Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 August 1949 — Page 1

Page PDF (7.54 MB)

Back to issue view

SE sai .

60th YEAR—NUMBER 151

"WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10,1949

Entered us Second-Class Matter st Postoies :

— Vv

se ¥ sean

Ind. Issued Daily

tury

13 om Sheats Toll toed ‘Cabman Leads 8

Vehicle Hits Abutment Near Bloomington; Victims Trapped Inside

12 Are Injured, Two Escape Unharmed; Heroic Deeds Mark Early Morning Tragedy

Summary of State's Worst Bus Tragedy Fifteen dead, 12 injured, two unhurt. Authorities try to identify unrecognizable dead through relatives. State and Interstate Commerce Commission launch probe. Second bus nearly crashes en route to crash scene. (Additional pictures and stories, Pages 2 and 3.)

BULLETIN BLOOMINGTON; Aug. 10—Two elderly Indianapolis persons were tentatively identified today as being among the 15 dead in this morning’s Greyhound bus crash north of here. They were Omer Brown, 55, and his wife, Arminta, 60, of 37 W. 21st St. A daughter and son-in-law of the couple and a brother of Mrs. Brown said they were certain the couple was on the bus and that a charred piece of luggage was theirs. They were unable to pick out. the bodies definitely, however.

By HEZE CLARK, Times Staff Writer

BLOOMINGTON, Aug. 10—A soldier's wife and two small children and an elderly Evansville couple were the first identified dead of the 15 killed in the worst bus disaster of a decade near here early today. The big Great Lakes Greyhound bus killed 15 and injured 12 when it crashed into a bridge abutment and exploded into flames five miles north of here on Ind. 37 at 1:45 a. m. (Indianapolis Time). It was more than six hours later before rescue workers removed the dead and another hour before the first identifications of the charred bodies were made. From his bed in Bloomington Hospital, seriously-burned Dale Aikman, Camp Campbell, Ky., said the bodies of two children and a woman found huddled in a seat together were those of his 24-year-old wife, Joan, and two children, Vicki and Jimmy.

ICC Officials Join

To Safety From Bus

Edgar Davis, En Route to Evansville

For Brother's Funeral, Plays Hero Role By HARRIET FERGUSON, Times Correspondent BLOOMINGTON, Aug. 10—The hero of the tragic Greyhound bus crash near here was an Indianapolis cab driver, Edgar Davis, 45, 1425 1/2 N. West St. Mr. Davis, who was dozing in a seat four seats from the rear of the bus when the vehicle crashed and turned over, kicked the back window light out and led eight to safety. “All I knew to do was to try to make a way to safety,” the husky driver for the Civic Services Cab Co. in Indianapolis said. He has driven for the cab company for 11 years. Mr. Davis was en route to Evansville to attend the funeral of his brother, Cornelius, who died Sunday in Columbus, O. Hospitalized with shoulder and back injuries, he would not be able to continue to Evansville, hospital attendants said.

Story of Bus Tragedy!

Long Task of Identifying Charred Bodies

Under Way as Relatives Head for Bloomington

By PHILIP F. CLIFFORD Jr. BLOOMINGTON, Aug. 10— Thirteen white sheets-were laid out on.the floor of Bloomington's Armory today and on: them lay 15 charred, unrecognizable bodies—the dead of the nation’s worst bus tragedy of a decade. Each body was placed on an individual sheet, pending identification, with one exception. Those were the bodies later identified as Mrs. Joan Aikman and her two children, Vicki and Jimmy. They were placed together as they were found in the twisted wreckage, with both children huddled close to their mother. Melted Metal, Rubber Asked About Wife | When rescye workers had re-| ay are Mente after Dale’ moved the last of the 15 bodies! ie J i _ consciousness and asked eight women, four men, two chilabout his wife and two children, dren and one of unestablished

individual sheet, pending identifi-

M. Hoogstra™ and the Sumiers) 36495119 was another lead. Only other marked article found so! far was a pair of trousers in which the name “Red Kunkle”, was written in green ink.

a 5

flames.

