Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1909 — OTIS BEST KILLED IN COLLISION AT CHICAGO. [ARTICLE]

OTIS BEST KILLED IN COLLISION AT CHICAGO.

James R. Spriggs, Son of Joel R. Spriggs, and Fifteen Others Badly Injured. Otis Best, son of Isaac Best, of Roselawn, conductor on a Chicago street car line, was instantly killed in a collision Friday, when a fast Pennsylvania train crashed into a Hammond, Whiting and East Chicago street car on Indianapolis boulevard and One Hundred and Sixth street. James Spriggs, son of Joel R. Spriggs, of Walker .township, the motorman, was badly injured. His right leg was badly cut and he received internal injuries, but will recover. Fifteen others were injured in the collision. Conductor Best had his leg cut off and skull fractured, and lived two hours after the accident. He was 28 years of age and formerly lived with his parents in Roselawn. Mr. Best, who was killed, and James Spriggs, the badly injured motorman, were considered one of the best crews on the line. Manager Green of the Hammond, Whiting and East Chicago line, stated that the two wreck victims were among the best employed by his company. Both were steady, sober men, not- only highly regarded by their employers, but well liked by their many friends in Hammond. The railroad crossing where the grewsome accident happened is one of the worst on the whole line, and considering everything, it is believed that the accident was unavoidable. At the time the conductor flagged the crossing not a train was in sight. An instant later, when he had stepped upon the front platform of the car as it started to cross, a fast dummy train rounded the curve and in a flash the street car was struck and demolished.

The force with which the engine struck the car not only caused the front vestibule to collapse, but threw the body off the trucks, turned it diagonally across the rails, where it toppled over on its side. The fact that; the car turned over was responsible for all of the injuries to the passengers, none of whom were hurt Beriously. When the car fell showers of glass were hurled among the panicstricken passengers, and many of the seats were twisted apd broken. The occupants for a brief period were churned about the wreckage, with no possible chance to escape. The register in the car when struck by the train showed fifteen fares had been rung. As the car had just passed the state line, where the second fare is taken, it is believed that there were aboyt ten others who had not paid yet when the car was halted at the crossing to be flagged. This would make a total of twenty-five passengers. There is no question buts what it was one of those unavoidable accidents. Witnesses say that the car wa3 stopped the necessary hundred feet from the crossing, and Best then ran to the tracks. At the time th3t he motioned them ahead the passenger train was not in sight. As soon as the car reached him at the tracks the train had swerved around the sharp curve and hit the front end of the street car. G. Whitmore, engineer of the train, applied his brakes and reversed the Instant he saw the impending crash. So effective were his attempts to stop the train that the rails for 100 feet on either side of the crossing were badly burnt by the friction of the wheels. The engine was brought to a stop within 160 feet of where the car was hit. H Prompt aid was given to the injured. The train which had caused the wreck was used in transporting the injured to Englewood, where those most seriously hurt were cared for. The rear coach was cut off the train and in half an hour the puffing engine had landed the victims at the Englewood station, where ambulances were waiting. Great crowds gathered around the wreckage Friday night until after 9 o’clock. Police and firemen from South Chicago were called to the scene and helped to care for the injured. The firemen searched for val-

uables and lent assistance to the police. Otis Best Buried in Rensselaer. The burial of Otis Best, who was killed in the car collision in Chicago Friday, took place in Rensselaer Monday after the arrival of the 11 o’clock train. Brief services were conducted at the in Roselawn by Rev. A. C. Northrup, of Monon, in the morning. The burial services were conducted at the grave in Weston, cemetery in Rensselaer by Earle Lodge No. 649, F. & A. M., assisted by the Wheatfleld and Rensselaer Masonic lodges. A number of friends accompanied the remains here, including ten members of thek. /jrder of Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric, Division No. 266, of Chicago, of which he was a member. Otis P. Best, son of Isaac and Rebecca Best, was born at West Point, near Wolcott, White county, Indiana, July 10, 1882. Eleven years' ago last March he moved with his parents to Conrad, Newton county. Two years later he moved to Roselawn which was his home until his death. For the last three years he has been in the employ of the street car 'company of Chicago. By which Company he was held in high esteem. He was rallied in the Methodist Sunday school In which faith he was always a firm believer. His Bunny and genial disposition won for him a host of friends, always thoughtful of the pleasure and cares of others. He died as he lived. Although he might have saved his own life, he sacrificed it in an attempt to save the lives of those entrusted to his care, and died August 5, 1909, at the South Chicago Hospital, age 27 years and 25 days. Those who suivive him are his father and mother, sisters—Pearl Best, of Roselawn, and Mrs. Alice VanVoorst, of Carlton, Kans.; brothers —Curtis H. Best, of Chicago; J. E. Best, of Sheldon, 111., and Ewing Best, of Lake 1 Village, and a host of other relatives and friends.