Tragedy Thursday

 Woman Going Across Street Killed By Auto
     Mrs. Mary Stuck, 86 Years Old, Is Victim of Accident
             Resided in City Her Entire Life

  Mrs. Mary Stuck, 86, of 569 S. Broadway, died in St. Elizabeth Hospital at 4:20 pm Saturday, an hour after she was hit by an auto while she was walking across the intersection of Broadway and Gale Ave.  Police were told that Mrs. Stuck became confused in the traffic.
  The auto was operated by Frederick Sandusky, 610 Washington St., according to officers who investigated.  R.S. Zink, 519 Wisconsin Blvd, conveyed the injured woman to the hospital in his auto.  Policemen Broedling and Dixon tested Sandusky's car and found it to be in good mechanical order.  Sandusky was interviewed by Sergt. George Saunders at police headquarters and was ordered to report to Traffic Inspector T.C. Grundish at 9 am Monday.  That merely is a formality and he probably will not be arrested.
   Mrs. Stuck was a lifelong resident of Edgemont and was widely known in that community.  She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bolender, and was born at the Bolender home in Edgemont, Feb. 5, 1843.  Her parents died many years ago and four sisters and three brothers also preceded her in death.  She was the last survivor of a once large family.
   Despite her age she was very alert for one of her years and enjoyed robust health.  She went everywhere and enjoyed life to the utmost.  It was while she was returning from the grocery that the fatal accident occurred.
   Mrs. Stuck was a member of the Miami Chapel U.B. church during her entire life and had once been very active in the church.
  Her husband, Peter Stuck, preceded her in death 23 years ago. Survivors include three sons, William Stuck, with whom she made her home at 569 S. Broadway, Edward and James Stuck and Mrs. Luther Nicholas.  There are also nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

**Dayton Daily News, 30 June 1929, Front Page & Pg. 6

Tragedy Thursday

        Youth Is Dead In Auto Crash;  Girl May Die
 Herbert Gebhart, Germantown, Killed in Early Morning Accident
      Stella Weaver Is Injured Seriously
    Machine Collides With Another Car When Speeding Near Village

    Herbert Gebhart, 22, R.R. 2, Germantown, was dead and Miss Stella Weaver, 16, daughter of Winfield Weaver, Germantown, was in Miami Valley hospital in a critical condition Thursday as a result of an automobile crash near Ellerton on the Germantown Pike Wednesday night at 11 o'clock.
    Two other persons, C.A. Ward and his wife, Blanche Ward, R.R. 2, Liberty Rd., were slightly injured in the crash, but were not taken to a hospital.  Mrs. Ward suffered scalp wounds.
   Sheriff Fred S. Wolf was advised of the accident by C.L. Plymate, 110 Alameda Pl., and detailed Deputy Sheriff Dwight Conover to the investigation.
   Gebhart died while being removed to St. Elizabeth hospital, while Miss Weaver was taken to Miami Valley hospital by Mr. Plymate, who was passing by the accident scene a few minutes after the crash.
   The girl sustained a fractured skull and internal injuries and may not recover, hospital officials reported.  An examination of the injuries is being conducted.
   Witnesses told Deputy Sheriff Conover that the Gebhart and Ward automobiles were both proceeding in the same direction when the accident occurred.
  Gebhart was said to have applied the brakes to his car, which was reported to have been going at a high rate of speed.  He is believed to have lost control  of the machine, as it crashed into a telephone pole, breaking it off, then careened into the Ward automobile, turning that car over into a ditch.
   The car ended its rolling when it turned over against a second telephone pole.  Gebhart was reported to have sustained a broken neck.  He was the son of Harley Gebhart.
  Miss Weaver was an occupant of his automobile and was unable to give a statement on the accident Thursday morning.
   Sheriff Wolf reported that he had received complaints about speeding on the Germantown Pike and had attempted to break it upby the arrest of a number of offenders.  Several witnesses reported that Gebhart was one of the motorists who caused the complaints to be made to the sheriff.

