Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1918 — JOY RIDERS IN DAD SMASHUP [ARTICLE]

JOY RIDERS IN DAD SMASHUP

Stanley Merica and Mamie Bever Miracuously Escape Death. First Lieutenant Stanley Merica of the Reserve Officers’ Training corps at Purdue university, is lying on a bed of pain at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Merica of this city, while Miss Mamie* Bever, also of Rensselaer, is suffering from a nervous shock and bruises at the, home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Bever, the results of a joy ride taken Sunday afternoon in Harry Watson s red Buick racer, which Mr. Merica had borrowed for the occasion. That one or both of the young people are alive to tell the tale is indeed a miracle. They had driven over to Remington and after spending a short time there started out on the secluded highways southeast of that city, as young people are wont to do, and, seeing another auto approaching in the dis4?ncp with a small bridge about midway between, it was apparent that each of the drivers attempted to beat the other to the bridge, With the usual result—the bridge was not wide enough for two cars to pass at a thirty-five to forty mile an hour clip, and they “locked horns.” The opposing car was owned by an Amish farmer of that vicinity by the name of Wiebold, who, with his -'family, was returnwag returning home from church, his son driving the car, which -was a Studebaker. This car escaped with a few bruises, such as a bent axle, bent fender, etc., but the Buick car either went off the end of the bridge or the grade to its approach and turned completely over, the wheels being uppermost and the car lying flat on its back. Miss Bever was apparently thrown clear of the car, but young Merica was pinned underneath and was releaced by the occupants of the

other car, who stopped and pulled him out. The accident happened about four and one-half miles southeast of Remington, on a good stone road, although the road is quite narrow and there was considerable of ■* ditch at the side of the grade. Another Amish farmer brought the young people to Rensselaer and young Merica was taken to the hospital where an X-ray examination was made of his injuries. It was found in addition to scratches about the face, one front tooth knocked out, he was considerably bruised and one bone of his right leg was fractured below the knee. Miss Bever was uninjured except for the shock of the accident and several bruises of a minor characte?. ' The front of the Watson car was quite demolished, both lamps being smashed, the radiator and hood caved in, the frame and axle bent, one wheel smashed to smltlhereens, the steering wheel broken completely off, and altogether it was a pretty sick looking object when Mr. Merica, Sr., and Mr. Watson towed it into town Monday forenoon. From what accounts The Democrat can get of the accident the drivers of both cars were to blame, as each is said to have been trying to beat the other to the bridge instead of using ordinary caution. That no one was killed in indeed a iml/racle. Young Merica was to go to Fort Sheridan next week, It Is understood, to act as teacher in the training camp there, but this accident will probably lay him up for a few weeks at least.