Run Into by Ralph Hociskamp, Early Monday Morning, While Returning from New Anburn.

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7 PEOPLE NEAR DEATH SMASHUP AT KLOSSNER

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Occupants of Lerschen Machine Cut Up by Glass and Bruised.Other Auto Accidents.

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An accident, in which the lives of seven people were endangered, one car practically wrecked and the other nearly so, occurred on Trunk Highway No. 15, about a mile north of Klossner, early Monday morning, when a Reo touring car, driven by Ralph Huelskamp of Lafayette township, with Bernerd Klingler, Jr., of the same township, as a passenger, crashed head on into the big Moon touring car belonging to Joe Lerschen, well known New Ulm orchestra leader. Huelskamp and Klingler were returning home from attending a dance at Klossner, while Mr. Lerschen and his orchestra were en route back to this city after having played for a dance at New Auburn.

Hurled Through Space.

As a result of the impact, Huelskamp was hurled from behind the steering wheel of the car he was driving, and landed in the ditch alongside the highway, some 15 or 20 feet from the spot where the collision occurred. He was not missed until his companion was questioned as to who had driven the Reo. A search revealed him lying in the ditch. When picked up, Huelskamp complained of pain in the region of his stomach. Klingler sustained a gash over his nose and another above his left eye. They were brought to New Ulm by a young couple who happened to pass the scene of the accident in a car.

Orchestra Members Hurt.

Mr. Lerschen and all of the other members of his orchestra-Waldemar Stelljes, Stewart Anderson, Lloyd Dopkins and Mrs. Jean Kasson-were more or less severely injured by flying bits of glass, and also badly shaken up by the impact. Mr. Dopkins was rendered unconscious for a short time. Messrs. Lerschen and Dopkins and Mrs. Kasson were picked up by John A. Wilfahrt of this city, who was returning home with his orchestra from Winthrop, where they had played for a dance. Messra. Stelljes and Anderson were brought to New Ulm by the young couple who also brought Huelskamp and Klingler here.

Sheriff’s Office Notified.

Upon arriving in New Ulm, medical assistance was summoned and the injured were administered to. Some of the accident victims were taken to the Loretto hospital for attention. None of the injuries were serious, however, and Mr. Lerschen and his orchestra were able to keep an appointment for a dance, Monday evening. The office of Sheriff Charles J. Norman of Nicollet county was notified at St. Peter, and Deputy Sheriffs Joseph Kneip and C. J. Jackson arrived on the scene at about 5 o’clock. After viewing the wrecked machines,they came to New Ulm and investigated the accident.

Huelskamp Arrested, Jailed.

The officers placed Huelskamp under arrest on a charge of driving a car while intoxicated, and took him along to St. Peter, where he was given a hearing before Justice of the Peace E. E. Miller the same morning. The young man was sentenced to serve 60 days in the county jail there, but was released on $300 bail until November 1, to enable him to help harvest the crop on his mother’s farm.

Zigzagged Along Road.

People who were at the scene of the collision, state that the tracks of Huelskamp’s car indicated that he had followed a decidedly zigzag course,swerving from one side of the road to the other. When Mr. Lerschen saw the auto approaching in a swaying manner, he drove out to the edge of the road, almost into the ditch, in an effort to avoid a collision. He set his brakes when about 200 feet away from the oncoming Reo, slowing down to almost a complete stop. The Reo plunged into the Moon striking it between the front wheel and front door.

Both Cars Damaged.

The front end of the Reo was caved in. The Lerschen car is practically a total wreck, the damage being so great as to make repairs almost as costly as an entire new machine. The body, frame, wheels and fenders were bent. An investigation revealed that the Reo was still in high gear, after the collision, and that the brakes had not been set.

Crashes into Overland.

Sunday morning about three o’clock a Maxwell sedan, driven by Otto Groebner, who was accompanied by Clarence Postel, clashed into an Overland, owned by Roman Palmer, son of Louis Palmer of Fairfax, which was parked in front of the Wm. Stelljes home on South Washington street. Both cars were nearly wrecked by the impact. It is thought that the Maxwell was going at a high rate of speed,or the damage would not have been so great.

Roman Palmer, who is a nephew of Mrs. Stelljes, came to New Ulm Saturday for the purpose of spending Sunday at the Stelljes home and had parked his car in front of the residence for the night. The car was headed south.

Otto Groebner, who is a wiper at the C. & N. W. round house, after finishing his duties Sunday morning at one o’clock, went out driving in the Maxwell sedan with Clarence Postel. The boys were enjoying the cool early morning air. They were going south on the street and apparently failed to observe the parked car, crashing into the rear of the Overland and pushing it part way up a tree, which was standing in the way.

The Overland was almost a wreck and is hardly worth anything. It is understood that a settlement was made with Mr. Palmer. He was given $125 for the damages to his car and later disposed of the wreck to the South Side garage for $20. This netted him $145 for his machine, which was several years old.

The Maxwell was damaged to the extent of about $375. The frame was bent, radiator caved in and other damage was noted.

Miraculously Escaped.

Early Sunday morning several cars miraculously escaped being crashed into by the westbound C. & N. W. passenger. It is understood that three cars filled with young people, who had been to a dance and were going home, were nearly hit by the passenger at the Eagle mill crossing. The first car, a Chevrolet, by the driver stepping on the gas, as he discovered the approaching train, got across the track. But the second machine could not make it. The driver had presence of mind sufficient to swerve off the highway and thus avert a crash. The train stopped, it is said, and luckily there was no serious accident.

Brown County Journal,

July 31, 1925