The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-03
CHILD IS KILLED IN
FALL FROM TRUCK.
Motor Accident Ends in Death ofLit-
tie Girl in AapaIachicoIa.

APALACHICOLA, Aug. 2.-AII Ap-
alachicoIa was shocked on Sunday
evening when the news Of the tragic
death of little Gladys Sharit reached
the ears of the many friends and rela-
tives of Captain and Mrs. Frank
Sharit. Captain and Mrs. Sharit with
their family were spending a fortnight
on the beach near the Lagoon. They
were occupying one cottage, and Tom
Murphy and his family were living
In the one directly next door. Both
families were packing up to return to
town.
On Sunday morning at about 10
o'clock a telephone message was re-
ceived. 1t stated that Mr.. and Mrs. w.
Lovett, Mrs. Rome and other mutual
friends were on the way down. AS
there was a possibility of their car
not being able to get across Muddy
bayou because of the rains, they want
ed Mr.. Murphy to meet them at the
bayou with his truck. So Mr.. Murphy
prepared to start He took Henry
Knickmeyer along. because if their
cars got stuck he would have TO have
assistance. Then lis eldest daughter,
Miss Idele Murph., with Myrtle Cow
ley and Nellie Shait, climbed into the
back of the truck, while little Mercedes
Murphy and Gladys Sharit. having
obtained parental permission, begged
so hard that Mr. Murphy put them
both on the seat with him. The car
started on its way
All went we'll. The girls in the back
of the car We're kughing and singing.
Twice Mr.. MurpK had made his little |
daughter and Gldys sit down, when. |
full of activity hey jumped up to |
watch the girls behind. The going |
was bad and thecar was running on |
low gear. All at oce Gladys stood up. |
She tip-toed to ee what her sisters
were laughing a. The car bouncedI
and she toppled yer. Mercedes, who
had jumped up ater her, grabbed her
skirts. She too vas falling. Mr.. Muir
! ply sprang forward. He grabbed at
the child's petticats, pushing his own
child, who was ext to him, back as
he reached. His fingers fumbled on
the thin ruffle. TIE child pitched head
| foremost out of he truck. Her head
struck the runnig board.
AAfte rthat no de knows what hap
pened Mr.. MURPHY stopped the car in
| its own length. His daughter, IdeIe,
was the first to sach the unfortunate
child. She lay IN the dray track.
There was one Fuise upon her chest
and thin streIn of blood trickled
cut of her prett ear. She was dead.
| Mr.. j. P. Lovett,Nith his wife and her
| sister, Mrs. M. Daily, passed. Theyl
| ave every assistance, and as soon as
| / was humanity possible all the party
we're back at tn Lagoon cottage with
| he dead child. Ir. A. E. Confer reach
| q the scene as pom as he could motor
| own. He saysthat death resulted
tom the blow pom the head.
| Mr.. and MrsJ. T. Mcneil, from the
IagNon, with jimmie Anderson and NJ. !
| Bragon and he minister from Port !,
4 st J6; rrloforad over to-rne beach at
once ad reruered every kindness that
| their Rrm learts could conceive. Ev-
| eryonewas most kind, but there was {
nothini one could do. ME- Tom Muir
ply 9th he broken hearted father
and nGherof the dead child, have the 4
sympny the community. g
Captn nd Mrs. Frank Sharit are c
life Ion cizens of Apalachicola. Capt. /,
Sharit1a two sisters living here n
Mrs. "a Schools and Mrs. Emma h
Terry1es. Sharit was Miss Hum n
lphrisbdore she married, first Mr.. q
/ Cortland. at his death, Capt. Sharit. q
] The,ave several sons and daughters ~
4 othe han little Gladys
ule absence of Rev. G. E. Bene- y
dicae funeral was taken charge of ~
bye Methodist minister, Rev. C. E. =,
Mfson. b,