News: Chili (Accident - 31 Aug 1917)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ley, Eibergen, Bodendorfer

----Source: Granton News (Granton, Clark County, Wis.) 08/31/1917

Marshfield Herald - One of the worst automobile accidents to happen in this section for some time occurred Thursday night between the hours of twelve and one o’clock, one mile west of the north city limits on the Spencer Road. The parties in the accident were Charles Ley, driver, William Eibergen and the Misses Lydia and Elsie Bodendorfer, all of Chili, or near there.

They had come to attend the fair during the day and in the evening, after attending the dance at the Pavilion, were taking a ride before returning home.

The driver, not acquainted with the road, when near the Stone Cheese Factory where the road make an abrupt curve to the right, mistook the direction and turned to the left, striking the embankment with terrific force, but not upsetting the car.

The front seat was occupied by Ley and Elsie and the rear seat by Eibergen and Lydia. All were thrown from the car and escaped with minor injuries, except Elsie, whose neck was nearly severed when she was thrown through the windshield. Her injuries consist of a gaping gash extending from ear to ear and severing the upper larynx.

The automobile, a Chevrolet, is almost a total wreck.

Medical aid was summoned and the wounded, in automobiles, taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where they are being cared for, the two young men and Lydia, being only slightly bruised about the head and face. The attending physicians are hopeful of the recovery of the wounded girl.

The two girls are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. George Bodendorfer.