**Dayton Daily News, 7 APR 1927, Front Page

Tragedy Thursday - The Trotwood Grade Tragedy

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kreitzer, of Trotwood, were instantly killed and their 4 year old son, Wilbur was perhaps fatally injured when their automobile was struck by through passenger train No. 20, at the Main Street crossing of the Pennsylvania railroad, at Trotwood about 5:30 Sunday evening.  They were returning home from a visit at the home of Mrs. Kreitzer's brother, Clarence Erbaugh, on the Union Road, seven miles southwest of Trotwood, when the accident occurred.
                                    Bodies Hurled Long Distance
   The automobile, a small Maxwell car, was struck squarely by the fast flying train.  Mr. Kreitzer's body was hurled throughout the air for a distance of nearly sixty five feet.  He was found beneath a section of an old fence, which had been torn away by the impact on the railroad embankment near the depot.  The body of his wife was found in the middle of Main Street, fully fifty yards from the crossing.  By her side lay the child.
                                       Child May Survive
   Mayor A.E. Black, who lives near the crossing, was the first to reach the scene of the accident.  Mr. and Mrs. Kreitzer were found to be dead.  The child was still breathing and was rushed to the office of Dr. W.C. Mendenhall, where at a late hour Sunday night, despite a fractured skull and possible internal injuries, it was said to have a chance for life.
                                      Repetition Of Xenia Tragedy
  The accident was strickingly similar to the grade crossing tragedy last Sunday, which snuffed out the lives of L.F. Creamer, of Osborn, general agent of the Tentania Insurance Company and Homer H. Hawkins, his brother-in-law, a prominent Greene County farmer.  Like the principals in the fatality Mr. and Mrs. Kreitzer were returning from a visit with relatives.
  The tracks, which cross diagonally, were obscured from view too, a building cutting off the view from automobilists approaching in Main Street.
                                Crossing Bell Ringing
   While the crossing bell was ringing and the warning shriek of the engine whistle rang out just before the crash came, the occupants of the ill fated automobile were apparently unaware of the approach of danger.  The rainy weather is believed to have been partially responsible for the accident.  The curtains were probably up, preventing Mr. Kreitzer, who was at the wheel, from hearing the warning notes, either of the bell or engine whistles.
                             Death Instantaneous
   From every appearance the victims never knew what happened.  Both were terribly mangled and death was probably instantaneous.  The machine in which they were riding was torn to pieces.  The body of the machine was found in Main Street, fully one hundred and fifty feet from the railway crossing.  The front wheels were found on the railroad embankment, beyond the depot.
                         Residents Hear Crash
  Mayor Black, who was first on the scene, said Sunday night that he heard the crossing bells ringing, followed by the sounding of the engine whistle.  "Then there came a terrible crash", he said. "and I knew something terrible had happened.  Rushing out into the street I found Mrs. Kreitzer and the child first.  Mr. Kreitzer's body was not found until later."
    The bodies were removed to A.W. Shafer's undertaking parlors, in Trotwood, to be prepared for burial.  Mr. Kreitzer, who was 30 years of age, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kreitzer, of Bellbrook, and had been employed at the Swinger and Sollenberger plumbing establishment.  His wife, who was 25 years old, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Erbaugh, who reside on the Union Road, several miles from Trotwood.
                  Coroner Investigates
   Coroner McKenny, who was called from Dayton to make an investigationn declared Sunday night that the accident was apparently unavoidable.  He said that from what he could learn the crossing bell was in good working order and that the warning of the engine whistle was also sounded as customary, when the train was approaching the crossing.  He said that the inclemency of the weather was mainly responsible for the accident.
                  Child's Skull Fractured
   "The little boy," Coroner McKenny said, "seems to have a good chance for recovery.  The most dangerous injury is a depressed fracture of the skull.  Internal injuries are also to be feared.  While the child may recover the outcome is still in doubt and cannot be determined definitely until it is found whether or not internal hurts were sustained by the shock."

