Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer., 1922-07-05
CROWDED OFF BRIDGE BY
CAR THAT SPED OFF
AFTER ACCIDENT
ESCAPE INJURIES
TWO MEN AND TWO WOMEN
HAVE MIRACULOUS ESCAPES
FROM DEATH IN ACCIDENT
LAST NiGHT-MANY SMASA.UPS
OVER THE FOURTH.

Crowded of the white bridge" by Il
road hog who, after crashing into
their machine, raced away at break.
neck speed to prevent his number
being taken, four people two men and
two women, had miraculous escapes
from death in several forms at $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon when
their new Auburn ear dove through
the railing, tumbIed down the stone
abutmcnt and plunged into the Illinois
and Michigan canal. after twice turn
ing completely over.
The bridge Is located east OF town
on the Ivy Way and is recognized as
one of the most hazardous ana dan
gerous sections along the hard roaa.
Ii has been The scene Of many coli.
sionS and narrow escapes from death.
but last nights smash-up is deemed
the greatest piece of luck" of any OF
the scores Of accidents that have Oc.
CURED there.
Returning From Princeton.
The quartet in the Inflated car were
Mr.. and Mrs. George ScOwn and Mr..
and Mrs.aC. w. Merchant, all of Chi.
-Gaso. The party had been in Prince
w. to spend the Fourth with Mrs.
: Nrchants aged mother, and were re.
! /tM1ng to Chicago when their auto
was almost completely demolished in
the mishap.
Approaching the bridge from the
west the Auburn had just about com
pleted its climb on the curving grade
when the unknown road hog, driving
machine described as a large car
with white wheels" rushed at them
from the north. Mr.. ScOwn who was
driving, the car being his tried to!
avoid a colliion and turned sharply to-
ward the right The crash followed
his machine being forced, under its
own power, to plOW through the rail-
ing and rolled down the abutmcnt
steps and landed on its four wheels
The force of the plunge caused the
Auburn to careen tor'rar' and nose
dive into the deepst part Of the canal
where 1t stopped with its front end
and drivers seat in the water None
of the occupants were thrown out ali
four remaining in their seats Nho1
the car brought up in the canal. ThnI
women, in the rear seat, did not gel
wet, but the two men were sitting in
water and We're badly drenched,
Auto Is Wrecked
The auto was almost a complete
wreck when taken from the water bv
the 'Conde wrecker. The top was
smashed, the tenders torn off, the
steering wheel broken and the body
badly bent and dented The motor re-
mained intact, and, while it would
run, it was impossible to operate the
machine on its own power, 1t was
taken to the Ahern garage for repairs,
If such a thing is possible
The four people, with fate dealing
gently with them, came out OF the
near-catastrcph with only few
bruises. Mr., Merchant was pinchtd
across the back by one of the top
bows and was the only one to receive
injuries which may cause him trouble
later on. The two women were badly
frightened but otherwise were not
hurt, while Mr.. Sc0wn came through
the crash with Il scratch or two ami
a body that had been knocked about
considerably, but otherwise unmarf-
ed by the experience.
ScoWn a "N orkineman."
ScCWn, CWner of the car, told a
Free TraderJournal representative
he was a "workingman and had no in
surancC or other ways of making good
his LOSSES" on the smashed machine.
To others he is reported to have said
that the car was only a week old ami
had not been paid for
An attempt is being made by the
authorities to trace down the identity
OF the road hog directly responsible
for the smash-up so arrests can be
made, and he be given a chance to
explain his conduct in racing away
when he knew the plight his victims
were in
Injured When Auto Hits Tree.
A Dodge sedan belonging to Mil
waukee, Wis, couple was badly
wrecked this morning, when it was
steered into tree on top of Buffalo
Rock, where the owners had been
spending the fourth of July. The man
who owned the car received a slight
cash in the forehead from the broken
windshield.
The auto struck the tree on the
front of the hood, breaking the wind
shield. bending the frame. and damag-
inc the radiator and the engine.
1t was towed into the Adams garage.
where ii will be repaired.
The wife of the man who owns the