Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1918 — TRAIN HITS AUTO; DRIVER KILLED [ARTICLE]

TRAIN HITS AUTO; DRIVER KILLED

GUY HAWKINS BURNED TO DEATH IN TERRIBLE TRAGEDY NEAR RAUB, INDIANA. One of the most terrible tragedies that has occurred in Benton county in years took place Monday noon when Guy Hawkins, a distant relative of Mrs. J. D. Allman of this city, was burned to death in the debris of the automobile which he was driving and which was struck by a Big Four freight train. Mrs. M. M. Reed, a traveling saleswoman of Chicago, was terribly injured at the same time and it is feared that she cannot recover. A detailed account of the accident taken fom the Lafayette Journal follows: When east bound Big Four train No. 16 struck the automobile in wUch they were riding at Raub, about noon yesterday, Guy Hawkins, proprietor of an automobile livery at Oxford, was killed, Mrs. M. M. Reed, a traveling saleswoman, of Chicago, was terribly injured, and the automobile completely demolished. When the tram struck the car, the gasoline was set on fire, and Mr. Hawkins’ body was burned to a crisp before he could be freed from the wreckage; and Mrs. Reed was terribly burned about the face, head and arms, and she has two broken ribs on the left side. Mrs. Reed was hurried to this city on the train that struck the machine, and is being attended at St Elizabeth hospital by Dr. Thorp, of Earl Park, and Dr George Beasley, of this city. The accident occured near the Raub station, in sight of a number of people, none of whom could do anything to prevent the tragedy or render aid to Mr. Hawkins. He had driven Mrs. Reed to Fowler, and was on the way to Raub when the accident occurred. Mrs. Reed, who had been selling stock in a poultry concern, was on her way to the Keefe store at Raub, having been there Saturday in the interests of her business and had promised to be back there yesterday. They had left Oxford at 9 o’clock in a closed Ford car, and as they „ approached the railroad track, Mr. Hawkins saw the approaching train, but thought that he had time to cross the tracks before it arrived. The fast train struck the car squarely, piling the debris on top of Hawkins, but throwing Mrs. Reed clear df the wreckage. Mr. Hawkins was 44 years of age, had been in the automobile business at Oxford for the past five years, and was one of the best known men in Benton county. He was born and reared in Benton county, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He was a member of the K. of P. lodge. He is survived by his widow and one daughter, three brothers, Ben and Wilbur, of Fowler,- and Clinton, of Chalmers; and one sister, in Wabash county. Howard Shipps, an undertaker at Oxford, took the body to Oxford yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Reed asked that a relative, Mrs. Harriet Jones, of Omaha, Nebraska, be notified of the accident. At a late hour last night she was reported as resting well, and it is thought that unless complications set m she will recover.