The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-01
.JOYR|DERS' AUTO
GRUSHES OUT LIFE
OF AHEROOF WAR
Corporal Eric C. HufstedIer,
Winner of Distinguished
Service Cross, Last Words
Entreaty to See Mother.

His last words those of entreaty to
be allowed to see the face OF his mother,
his last thoughts Of her who brought
him into the world, his last declaTa-
tion one of abnegation Of himself, his
body crushed under the wheels OF auto
speed fiends, whose frenzied whoops of
glee re-echoed discordantly with his
groans OF anguish, Corp. Eric G. Huf-
stedler, of Birdell, Ark, died early
Monday morning after having been
struck by speeding touring car di-
rectly in front of st. Joseph's hospital.
Ihe speeders have not been appre-
hended although the usual description
and desultory search on the part OF the
ponce Is declared TO be in progress,
They sped away 50 rapidly even the
number Of the car was not secured.
Corp. Hufstedler was member OF
the marine corps. II was he who as
q private single handed captured S9
Germans in the fighting In tho Argonne
l9r Whirh exploit he WAS awarded this
/. ilsl ittts llshed Service cross. - as~-
Was War Hero.
Numerous other citations both from
French and American officers were won
by the Arkansas lad during his service
with the marines. After being mustered
out at the end Of the war Corp. Huf-
stedler re-enltsted and has since been
on recruiting duty at the recruiting
station in the odd Fellows building.
The marine had taken a young lady
to her home after returning from a river
excursion and had just stepped off the
curbing on the south side of Jackson
avenue in front of ST. Joseph a
MIN, witnesses declare. His body was
thrown completely across the street, a
distance of about so feet from the place
Where he was struck.
Authorities in the hospital were
| called and the boy was hurried into
the hospital but before surgeons could
examine the mutilated body he had
died.
II want to see my mother" family
whispered the lad as the first of the
witnesses reached his side. A few
minutes later he event west" the way
of many of his companions on the bat
tie fields of France.
Speeders Escape.
Miss Mildred o'Hara, sso Winchester
the young lady Hufstedler had few
minutes before taken to her home, was
a witness to the accident Walter Nc.
Gee, 299 Jackson avenue, and Il, T
| Kehoe, 377 High street, were on the
street at the time and saw the bis
| passenger touring car, running al
a, terrific rate of speed, strike tn,
iAia' HiV. AMY "Slt lIS llFSL 10 TeaCI
| his side.
Detectives as yet have been able t
| find no clew that would lead to the
| apprehension of the occupants of tn,
| automobile. The rate of speed an(
the darkness prevented witnesses from
getting the number Of the big car, whict
was running east on Jackson avenue.
| This makes the second instance II
| two weeks In which pedestrians hav,
been killed by speeding automobiles
and the drivers of the speeding car
have gone unpunished and encouraged
to speed again. Frank Cole, a child o
| II years, met his death at the hand
Of lawless speeders less than two week
| previously in front OF his own home.
1 HufStedler was on recruiting dut,
! with the marines In Memphis. He hat
made many friends III his connection
with the recruiting office and was on
Of the most popular men on the sta
| tion.
First Sergt. C. ii. Robinson, of tn,
station, stated Monday that the valian
! marine would be given a military flu
neral and all military rites would b.
| paid the hero Of BelIeau Wood an,
other fights in which the marines hat
sso vital a part
| j. j. Collins, undertakers, are hold
! ing the body until word can be re
| ceived from the boys parents at Bir
dell, Ark, as to its disposal