Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 282, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1910 — LITTLE JACK LARSH WAS ALMOST KILLED. [ARTICLE]

LITTLE JACK LARSH WAS ALMOST KILLED.

Son of Druggist Bun Over by Auto And Suffers Fractured Skull and Jaw Last Saturday Evening. Little Jack-, son of Druggist and Mrs. Joe Larsh, and well known because of his frequency at his father’s store, was run over by an automobile last Saturday evening at about a quarter of five o’clock. The auto was being driven by Floyd Meyers, son of Mayor George F. Meyers, and as he was going very slowly no responsibility at all attaches to him. The little chap was picked up for dead, but later revived and now stands a fair chance for recovery. The circumstances as gathered by the Republican are about as follows. Meyers, with several young men, had stopped in front of Newels’ restaurant in a Maxwell auto and was just starting up when Jack, who was playing in the street, darted across in front of the machine. He had cleared it and reached the curb, and Meyers, who had observed the lad and shut off the machine, again started up. Apparently Jack changed his mind about where he wanted to go, for he turned about as soon as he reached the curb and darted with the fleetness of a lively boy right in front of the machine. The street was crowded with people and many saw the accident. Meyers shut off the car, stopping it within only a few feet of where the boy was struck. Either one or both wheels on one side of the car had passed over the little fellow’s head, however,-and Simon Leopold ran from his store to the street and gathered the boy in his arms. Apparently he was dead. He was carried to the office of a physician and signs of life were apparent and in about fifteen minutes he had regained partial consciousness. Ahasty examlnation disclosed 'that his right lower jaw was fractured and as blood was oozing from the nose and both ears the extent of the injury could not be determined. It was decided to take him to Chicago and have a thorough examination of his injuries made. Accordingly he was taken to Wesley hospital, leaving Rensselaer on the 10:05 train Sunday morning and having the boy in a berth of a sleeping car. It was found that in addition to the fracture of the jaßv bone there was also a fracture at the base of the skull. The jaw was set, but the setting of the skull fracture was postponed until he had gained strength. It was apparently not causing any immediate trouble and it is believed that he will recover unless infection should result. Mr. and Mrs. Larsh accompanied their son to the hospital and Mr. Larsh was expected to return home today, while Mrs. Larsh will remain with her son for an indefinite time. Apparently the wheels of the car had passed over the face more than the head and only an inch further back would probably have crushed the skull and produced instant death. The wheels did not pass over the body at any other place, which was also fortunate. When the accident occurred Mr. Larsh was at the drug store and Mrs. Larsh-was in Nowels’ restaurant and both were at his side in almost an instant. Jack is a well known little fellow, having been a daily visitor to his father’s store almost since he was able to walk, and, as is the case with independent and precocious children, he had been granted much liberty because of his apparent ability to take care of himself. He was almost 7 years of age and was attending his first year at school. An accident could not have fallen to a child more widely known and more generally admired than Jack Larsh, and the solicitations about his condition with which the family was plied showed the keen Interest all had in his welfare. The present prospects of his recovery will be fine news to all who knew him, as well as to all the friends of the family. Floyd Meyers, the young college student, who was driving the auto, was spending his college vacation here from Franklin. He was shocked by the accident and anxious to contribute anything possible to the recovery of the little fellow. It is a great relief to his feelings to be assured by all who witnessed the accident that he was in no manner to blame for lt<