**Dayton Journal Herald, 20 October 1913, Front page

Tragedy Thursday

Gospel Messenger, 07 JUN 1941, Pg. 41 

 

Crist, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Sallie Garber Early, was born at Broadway, Va., July 24, 1872, and died Jan. 15, 1941.  While at the home of her daughter in Washington, caring for her three grandchildren in the absence of their parents, she was burned to death.   She was married to Joseph F. Crist on Jan. 10, 1900.  Surviving are her husband, two sons, one daughter and five grandchildren.  She became a member of the Church of the Brethren when she was a girl.  She was a woman of kindly disposition and was active in the work of the church.  The body was brought to her home in Bridgewater for burial.  The pastor, C.G. Hesse, assisted by O.S. Miller, conducted the service.   –Mrs. Stuart Miller, Bridgewater, Va.

*Gospel Messenger found at the Brethren Heritage Center, Brookville, Ohio

Tragedy Thursday - Struck By A Truck!

 Mrs. Salmon Struck By Truck Wednesday

  Mrs. Roxa Salmon, 85, who was injured when struck by a truck while crossing the street near her home on East Center Street at 3:25 pm Wednesday, was reported to be in fair condition at Hopkins County Hospital at noon today.

   Mrs. Salmon suffered bruises, but no bones were fractured.  She is also suffering from shock and is expected to be hospitalized for several days.

  The truck, operated by James Edward Matchen, 434 Noel Avenue, Negro, was going west when Mrs. Salmon was struck and knocked down.  No charges have been filed against Matchen.

**Madisonville Messenger, Thursday, 07 APR 1955

[Note: Mrs. Salmon does die 26 MAY 1955 of complications from the injuries received in this accident.]

Tragedy Thursday - A Frightful Death

Must warn you that some of the details contained in this post may be a bit hard to handle.

Newspapers in the late 1800's and into the early 1900's sometimes got a bit carried away with details. 

 Same Old Story 

 Fostoria, O., Nov. 26, --Mrs.C.F. Krugman was fatally burned as a result of trying to start a fire in the kitchen stove with gasoline.  There were some live coals concealed in the ashes  and the flame jumped from them to the can, causing its contents to explode and cover her with the burning fluid.      

HORRIBLE 

 Mrs. Charles Krugman Fatally Burned at Noon Tuesday  Kindling a Fire with Gasoline and the Can and Contents Exploded     At this writing, two o'clock this afternoon, Mrs. Charles J. Krugman lies at her home on South Union Street, awaiting the summons of death, burned to a crisp and moaning, directing to her husband the care of their three small children.   Mr. and Mrs. Krugman and family moved here from Hammond, indiana, two months ago, and he has been employed by Mohler, the tailor, since that time.  Both parties lived here about six years ago, he marrying her, Miss Kritzer, in this city, she being a sister to Mrs. George O'Brien.  

Mr. Krugman said this afternoon that he went home to dinner, and hs wife thought she would get a quick dinner.  There was a little fire in the kitchen stove and both he and she and a little child were standing beside the stove when she picked up what she thought was a coal oil can, but which may have contained gasoline, and taking off a stove lid began pouring the fluid onto the coals, when instantly the contents exploded, throwing now burning fluid in all directions and wrapping the body of the unfortunate woman in a sheet of flame.  The glass in the stove was blown out, and the ignited fluid was distributed over the floor and table and blackened the walls of the room wherever it struck.  Mrs. Krugman screamed in pain while her husband tried to extinguish the flames which enveloped her; in doing so he severely burned both of his hands while the little daughter is also slightly injured.    An alarm of fire was turned in, but the services of the department were not needed, though medical assitance, in the persons of Drs Hale, Leonard and Hoege, was hurried to the scene.   Mail carrier Lovett, who lives in the adjoining house, was the first person outside of the family to hear the cries of the woman and to rush in.  He grabbed a lot of carpet and wrapped it about the woman, who was nothing more than a pillar of fire, and shortly had the flames extinguished, but the cruel flames had done their work.  Most of the clothes were burned off her body, the hair was scorched and singed, the lips, nose, ears and eyebrows were burned to a crisp, and it is just possible for her to see.   The doctors state that there is not a spot on her body as large as one's palm which is not horribly burned.  The physicians have done everything that can be done to ease the awful pain, but express no hope that she will live, and death is but a few hours off at best.  Father Griss is with the poor woman to give spitirual comfort in her last hour.      The daughter who was burned is about three years old and her left hand is badly blistered.
 **The Star,(Seneca County, Ohio, 26 NOV 1898 __________________________      

