for
any possible cars coming in either one
of these directions. After doing this
he looked up when he discovered Mr..
E. R. Griffith making a partial diago-
nal crossing from the south towards
the north side of Grand Avenue. Ed
gar blew his horn to alarm him of the
danger he was in, also shifted the di-.
rection of his car towards the curb
ing to miss him if possible, and at the
alarm Mr.. Griffith was frustrated and
instead of continuing to make the
crossing as he had started, faced the
car when he was run down. Edgar
when he saw that he was going to run
into him, applied the brake, but he was
not quick enough, the contact occurred
nd Mr. Griffith was killed. The marks
on the pavement showed wnere the
brakes were applied and where the bo-
dy was picked up. In the fall Mr..
Griffith's skull was fractured. His
body was carried into the Dixon Hotel
and physicians summoned, but he lived
only few minutes after the accident
occurred. The accident is greatly to
be regretted, and Edgar feels the loss
greatly as a most sorrowful circum-
stance. The loss to Mr.. Griffith fami
ly is severe and gretly to be regretted.
No matter where the fault lay-if any
where-such accidents appear to hap
pen every now and then. They should
teach us to be more cautious and care
full when at the wheel o.. an automobile
and on the busy thoroughfare to al
ways play "safe."
A Coroner's jury was impaneled i'm
mediately after the accident happened
by District Attorney John Roberts,
consisting Of A. B. Sutor, R. F. Mat
thews, R. G. Rowland, A J. Hasbrouck.
Frank D. Abel and E. W. Turbin. They
were sworn in after dinner and viewed
the place of the accident after which
they adjourned until 10 o'clock We'd
nesday morning to the City Hall Coun-
ci! room They listened to
the evidences Of ten witnesses,
some of whom were eye-witnesses to
the accident. After listening to the
evidence the jury rendered the follow
ing verdict: 'That the said Edwin r.
Griffith came to his death on May Z,
1918, at about 10 o'clock A. M. while
crossing Grand Avenue and being
struck by an automobile driven by Ed
gar Kellogg, said death being acci-
dental and being caused without fault
or negligence upon the part of said
Edgar Kellogg" Signed,
A. B. Sutor, Foreman,
R. F. Matthes, 4
r. G. Rowland,
A. J. Hasbrouck,
F. D. Abel,
Z. W. Turbin.
E. R. Griffith was born in Peru, n.
Y, July 27, 1846 He was united in
the holy bonds Of matrimony with Miss
Margaret Allen at Buffalo, New York
December "a, 1872. They came to
Wisconsin in 1879 and located at Yes
per, Wisconsin. After a short resi-
dence in Vesper, they moved to Grand
Rapids about twenty-five years ago
and have resided here ever since He
leaves to mourn besides his wife, three
daughters, Mrs Lottie Henderson of
Washington, Miss Maude, who teaches
in our public schools and Miss georg-
ia, who is employed as saleslady in
Johnson & Hills store. Besides these
he leaves a brother. c. D Griffith of
Minneapolis and sister, Lottie A.
Griffith of Seymour, Wis.
The funeral service was held this
Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock
from the family residence, Rev. J.
Rockstroh, pastor of the Episcopal
church officiating. Burial will take
p1aca in Forest Hill cemeterV