Cars Destroyed, But It Could Have Been Much Worse, Nov. 7, 1919

From the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Friday afternoon, Nov. 7, 1919. Despite the headline, the article says nobody was killed.

Fatal Auto Accident. . . Two Autos Collide on Hamlet Road Wednesday Night. Both Cars Destroyed. One Woman Killed; Others Injured.

A woman killed, several injured, one car burned up and the other completely wrecked tells the tale of a head-on collision between a large Reo and a smaller Dodge, on the Rockingham-Hamlet highway, about the half-way point, Wednesday night about 9:30 o’clock. All the parties are colored.

Elbert Ratliff Jr. was driving a large Reo filled with colored passengers, to Hamlet. When in front of the Tobe McKay house he met a Dodge driven by Will Aiken, carrying six passengers, bound for Rockingham from Hamlet. The cars must have been going at a very fast speed, because the impact forced the cars a hundred feet apart. The Reo caught fire and burned up, while the Dodge was overturned and completely demolished. Reports as to which car was to blame for the wreck are conflicting.

Elbert Ratliff, in the Reo, received a badly bruised shoulder and other bruises, but he will be out in a few days. His passengers were shaken up but suffered only minor bruises.

The Dodge occupants were the worst sufferers. Maggie Morrison was pinned under the car, and mashed so badly that she died a couple of hours later. Estella Patrick was also mashed. It was at first thought she was injured internally and would die, but it appears now that she will recover. LaFayette Morrison was badly bruised; another daughter, John Ora Smith, was scarcely hurt, but her husband, Charlie Smith, suffered a dislocated shoulder. Ed Patrick was merely bruised. The driver, Will Aiken, had a deep cut on his arm, besides bruises.

That all the occupants of each car were not killed is a miracle.

Doubtless both cars were going faster than the 25 mile an hour; this wreck should be an object lesion to those who try to fly on wheels instead of with wings.

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Truck and Car Hit

A truck belonging to the Baldwin Grocery Company ran into a car driven by Mrs. J.W. Cockman near the Manufacturers building Thursday afternoon, and bent the Cockman car axle, damaged the front and tore up a tire. The lighter car was coming from the left side to the center of the street, but on seeing the approaching car Mrs. Cockman stopped, and her car was standing still when run into.

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Injured by Tractor

Mr. C.V. Andrews, in charge of the Fordson tractor demonstration here this week, was injured Thursday afternoon. The field back of the Fair Grounds was being plowed when he attempted to jump on one while it was in motion to speak to the driver. He missed his footing, the cleats of the big wheel striking his leg and cutting two painful gashes. Dr. Garrett rendered aid with several stitches.

Mr. Andrews is from Southern Pines and was married last Saturday.