Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-04-20
Two Killed When
Auto Hits Stump
Mrs. Geo. Davis and Father Van der
Zon Killed; Others Injured

| sunday morning when tSe news reach
ed here about $50 of an automobile
accident five miles south of Ocilla, il
which Mrs. George Davis and a part,
consisting of Father Van der Zon, Mr.
and Mrs. Geo. Kratzer and son Franz
and Miss Daisy Moye and a colorec
chauffeur were motoring to Thomas
vile to attend the dedication of tht
new Catholic Church.
| Mr.. Geo. Davis immediately secured
Drs. w. D. Dorminey and Ware ant
| the hospital ambulance and motored
to the scene of the accident. A short
distance below DELLA they met the
party in automobiles returning with
the wounded to the sanatarium at Ocil.
Ia
Father Van der Zon had held early
mass as the local Catholic church and
the. party left here in happy mood
anticipating the pleasure of the ride
and the festivities accompanying the
dedication of the new house of worship
at Townsville, Mrs. Davis was a,
the wheel when they reached a sandy
place in the road between Ocilla and
Triton and failed to keep control OF
the car which turned over and struck
a tree stump demolishing the wind
shield and pinning her and Father Van
der Zon, who occupied the seat beside
the driver
The other occupants of the car were
thrown out by the sudden impact with
the obstruction.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Kratzer, though
injured, managed to free the I'M
fortunate man and woman from their
position before aid reached them.
A neighboring farmer telephoned
for assistance to Fitzgerald and near
by Mystic, and DR.. Lyons of Mystic
rushed to the wreck within twelve
minutes after it happened.
Mrs. Davis was still conscious. when
they took her from the car but lost
consciousness Immediately after and
passed away soon after reaching the
hospital at Ocilla. Father Vanderzan
though still alive when taken from the
wreck never regained consciousness
and passed away at the Ocilla hospital
within short time.
tured collar bone and is reported get
ting. along we'll at the Fitzgerald hos
pi'al, to which she was taken Sunday
afternoon. Mrs. Kratzer kept UP he
roically assisting in extricating the
wounded from the wreck and held
Mrs. Davis in her arms until relieved
at the hospital when she tainted away.
Mrs. kratzer was given the necessary
attention and remained az the Ocilla
hospital and was brought TO her home
here during Sunday afternoon, where
she regained consciousness and is now
reported doing we'll, having sustained
only slight painful injuries. Mr..
Kratzer is some what bunged I'D but
able to look after his affairs, and Frank
was able to report at school Monday
morning.
Funeral Arrangements
Sunday night Father Stephen, &C
companied by fifteen men, members
of the Albany Catholic church arrived
in automobiles and carried the remains
of tse lamented priest back to Albany
for interment. The remains of Mrs.
Davis were taken to Richmond, Va,
by her -bereaved husband, accompanied
by their two children Blanch and
Edward, DIR. ]. L. Pittman and John
Redmond and a nurse.
Early funeral services were conduct
ed at the Catholic Church Monday
morning at 500 o'clock, attended by
large number of the members of the
church and friends of the family.
Friends Visit Remains
The remains of Mrs. Davis were
prepared for burial and placed in
state Sunday evening in the parlor OF
the Aldine Hotel, where hundreds OF
the friends and neighbors of the be-
reaved family came to pay their last
respects to the departed. The SINGER
est sympathies of the community are
extended to the bereaved husband and
the orphaned children.
Pathetic Incident
A pathetic incident rought tears to
the bystanders when the heart-broken
father returned to bring the sad news
to his children. Edward, eight years
old, on seeing his father break down
in unrestrained grief, secured his
prayer book and read to him the mes
sage of consolation and in his childish
voice, free from tears, but full of hope
and trust, assured his grief-stricken
parent, that Mother" was in Heaven
and we must try and be good to meet
her later.
Priest Had Eventful Life
Father Van der Zon had been in
Albany only about three years, but
in his brief residence here he ahd
made many friends by his quiet, kind
ly life, and was greatly beloved by his
parishioners and others who knew him
He was born at The Hague, Neither.
lands, about IS years ago. His SEM
mary training was received in Holland
but he completed his course at Lou.
vain, Belgium, and had three year,
in philosophy under the celefFated
Cardinal Mercier, the heroic Belgium
prelate. Father evan" as he was af.
fectionately known by his congrega.
f., ton, was a man of scholarly attain.
ments, as we'll as priest of kindly
generous and lovable nature. He spoke
and wrote six languages.
Father Van der Zon was stationed
in Belgium during the World War
and was an eyewitness to the burn
ing of the famous Louvain Library
by the Germans, and was witness
to other German atrocities, those who
knew him well had heard him say
On account of his intense anti Ger.
I II