SCHAFFER FAMILY ESCAPES DROWNING ~ 1914

SCHAFFER, MOORE

Posted By: CHERYL MOONEN (email)
Date: 10/9/2018 at 17:46:10

Denison Review, Wednesday, Jun 03, 1914, Denison, IA. Page: 7

SCHAFFER FAMILY
ESCAPES DROWNING
~
Automobile in Which Conrad Schaffer
and Family Were Riding Goes
Over Embankment
~
ACCIDENT HAPPENED NEAR VAIL
~
Family Pinned Under Car in Three
Feet of Water – Timely Assistance
Saves Their Lives
~
An accident which nearly resulted in the death of three people, occurred on the road just east of Vail Sunday afternoon when the machine Conrad Schaffer and family were riding in swerved off the high embankment and landed in the ditch thirty feet away from the main traveled road and pinned most of the occupants under the car. The accident occurred just after the heavy rain Sunday afternoon and the ditch south of the road was full of water and some of the occupants barely escaped drowning.

Conrad Schaffer, along with his wife and four children, left their home between Denison and Manilla early in the afternoon and were enjoying a ride in their new touring car. Mr. Schaffer is considered a good driver and had experienced no trouble up until Sunday. They drove to Vail and it was there they were caught in the rain. Waiting there until the downpour ceased they started west towards Denison, and about a mile out of Vail Mr. Schaffer attempted to turn out for another vehicle on the high embankment. Only recently this road has been worked and the road was graded up considerably to keep it from being washed out by the floods which are so common near Vail. It was thought that the bank gave way, causing the car to topple over into the ditch and land with the wheels up and all the family to be pinned underneath, but Mr. Schaffer. Mr. Moore, a resident of Vail, happened along at the time of the accident and helped Mr. Schaffer to extricate his wife and four children from under the machine. The water was over three feet deep around the car at the time and had it not been for the timely arrival of Mr. Moore, doubtless some members of the family would have been drowned.

Mrs. Schaffer was quite badly injured and sustained a number of bad bruises, and for a time it was thought she might not recover, but we are pleased to report her condition is greatly improved today.