The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-11
INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL H. 1884
Lebanon Woman Pulls Away From
Rescuers, browns After Auto Dives
Into Canal; Three Friends Are Saved
Attorneys Wife SWims Into
Darkness After Midnight
Plunge Here.

art, 81, wife OF a Lebanon attOr-
ney. was recovered from the canal
at Blackford and West streets early
today by policemen under the COM
mand of Sergeant Frank Gallagher,
who had been graphing for her
body since midnight.
Mrs. Stewart was the victim of an
automobile accident which plunged
a car in which she and three other
women were riding into the canal
at Eugene street, as the women we're
returning from a fraternal meeting
here last night.
Mrs. Stewards body was carried
downstream for more than three
miles by the swift canal current.
The body was identified by Carr
Bratton, Lebanon undertaken, who
said he had known Mrs. Stewart all
his life and was positive of his
Identification.
Two other Lebanon women, sub
merged in the muddy waters and
rescued shortly after the accident,
were sent home from city hospital
today, still suffering from shock as
q result of their experiences. Mrs.
J. R. Spelbring, 70, remained at
city hospital, after being saved from
downing by the heroic efforts of
another woman.
In the car besides Mrs. Spelbring
were Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Helen Ruth,
and Mrs. Orpha Park, ~, the driver,
all well-knoWn Lebanon women
They were returning to Lebanon
after attending a meeting of the
Order of the Eastern Star here last
night
Driving on Wrong Street
Mrs. Park said after being rescued
that she thought they were on
Twenty ninth street instead of Eu-
gene street when the accident oc-
Cured. None of the women noticed
anything unusual about their route,
she said. until the car crossed the
railroad tracks of the Big Four.
Mrs. Ruth saw red danger sig
nal ahead She remarked that re-
pairs probably we're being made on
the street. Suddenly. the water OF
the canal was disclosed by the
headlights.
MY God, we're going into the
water cried Mrs. Ruth, clutching
the sides of the car.
1T can't be the water" said Mrs.
Park We're on Twenty-ninth
street and we go over bridge
Two Men Aid Rescue
Before any of the other women
could utter a word, the car left the
pavement and plunged into the
canal. The water was more than
five feet deep at this point and the
car was submerged to within few
inches of the roof.
Mrs. Ruth managed to lower the
front window and putting forth all
her strength, dragged herself out
through the opening, pulling the
aged Mrs. Spelbring with her.
The loud crash caused by the car
plunging into the water attracted
the attention of J. B. Candy, 49, of
the Sheffield inn. and Jesse Warren,
26, of 1853 Eugene street. Without
a moments hesitation both men
dived into the water.
First they assisted Mrs. Ruth to
the bank. where she ELAPSED after
her heroic efforts to save Mrs. Spell
bring. Mrs. Stewart was rescued
next. Mrs. Stewart, according to the
rescuers, pulled away from them as
she reached the surface and began
swimming downstream.
Disappears Into Darkness
She disappeared in the darkness
before Candy and Warren could
reach her and they returned to their
task of bringing the other two
women to the surface.
Mrs. Stewart is the wife of Ernest
Stewart, attorney, and the mother
of two children, Majetta Jean, 8,
and Charles, 4. She was an active
member of the Business and Pro-
fessional Women's Club, the Pres
byterian church and the Order of
the Eastern Star.
In addition to her husband and
children. she is survived by her
mother and two sisters, Miss June
birmingham of Washington and
Mrs. j. P. Frank Laughner of
Whitestown, and brother. Grover
birmingham of Evanston, Ill.
After the fatal accident, police
said the women had decided to go
to Lebanon by way of Twenty ninth
street to avoid traffic jam caused
by an accident at Thirtieth and
Clifton streets.