Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 173, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1917 — TRAIN VS. AUTO THREE DEAD [ARTICLE]

TRAIN VS. AUTO THREE DEAD

N. Y. CENTRAL TRAIN STRIKES MOROCCO AUTO NEAR CONRAD. Philip Hoak and wife and Mrs. Meddie St. Pierre, of near Morocco, were killed at 9 o’clock this Wednesday morning two miles out of Conrad, Ind., when a southbound New York Central train struck the automobile in which they were riding. Two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Hoik and a son of Mrs. St. Pierre escaped death by leaping from the ill-fated automobile when the approaching train was only a few feet away. The automobile, which was owned by Mr. Hoik, was carried a'quarter of a mile before being finally demolished. Mr. and Mrs. Hoik had left Morocco early in the morning on a berrying expedition and were attempting to cross the track near Conrad when the accident occurred. The train which struck them is due in Morocco at 8:45 and at Enos about 9 o’clock. The accident occurred between 8:30 and 9 o’clock, about 8 miles north of Morocco. The approach to the track where the accident occurred gives a clear view of the track, but the crossing itself is bad. The road is low and there is much sand. Mr. Hoik attempted to cross the track ahead of the oncoming train, and in doing SO killed his engine. The train was almost on top of them at the time and there was no escape. The body of Mr. Hoik was badly mangled and was almost unrecognizable. Mrs. Hoik was killed instantly and had both legs severed from her body. Mrs. St. Pierre had one leg severed from her body and part of her face was missing when she was found. Coroner I. N- Best, of Newton county, was immediately called, and the Wright undertaking establishment of this city notified. It is the concensus of opinion that the driver of the automobile was entirely at fault, as the, approach to the track was clear and it was simply a case of Mr. Hoik having killed the engine of his car while directly in the path of the train.

Everett, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ringeisen, of Hanging Grove township, fell from the davenport in their home Tuesday afternoon and broke both bones in his forearm. A local physician was called and attended to the injury. Major Herman Tuteur returned from Indianapolis Tuesday, where he has been attending to military duties. He will remain here until further orders. He is connected with the administrative staff and just before the companies are called from their home stations will precede them to the camp where they are to be sent, to have everything in readiness. Frank Shide thinks that he has either been misquoted or misunderstood in reference to his attitude towar dthe war. He admits that he has said that the Germans would be hard to whip but says that he is a loyal American citizen and is very sorry if he has said anything that has caused others to think that he was not a true American citizen.