{

{ ANOTHER MAN escaped from | the flaming wreckage and walked . | along .the outside of the bus to a tseat in which both his parents I'sat dead. Billy ‘Ellérbrook, 24, of Evansville, with his parents was en route from Niles, Mich., to visit a brother, Orin. They had changed busses in Indianapolis, | Sitting at the front of the bus | beside the. door, Mr. Ellerbrook { was the first to follow the driver

The soldier, stationed at Camp sex—mechanics took over to re- | As Mr. Davis led the eight pasCampbell, Ky. was’ seriously move’the twisted wreckage from| | sengeérs to safety, he said they i burned and is in Bloomington]. highway. could hear:-the ¢¥es of small : Hospital. Melted ‘metal from the white-. children uiiougn the barrier of i

i Two more of the dead were] hot wreckage hac poured onto

fdentified as Charles and Ruth|). highwa Is of ‘m Ellerbrook of Evansville. Their| , ian ay ang yoals of melted

son, Billie, 24, told officials he|;n. tires. saw his 78-year-old father and pe ‘bodies were laid side by 66-year-old mother dead in their! yiqs neneath sheets at the road: seats as he fled from the flaming | side until the torch wielders Sig bus. naled ambulance drivers that the Four other brothers hurried] | 15th body was the last, Then the from Evansville to the tempo-!aight ambulances lined up, loaded | rary morgue to pick out the the bodies and drove slowly over) bodies of their dead. The father the hilly curves to the morgue. was identified by a wisp of blue! Driver Cranmer seemed to be and white: striped shorts clinging | the only person who knéw for

Edgar L "Davis"... Hero of | the fragedy,.

Three Youths Flee

to one body. The Injured. son'syre how many persons were on sald he recognized the material. the bus. He stuck to. the figure | a dash for safety. the bus From State Farm Trace Dental Work- 29, “including himself. hours| he wo his mother Ruth - a“ Doctors located the mother's Afterward. .in Bloomington. Hos-| | his father, Charles, 78, still sitting Times State Bérviee

body through a description of her Pital where a Greyhoufid repredental work. gentative sald he had been given As word of the tragedy spread sedative becauke he was suf-| over Indiana, persons who could fering from shock. pot find names of known passen- Some of the bodies were picked | gers on the survivors Hst hurried up intact from the wreckage. But | here to try to identify the dead. [ac etylene torches were used to! An Indianapolis woman re- remove bodies that were virtualported that she put her cousin,|ly welded to parts of the, metal, | Mrs. Grace. Cardwell, 29. of All of the victims were badly | Evansville on the bus when it charred, ‘making early identifica-| left Indianapolis at 12:15 a. m, tion Impossible. Magy. of the ;

in their seats dead from the rag- PUTNAMVILLE, Aug 10 {Ing flames "nd smoke. Three youthful inmates escaped [early today from the unwalled LUKE SHU TE, 50. of Blootti-| grate Farm néar here ington, saw the crash from his The escapees were

seat fn the right front of the _. : .ibus. The first to get on the bus ¥rank T. Bankolzer, 19, of New Albany; Lewis Deringer, 17, of

{in Indianapplis; he said many of [the passengers. had gotten off in| North Vernon, and Johnny Owen ‘| Martinsville. Prudtt, 18~of Indianapolis.

