Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1917 — RECKLESSNESS OF FOUR YOUTHS [ARTICLE]

RECKLESSNESS OF FOUR YOUTHS

IS CAUSE OF FRANCESVILLE CAR BEING WRECKED SUNDAY. A wrecked car and a few broken bones is usually the toll youth must pay before he learns that he is not a DePalma, an Oldfield or a Resta, behind the steering wheel of an automobile. Generally a good spill is the only cure for the young speed fiend who desires tq show off to his elders, and a good spill is what four Francesville youths got Sunday afternoon near the residence of W. S. Parks, while using College avenue for a speedway. At the time of the accident the four Francesville lads in a Ford, which they afterward stated belonged to a Francesville garage, was being driven south on College avenue directly behind a Rensselaer car. The driver of the Ford decided he would pass the car in front of him and opened the throttle a little wider. When near the Parks residence the occupants of the front car signalled to the lads that they were going to turn to the left into the lane that leads up to the Parks residence. The signal only brought a smile from the youthful driver and caused him to add a little more gasoline. The front car started to turn into the lane and then the driver of the rear car saw his mistake, but too late. The Ford glanced off the side of the heavier machine and side-swiped a large maple tree, bounding from there to another tree and toppling over on its side, throwing the four lads clear of the machine as it turned. None of the boys were injured but they were badly scared and their bravado vanished when it was found that the two front wheels were broken off, the windshield smashed and the fenders bent. No money, a wrecked car, several miles from home and having to face their irate parents and an equally irate garageman was their plight. The car was taken to a local garage to' be repaired. The young men went home to face the music, but how they came out we have not learned, but presume they will take their meals standing for a while. Probably in the future the Francesville garagemen will not rent cars to young fellows of the knee trouser variety.