Denver-Chicago Limited Hits Auto - December 1921

HUMPHREY, MATHEWS, DENNY

Posted By: deb (email)
Date: 1/17/2008 at 09:13:58

New London Journal, Dec. 1921

FRIGHTFUL CROSSING ACCIDENT

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Denver-Chicago Limited Hits Auto - Two Instantly Killed
and Young Woman Dies in Hospital

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Clarence Humphrey, aged 45, and James Denny, aged 25, were instantly killed and Miss Ruth Mathews, aged 19, was fatally injured about 5 o'clock Friday afternoon when the Ford sedan in which they were riding was struck by the Burlington fast passenger train No. 6 at the crossing east of the stock yards at Danville. Miss Matthews* died at 9:30 Friday night at the Burlington hospital.

The train was over an hour late and was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck the automobile, squarely in the middle, tearing it to pieces and hurling the occupants may feet. One of the men was thrown about twenty feet in the air according to an eye witness. Miss Mathews was thrown down the track a distance of eighty feet and received her worst injuries in the head. She was unconscious when picked up and remained so until her death.

Miss Mathews was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Mathews of Danville. She was a teacher at the Blue school house in Pleasant Grove township four miles northeast of New London, this being her first year as teacher. She was heading boarding with Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey near the school house and always went home Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with her parents. Mr. Humphrey was going to meet his two children, students in the Burlington high school. He was taking Miss Mathews and Mr. Denny, a neighbor to Danville with him.

Altho it is said that the train whistled as it sped through Danville, Mr. Humphrey evidently did not hear it, and did not see the train coming as the dark was dark and foggy and the windshield covered with mist.

Mr. Mathews was waiting for his daughter and was a witness to the tragedy which leaves his home childless.

The families of all three victims are prominent in this county and well known in the New London where they have relatives and many friends.

Mr. Humphrey is survived by his widow and two children, Mr. Denny lived on a farm near New London and was unmarried.

The funeral services for Clarence Humphrey were held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Methodist church in Danville.

The funeral services for Miss Ruth Mathews were held at 11 o'clock Monday morning from the Methodist church in Danville.

The services for James Denney were from the M.E. church, New London, Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

The burial was at Burge cemetery.

*Should be Mathews