Mayor ‘Thomas L. Lemon ar: [rived at the scene soon after the LOC AL TEMPERATURES

listed as

Relatives in Evansville said they bodies were cremated. crash and began organizing hos-! 6 a. m... 718 10 a, m... 85 had not heard from her and it| Some of the bodies were with-| , pital facilities and plans for re-’ 7 a. m.. 74 “11 a. m... was feared she was among the out legs. Others were: legless at| . , moving the dead in co-operation, 8 a.m... 7 12 (Noon) 91 victims. Mrs. Cardwell came to , Bus driver Wayne Cranmer ‘with ether officials. «1a me 9 Tp me 9 Indianapolis yesterday to ‘enter (Continued oh Pa Page 2=Cal. 3 res ———————r . She ———— es ~ . Sain her husband, Leroy, into Cold] t—~ —— H d S Th tC ad § Mi je’ Spring Road Veterans Hospital ] Times Index ear creams a al { ie or a ne 0 I. as Survivor acs — Another Indianapolis woman, | Amusements 10 Mrs. Manners . 3 BLOOMINGTON, Aug. 10- — the same spot in three years, Mr. to 100 feet from the twisted! Mrs. Dorothy Hill, -said she be- Eddie Ash veolB Marriage .... 7/“People. were screaming. YouiMiles recalled. Three years ago wregkage" Mr. Miles said.

lieved her sister, Geargla Tan- Bridge ...... 8 Movies ......10 could hear it for a mile, Suddenly a gasoline truck overturnéd in

Editorials ,.,14 Radio +11 today said. Fashions .... 9 Ruark 13: - “We knew what the. Food «....... 9 Side Glances 14 meant.”

Detectives were going through the cardboard box of remnants, looking for clues to the the identity

cenien

Miles said, three men turned into {the lane leading to his home and

CCO COMPANY

silence were shadowed against the fire.”

7 of the unclaimed dead. By one body they found some Gardening .. 9 Sports ...13; 16. farm home just 100 yards south-| coins and '& bus token from Hollywood «+10 Weather Map 17 east of the accident seefi¢, said | {phoned the sheriff's office, he ran|

While his wife, Dorothy, tele- efforts to get others out, he said. “But. the whole area around

ward the bus, ithe screaming stopped, we.

case bearing a name which de- Inside Indpls. 13) Earl Wilson . 4 him and his wife. “The flames were shooting 75/it was all over," Mr, Miles —

tectives said looked like “Robert Dan Bidney i 14 Women's .... 9 It was the third accident atl

i Lakes Greyhound Lines

|dianapolis time,

lof impact.

. tméchanics would begin examina

“We couldn't get ¢lose enough!

ner, was on the bus, the Indian- Business ....17 Needlework . 9'there was silence, just like that,” the creek and last year a stone- to see too well, but as we came! apolis chapter, Red Cross, re- Classified 18:20 Novel veesess22 Everett Miles, farmer, who was laden truck from Detroit ¢fashed up I saw a man kicking the rear ported. She was not listed among Comice .....21' Othman ....13 first to arrive on the scene of (he there. ; { window out of the flaming bus. survivors. Crossword ..11 Pattern ....., 9 Greyhound bus crash near here; LA. ha ran from his home. Mr. Several other. dim shapes fol-

lowed him through the hole and

4 Passengers who had escaped FORA ee Th Bootsy s+ «BT MF. ~Mile¥. who lives in his shouted Tor him to Summon help. TFom The Inferno made Trengied tan at son bein Blooming.

Lafayette. A fragment of a suit- In Indpls. ... 3 Joe Willlarns 15 tne noise of the crash awakened down ‘the lane with the men {o- the bus ‘was too hot and when new

~Helps- Identify Parents’- Bodies Also + oan -24-year-old Billy Ellerbrook, Evans To ‘helped identify the body. of his father, Charles, 78, and. | mother, Ruth, 68, whom he said he saw dead in their seats as " |he ran from the flaming wreckage. By ROBERT BLOEM Meanwhile, the unidentified dead — six women, three Interstate Commerce Commis- Men and one of unestablished sex—were laid out in-a makesion officials today joined state Shift morgue in Bloomington Armory. All were burned bes police in an “exhaustive” investi- yond recognition and officials i identification might take gation of the Greyhound bus days. Seaih a ay ght flaming One woman, known to be on the bus and not among ington: early this morning. survivors, was tentatively listed as dead. She was Mrs. _ The coach, operated by Great Grace Cardwell, Evan gville. 3 ‘into a bridge abutment v. clndi The crash which sent the bus exploding into flames Road 37 five miles north of was the third one in the same spot in three years, residents Bloomington about 1:4) a, m., In-{¢ the vicinity said. Twelve ran-to safety with minor It was the Worst commercial injuries, two escaped uninjured. and the other 15 parifhed

