Union Ledger, August 26, 1910

A NARROW ESCAPE.

Party of Local Men Had a Very Narrow Escape From Death.

AUTO TURNED TURTLE.

W. B. Banning, G. W. Cheney, W. R. Cross, Roy Upton and J. R. Pierson in Mix-up.

         Tuesday evening five of our citizens figured in an automobile accident from which they consider themselves very fortunate to escape with their lives, the parties being G.W. Cheney, L.R. Upton, W.B. Banning, J.R. Pierson, and W.R. Cross, and the accident, occurred about 7 o’clock that evening about seven miles north of Humboldt, resulting in the wrecking of the automobile and more or less injuries to the occupants of the machine. The first reports received here by phone created the impression that there might be fatalities, but later it was learned that the injuries were not so bad as at first supposed, and as near as can now be learned the parties suffered as follows:

         John R. Pierson — Severe cuts and bruises on body and face, and possibly some internal injuries, also dislocation of shoulder; not yet able to be brought home.

         W.R. Cross — Collar-bone fractured, face badly skinned and bruised about the body; came home on train Wednesday morning.

         W.B. Banning — Head and face cut and bruised and injury to shoulder; came home on train Wednesday morning.

         L.R. Upton — Chest and hand bruised, face and leg skinned; came home in automobile that night.

         G.W. Cheney — Severely shaken up, bruised arm; came home in automobile.

         All the above parties appear to be getting along very well. Banning, Upton and Cheney will probably soon recover. Pierson’s injuries appear to be more serious, and the Humboldt physician who attended him advised that he remain at the Avery residence (where the accident occurred) until the extent of his injuries can be more definitely determined. Cross suffers a great deal of pain, principally from the fractured collar bone. The latest report from Pierson is quite favorable, and it is thought no permanent injury was sustained and that he can return home in a few days.

         The exact manner in which the accident occurred and the immediate cause are things that are difficult to determine, as the occupants of the car were stunned and excited and had no time to observe details, but as near as can be ascertained the facts are as follows:

         Three automobile crowds left here Tuesday morning going to Pawnee City to attend the funeral of the late W.F. Tracy, which was held there Tuesday afternoon. They started home that evening. G.W. Cheney, L.R. Upton, W.R. Cross, J.R. Pierson and W. B. Banning in the Cheney car in the lead; L.G. Todd, Will Wolfe, Will L. Taylor and Joe Banning in Todd’s car; F.H. McCarthy, J.B. Roddy, John Bramblet and John Hansell in McCarthy’s car. About 7 p.m. they reached a point seven miles north of Humboldt near the residence of T.O. Avery, and as the roads were in splendid condition, all the cars were going at very good speed. Near the Avery residence the car ran to the east side of the road and it appeared to get beyond control, or the steering apparatus was out of order, and ran into the fence in such a manner as to carry posts and boards with it, then turned over, throwing Upton and Cheney about twenty feet distant, and Pierson, Banning and Cross were caught under the car. Upton and Cheney soon recovered from the shock and hurried to the assistance of the others, pulling Pierson and Cross from under the wreck and found it necessary to lift the car in order to release Banning, who was pinioned to the ground. By this time, the other cars arrived upon the same and the injured persons were made as comfortable as possible [newspaper torn in microfilm image].

The Union Ledger, Friday, March 8, 1912

          Vance Harris was a passenger to Weeping Water last Friday.