The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-10
REED AND BOY
DIED WITHOUT
ANY STRUGGLE
Indications Are They Were
Rendered Unconscious and
Then Were Drowned
HAD FORGOTTEN ROAD
Arnold Peterson, One of In
iCred Relieves That Reed
Simply Forgot About Cliff

Both Jack Reed and "Bud Widger,"
who were killed when the automobile
in which they were riding went over
aA- embdnkment into the Missouri
River, drowned without struggle,
according to members of the search
ing party which recovered both of
the bodies from the waters of the
river. The boys chin was crushed
and there were other bruises about
the head. Reeds body and head
were badly crushed. 1t is probable.
according to officials, that both were
rendered unconscious when the car
struck the ice. and that they drowned
while unconscious.
The body Of Reed, whose age has
been established as 20 by his trap
ping license, was recovered about
o'clock Saturday afternoon. The
boys body had been found about 10
o'clock in the morning. The boys
body was only few feet from the
spot where the car went into the
river while Reeds eody had drifted
in the very light current about 35
feet south of the car. Sheriff He'd
strom found Reeds body. 1t was
not necessary to dynamite the ice.
Holes were cut in it and graphing
hooks were used.
The car was pulled up on the ice.
The front was badly damaged. The
river has raised since the accident,
however, and had settled in two feet
of water over Sunday.
Arnold Peterson, one of those in
the rear seat, suffered peculiar in
jury in the accident. Doctors, dress
ing his broken left arm, found about
two, inches of the bone missing. The
injury puzzled them until they found
evidence Of gun shot wounds. The
ccpclusion was reached that one Of
the guns was discharged as the car
went over the embankment, tearing
the hole in his arm. Peterson, how
ever, does not remember gun shot,
although he was conscious all Of the
time, he said in the hospital today.
No member Of the searching party
who handled the guns has been
found who found evidence of gun
having. been discharged.
HAD fOfgOtten NOa0
Reed, it is believed, had forgotten
that the abandoned road on which
he was travelling led into the river.
Peterson today said that Reed was
familiar with the country and had
been in that vicinity earlier this fall
The car was going Is to IS miles AN
hour when it. went over the cliff, he
estimated, and said that no one had
any warning of the danger.
The spot was visited Sunday by
many Bismarck motorists. The acct
dent happened in the vicinity of
Timothy Griffffin's farm, and half
mile from Martin Burgio's house
Many people Joined in the search for
the bodies. Sheriff Hedstrom and
Coroner Gobel led the work, and
Walter Sellens, Lynn Sperry and the
Burgio boys worked long hours in
an effort to find them.
Widger Improves
Ed Widger, who was very serious.
ly injured, suffering several fractured
bones in the head and internal in.
juries, was reported getting along
fairly well today by DR.. A. M. Fisher
1t was feared Saturday that he might
not recover, but it appeared today
he would unless complications from
internal injuries set in.
Funeral services for Mr.. Widger'.
step-son, George Kimbal Hickman
also known as bud Widger," who
was killed in the accident, were helt
this morning in the Webb parlor.
with Rev. Johnson in charge. Buria
was in the Catholic cemetery. The
boy was born January Is, 1908, a
Steele, and is survived by his step
father, mother, two sisters and I
sten-hrother