{carrier accident in Indiana. his: in. the. flames. tory and one of the worst in the nation. All 15 victims were. en-| veloped in gasoline flames. which | broke out almost at the instant

EE _-

In Crash Probe.

Mechanics to: Stan. Charred Wreckage

Relief Bus Siips Off Road A relief bus sent out from Bloomington shortly after ) \'word of the crash reached Greyhound officials there slipped State” TolF Now 621: {off the side of the road into a ravine as the driver was. d The crash sent Indiana's traffic attempting to park it on the berm in the darkness. leath toll soaring to 621, nine per dent over the 569 total on this Wreckers were summoned from Bloomington to pull Sate a Ko ago. It made the the bus back on the road and it Mau, some of the sur. OoOsler (state one of th t rier | bracket highway Killers with op vivors to the Bloomington Hospital itrafic death Increase weil above The Greyhound was twisting its way over snaky State Road 87 in a-valley about five miles north of Bloomington.

(the national average. v State Police Superintendent Arthur Thurston said wy Swerved, Couldn’t Straighten tion of the charred coach wreck-| As it approached : sancrete bridge Sih Muddy Fork age immediately. He said the de-| Creek “something happened,” Driver Wayne Cranmer, Ine Partin was IE etealarly inter- dianapolis, said. n r by the PI ny State a “Either a tire blew out or a wheel locked,” the dazed chanical " failure for the tragic accident. . At the same time it was learned

that the only governmental safety agency ‘charged with WH The Dead and Injured safety inspections of busses is th ICC. That federal department Ne Known dead: only one safety inspector for the kma and hildre entire state in which 2856 -busses Mrs. Joan Coulburn Ai B, Kokomo, - a are licensed to operate, ‘a large Vicki Aikman, 4, and Jropartion of them in -interstate Jimmy Aikman, 6. traffic i : " pol 0 Lack Inspection Authority Charles Ellerbs » 78, EvaRVile, Netttier state potice nor the mo-' Ruth Ellerbrook, 66, Evansville. {or vehicle division of the Public Tentatively identified as dead: rvice Commission have author- rade ANS {ity or responsibility for mechani ‘The He Cardwell, 29, By ville. | eal inspections. m 10 agen as ingpestins by She; Wayne Cranmer, 25, of 1112 Hoyt Ave., the driver. y . limited to spo Cedarvil | checks and complaints, bus line| Herbert Litterell, 20, . le, 0. : | spokesmen said the smashed Edgar Davis, 45, of 142514 N. West St. [oa Which males is “serviced” John Hirénimus, 15, Evansville. |each day. The driver was classi-| ‘Leonard L. Long, 41, French Lick. fied as an “extra” but made the! James Yocum, 18, of 1246 Udell St. run regular al ti ! rua vp war Sr al" Mrs. Lucille Melton, 39, Mt. Vernon. quaintéd with road conditions, the Judith Ann Melton, 10, Mt. Vernon. company spokesman: said. f vansville. The coach was scheduled out| Dae Aikman, 30, SN ama! Camp Quphel Ny. Dale man, 54, from Wilford Luttrull, 34, Evansville. Bittle Ellerbrook, 24, Evansville. | ,. Other survivors:

of Indianapolis at 12:15 a. m. Lukie Shute, 50, Hosmitghes:

J Captinued ‘on "Page $a} 2

'40 minutes later. The. Ea ts 51 miles and the bus was classified as a “local, " scheduled

| (Conlinued on 2» Page 2=Col, 8)!

ag i

AR A AA