Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-08-24
HAMMOND, IMD., COUPLE
NARROWLY AVOID
TRAGIC FATE
I'd CRASH IN WEEK
FATE INTERVIEWED TO PREVENT
REPETITION OF SUNDAYS IRA
GEDY WHEN MAN AND WOMAN
ARE SAVED FROM BEING
MANGLED ONLY BY A MIRACLE.

In wake OF the tragedy which oc-
CURED Sunday at death crossing
at the foot OF Moriarty hill, came an
other auto accident last night, when
an Overland touring car, driven by
Theodore Siius. Hammond mer-
chant, was wrecked by a Rock Isl
and train, Inability to see the tracks
until they we're in the path OF the
locomotive is attributed by Mr. Silius
20 have been the cause of the aC-
cident He and Miss Rose Thiel Of
Hammond who was riding with him.
jumped, saving themselves the fate
that Mr.. and Mrs Thomas Macarthur
suffered Sunday, when both were
killed by c., 0. d r. car at the
crossing few feet south OF the Rock
Island tracks.
Mr. Silius and his companion came
from Hammond yesterday morning to
visit the Starved Rock state park.
They stopped in ottawa and obtain
ed an early 4pneh. after which they
went to the state park. where they
remained until the early evening.
They were coming down Moriarty hill
about 1880 in the evening, and ac-
cording to the story told by them to
day, did not see approaching train,
or hear the signal bell until they ran
upon the tracks
Heard Bell Backed Away.
They heard the bell and according
to the driver. looked up just III
time to see the locomotive rounding
the curve, short distance down the /
track. Mr.. Sillus says that he saw
he would not have time to clear the
tracks, so he threw his car in re-
verse and attempted to back Off. |
Only the front wheels were across |
the west bcund track His engine
died as he attempted to throw into
reverse, leaving them stranded in
front OF the train,
He called to Miss Thiel to jump
and both made a hasty, exit from the .
automobile. They tried to push the
car back down the grade, but did not
have time before the train was upon
them
Jumping off the tracks, they watch +
ed the engine prey down upon the
auto, smashing the entire front Of
the machine
Witness Sees Accident.
Morel Palmer and Bert Hagenbuch, I
who were nearby and saw the plight /
of the motorists, ran to their rescue.
The train, a westbOund freight, stop
ped and the trainmen ran back to /
see what damage had been wrought. I
The engineer stated that he was man +
ming a locomotive when a woman was
struck and killed there fifteen years
ago and the brakeman said that he
WAS on one of the trains that killed |
Albert and Ernest Windus and Har-
old Halcwell on the same corssing |
on March II, 1920
Try To Conceal Names,
A man named Johnson brought Mr., |
Silius and Miss Thiel to Ottawa /
where they remained overnight This .
morning when interviewed by a re-
porter, they willingly gave details of
the accident, but for some unknown |
reason yelled their identities in mys-
terry refusing to make known either |
Of their names. Mr., Soulior gave as
his reason for doing this that he was
in business, and he feared that if the |
news of his accident became known !
back there it would iniure him
'If | was in politics, running for |
Office" he said "I would tell you our
names then, but am not looking for
advertisement
He also stated he was known in /
Ottawa. From other sources it was
learned that he gave their names as
Silius and Thiel to the Rock Island /
traiEmen last night They also reg
istered under the same names at a |
lCcal hotel
One of Many at Same Spot.
The accident is one of many which /
has occurred at the Moriarty hill |
crossings of the Rock Island and c.. /
o. & P railways The crossing is |
one of the worst tn this part of the /
state. and has been the scene of sew
eral fatalities
The wrecked machine was brought !
into the Corbin garage today in big
iScherer truck for repairs II is esti- !
mated that the repairs viii cost in /
the neighborhood of S400.