Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1920 — FOURTH ACCIDENT VICTIM WILL PROBABLY DIE [ARTICLE]

FOURTH ACCIDENT VICTIM WILL PROBABLY DIE

Lowell, Ind., July B.—What had been planned as a merry outing at a summer cottage on the Kankakee river was turned to tragedy in a twinkling yesterday afternoon when a north-bound Monon passenger train crashed into an automobile just south of Shelby, killing three, fatally injuring one and seriously injuring another. AH Lived in Shelby. All were residents of Shelby. The Dead MRS. JOHN AHLGRIM. CHARLES AHLGRIM, her son, aged 5. FRANCIS SIROIS, nephew of Mrs. Ahlgrim, aged 4. The Injured RUBY SIROIS, niece of Mrs. Ahlgrim, aged 5, injuries considered fatal. Slightly Injured MAX AHLGRIM, son of Mrs. Ahlgrim, aged 6, injuries serious, but will recover. On Pleasure Outing. Mrs. Ahlgrim had loaded the children into her automobile intending to take them to the summer home of Max Ahlgrim, Sr./ grandfather of the children for a visit. The cottage is located in Water Valley about a mile south of Shelby and just across the railroad tracks. As the only person who could be considered a witness of the accident is the six-year-old son of Mrs. Ahlgrim who was in the car, it will never be known just how the tragedy occurred. View is Obstructed. The road approaches the track* at a steep grade and view of^ the south is somewhat obstructed. From the actions of the occupants as noted by the train crew in' the brief interval before the pilot of the engine caught the automobile it is believed that Mrs. Ahlgrim was not aware of the approach of the train. Engine Is StalledApparently she had driven to the top of the grade and either the engine stalled or she became excited on seeing the train and tried to back from its path. The machine halted on the tracks and an instant later was reduced to wreckage. . The dead and injured were taken to the Max Ahlgrim cottage which is located within a few yards of the scene of the accident. Medical aid was rushed to the scene but the three deaths had been instantaneous. _ . Little Giri Dying. Physicians despair of saving the life of the child, Ruby Sirois, and her death is expected at any time. The lad, Max Ahlgrim, Jr., has a number of bad cuts and bruises but it is thought that he will recover. Besides the injured son, Ahlgrim is survived by her husband and an older child.