Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1912 — CHICAGO MAN MEETS DEATH IN CAR WRECK [ARTICLE]

CHICAGO MAN MEETS DEATH IN CAR WRECK

When Automobile Turns Summersault JUST NORTH OF RENSSELAER. nR. W. Barradaeli Killed and W. H. Barrickiow Injured When Their Car Flanges Into Ditch. Driving at a speed less than thirty miles an hour and unable to see the road clearly because Of heavy, lowhanging patches of fog, one man was killed and another seriously injured early this morning when the automobile they were in turned turtle in a ditch about a mile north of-'town. Both men are residents of Chicago and were the only occupants of the car. The dead man is R. W. Baradach, a financial agent of the Federal Life Insurance company, of Chicago. He was 31 years of age. The other man is W. H. Bar.ricklow, 41 years of age, a dentist, giving his address as 39Q1 Cottage Grove, Ave. Sir. Baradach, the owner of the machine, was at the wheel at the time the accident occurred. The machine skidded and turned completely over in the ditch. Neither ? of the men were pinned down by the machine. Mr. Baradach met instant death. His left chest was caved in and several ribs broken. Dr. Barricklow’s left leg waß broken just above the ankle and a large gash was cut in the skin of his right leg. He was badly shaken up and was rendered unconscious by the fall.

The machine is a 35-horsepower underslung American Roadster and has the reputation of being very hard to upset. When it was straightened up and pulled onto the road it was found that the front axle was bent and the frame sprung. The glass front and frame was demolished and the fender and running board on the left side were smashed. The steering wheel was also broken. There were no witnesses to the accident but a number of farmers saw the machine passing by. Nat Heuson, who lives between the Alf Donnelly farm and Norman’s corner, states that they were not going fast when they passed the Donnelly farm, but that they were clipping It off at a pretty good speed when they passed his place. . An examination shortly after the accident gave little evidence of excessive speed and the tracks indicated that an experienced man was at the wheel and that the machine was going a straight and steady course.

Dr. Barricklow did not have a very clear conception of the accident but after a couple of hours’ rest he talked freely of the event to a reporter for The Republican. “Mr. Baradach and I left Chicago last night at about 10 o’clock enroute to Indianapolis. As we were not expected there until some time this afternoon, and as it was still early this morning, we had decided to stop here at Rensselaer to eat breakfast and take a few hours’ sleep. We were bothered considerably on our journey during the whole night by fog. It grew especially dense after we had crossed the Kankakee river about daybreak. On one or two occasions, after crossing the Kankakee, we were caught in thick clouds of fog and had difficulty in keeping to the road. These fog pockets were most noticeable whereever there was a slight deellne in the road, and necessitated slowing down the machine. About 5 o’clock, as we approached the scene of the terrible accident on the outskirts of your city, we were confronted by one of these fogs. We were not going very fast. I dare say not over 25 miles on hour.

“About the only thing I can remember about the accident was that the machine skidded, swerved to the west side of the road suddenly, and then turned a complete somersault, alighting in the ditch top side down. The front end was headed to the north. We were both thrown out on the Bame side of the machine. I knew my leg was broken but did not know of any other injuries. I spoke to my partner several times but received no answer. That is the last thing I remember. I guess I became unconscious for all is a blank after that" Dr. Barrlcklow and Mr. Baradacb were going to spend the afternoon in Indianapolis and then were going to drive down to Areola to visit over Saturday sad Sunday with the former’s

mother, Mrs. Eliza Barricklow, and his sister, Mrs. Minnie Snyder. The wreck was first discovered by a son of George Tudor about 5:30, who was riding to the country on a bicycle. He sped back to town and notified Marshal George Mustard. Mr. Mustard called Dr. A. R. Kresler and together in the latter’s automobile they rushed to the scene of the terrible accident. They were the first persons there. ' 5 Mr. Baradach was found doubled up and lying face downward; his legs extended under the running board and between the two rear wheels. He was dead when picked up and his fingers were growing numb. His left chest was caved in, several ribs bedng broken. No other bones were broken and, aside from the injured chest, he was unscratched. The doctor pronounced his death as instantaneous. Dr. Barricklow was found in an unconscious condition at the rear of the machine. His left leg was broken and he received other cuts and bruises. He was aroused from his unconscious state and taken in "Dr. Kresler’s machine to the Makeever hotel, where his injurieswere treated.

Neither of the men were fastened under the machine. Nobody knows just how Mr. Baradach received the fatal blow on the chest, but it is Dr. Barricklpw’s belief that the steering wheel pressed down on it as the machine turned over. Undertaker Wright was called and he moved the body of Mr. Baradach to his undertaking parlors. Coroner W. J. Wright*will accompany the body to Chicago this evening on the Hoosier Limited and an inquest will be held later. Dr. Barricklow was taken to the depot this afternoon and left for his home In Chicago. A friend of his, Dr. Wood, was notified and will meet him at the station with an ambulance. A message was sent early this morning to Mrs. Baradach, notifying her of her husband’s death. Mr. Baradach is survived by a wife, a nine-months-old son and two brothers. Dr. Barricklow is a widower and has a ten or twelve year old son. Both men are of good address and excellent standing in Chicago. They are 32nd degree Masons and are both Shriners. l The machine was taken to the Rensselaer Garage for repairs and wiil be taken to Chicago as soon as .put in running order.