Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1920 — BIG GAB GOES IN THE DITCH [ARTICLE]

BIG GAB GOES IN THE DITCH

But Occupants Escape Miracuously and Only One Goes to Hospital. A big Cadillac touring car containing four men from Chicago, who were on their way to the auto races, went into the big ditch on the east side of the Rensselaer-Remington road, in Jordan township, about 300 feet south of the bridge on the east and west road, near the Wingard farm, at about 7 o’clock Saturday evening. Since this ditch was dredged out last year, and with the recent spring rains washing it out considerably, it . has become quite a large ditch, and it is a miracle that the occupants of the car escaped with their lives. It is said that the car turned a complete somersault and landed right side up on its four wheels in the bottom of the ditch, which must be at least 8 feet deep at that point. The men were thrown prac.tlcally clear of the car and injury except one of the who bad big ankle oroken hind was quite badly bruised about the body. They were covered with mud from head to foot when rescued by the of other cars which came along immediately after the accident, and more resembled a bunch of hogs emmerging from a mud wallow than human beings. Ed Ranton brought two of the men in and Alex Hurley the other two. All were taken to the hospital, but three of the men went on to Indianapolis by train Sunday. Four or five men from the Main garage worked all night long getting the car out of the ditch and the machine was quite badly damaged. It is said that the occupants or the car had a little too much Dooze aboard, and when the navy airplane truck, which was here Saturday evening, enroute to Indianapolis, drove up behind them and tooted its horn to go by, the driver of the Cadillac looked back to see what it was behind them, and when his gaze was again turned toward the front of his cay it was just making the leap into the ditch. While this ditch was dug too close to the road and heavy guard rails should be placed alongside thereof, the roadway is wide and there w a no excuse for one running off into the ditch had he been attending to his driving. In fact, no guard rail would have prevented this accident, as the heavy car would have gone completely through. It is reported that tie occupants of the car were wealthy business men of Chicago, and they were very careful to conceal their identity here. The license plates were removed from the car as soon after the accident as possible and the hospital management was requested to give out no information regarding their identity, even though it were known. ' They may possibly have given assumed names at the hospital, as they were very anxious that no one find out who they were. An almost brand t new Hudson speedster passed through Rensselaer Sunday morning, southbound,, that turned over miles this side, of Crown Point Saturday evening and the top, fenders, running board, etc., was badly damaged, the windshield torn off and the body bent in. This car with six people, three men and three women, in it was enroute from Kokomo to Chicago, . and the accident is said to have Iheen caused from /striking a chuckhole at the foot of a hill and the driver losing control of the machine. Edward W. Huff, a Kokomo furniture dealer, aged 55, one of the occupants of the oar,'died at

an early hour Sunday morning from injuries received. Ona of the women had three ribs broken. The others escaped serious injury. A big Jeffrey car failed to make the turn at the J. E. Lamson corner at the west end of McCoy ave-. nue, about 9 o’clock Sunday night and was damaged somewhat from going into the ditch. It was driven back to the Rensselaer Garage and soon put in commission again and went on its way to the races. On account of regrading Washington (Street and College avenue from the Washington street bridge to the south corporation line, people going to the races had to detour down McCoy avenue and thence south to the Putts school house and east to the Catholic cemetery. The barriers were taken down Monday morning and the regular highway opened for traffic again. Dr. J. H. White and wife of Gary, figured in an automobile accident shortly before noon Sunday on the Brown gravel north of the city and Mrs. White was badly cut about the head. They were on their way to the Indianapolis race In a Hudson limousine which was thrown from the road by a whee. striking a rock and breaking off. The party was brought to the city, the injured woman being cared for at the Fowler hotel. The damaged car was repaired at the Wallace motor company garage and the party continued its trip in the afternoon. —Lafayette Journal. -