Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1916 — Rensselaer “Sleep Tablets" Blamed by Autoist for Accident. [ARTICLE]

Rensselaer “Sleep Tablets" Blamed by Autoist for Accident.

The mistake of a physician or druggist at Rensselaer yesterday afternoon might have cost the lives of Gus Hildendorf, garage man of Delphi, his mother and a young lady, Miss Koehler, the latter residents of Chicago. : ' Driving toward Montfcelto, and when about a half mile west of the range line on the Reynolds road, Mr. Hildendorf went sound asleep and the ear, left to its own devices, ran off a culvert and down a four-foot embankment. The front axle was broken and the right front wheel smashed. Mr. Hildendorf was not thrown from his seat but the two ladies were hurled out of the car and alighted against a fence. The force of the shock when the car hit the embankment liursted open the door of the tonneau and it was through this aperture that the ladies were hurled. Neither suffered any worse hurt than being badly shaken up and having their nerves unsettled. Mr. Hildendorf had driven to Chicago in a new Grant car to bring his mother and Miss Koehler to Delphi He was not feeling well on the return trip and frequently complained about a blurred vision. At Rensselaer he stopped to get some medicine and thought he was getting calomel tablets. He took one of the tablets at Rensselaer and his mother gave him another tablet after they had passed through Reynolds. Shortly afterward he lapsed into unconsciousness with the result stated. Dr Coffin was summoned to the scene of the accident and divined the cause of Mr. Hildendorf’s condition. He ga-'e him a hypodermic injection to counteract the drug, and from the response soon satisfied himself that the man was under the influence of ntorscious condition until 9 o’clock last night. This morning Mr. Hildendorf was greatly improved.—Montirello Journal.