A Frightful Death  

 Mr. George Krugman received a dispatch from his son Charles, who lives in Fostoria, that the latter's wife had been terribly burned.  Mr. Krugman left at once for Fostoria, but at ten o'clock last night another dispatch was received, stating that Mrs. Krugman was dead, and her three year old daughter was fatally burned.  No further information has been received, as to how the accident occurred.    Mr. Krugman formerly conducted a tailor shop in this city, and both he and his wife have a large circle of friends who are horrified at the dreadful news.   Later-- Mrs. Krugman attempted to start the fire with gasoline.  The can exploded, and she was fatally burned.  He was severely burned in trying to put out the fire, the baby was severely burned, and the house cot[sic] on fire.

 **The Elyria Reporter (Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio), 2 DEC 1898, Pg 7 _____________________________________________ **Fostoria Review Dispatch (Seneca County, Ohio), 29 NOV 1898

 Mrs. Krugman Dies  

 Mrs. Charles Krugman, who was fataly burned yesterday noon by an explosion of gasoline, died at seven o'clock last night.  The funeral services will be held at St. Wendeline's church Monday morning at seven thirty o'clock and the body will be taken to Elyria, where Mr. Krugman's parents live, for burial.  Mrs. Krugman had hundreds of friends here who know her best as Anna Kritzer and who feel her loss most painfully.  Mr. Krugman has the sympathy of the entire community in this hour of his bereavement.

Tragic Thursday - So The Newspapers Said...

From the Elyria Evening Telegram, Friday 8 May 1914, Front Page -

ONE DYING AS RESULT OF AN AUTO ACCIDENT

Gertrude Krughman Has Not Recoved Consciousness Since Mishap

As a result of their Ford machine in which a party of four, were journeying to this city from Lorain early Thursday evening, turning turtle, at stop 7 on the green line.

Gertrude Krughman, of Fourteenth street Lorain is suffering from a fractured skull and it is not expected that she will recover. Charles Gawn, better known as "Curley." an employee of the Superior Metal Products Co., of this city, sustained a compound fracture to the right elbow and his face and hands were horribly lacerated by broken glass with which he came in contact when he struck the pavement. Two Uninjured Mr. and Mrs. Dan Brown, of Fifth street, this city, were stunned by being thrown to the pavement, but escaped serious injury when the light machine struck the green line car tracks and rolled over and over until it landed in the ditch. Brown who was driving the car, says the machine skidded into the tracks and that he lost control of it, Miss Krughman and Gawn being thrown several feet from the machine.

 Bodies Missing

When Brown and his wife recovered from being stunned, they looked about for the other occupants of the car, but not finding them, supposed they were under the wrecked machine, the motor of which was still running. Passengers alighted from a green line car and the machine was righted, but the bodies were not under the car and they were soon found a considerable distance away from where the machine struck the rails.

Still Unconscious

Miss Krughman has not regained consciousness since the accident occured and it was announced at the hospital that she is suffering from a concussion of the brain from which she has little chance of recovery. Nurses who attended the unfortunate young lady, feared that her hair pins had punctured her brain, but such was not the case. Her hands were also badly cut by the flying glass, although she was not nearly as badly disfigured as was Gawn.

Different Opinions

Brown claims that he was not driving the car at a very rapid rate, but those who visited the scene of the accident do not agree with him on the particular point.

[Note: Gertrude does survive this accident although it is never updated in the newspapers. She marries Roland Dunfee, has 6 children and dies at the ripe old age of 80 in 1978.]