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Note: George A Smith and his wife of Tippecanoe City were killed at Vandalia at 5:40 o'clock Sunday afternoon, when a Dayton and Troy northbound car hit the automobile in which they were riding, rolling the machine over and over for several yards and throwing the aged couple to the side of the tracks. Peter E Smith, a brother of the dead man at whose home the victim had been visiting, together with his wife and another brother, were witnesses. Mr and Mrs Smith had come yesterday afternoon to Vandalia to spend a few hours at the home of Peter E Smith, who was also being visited by another brother, Alex Smith of Bryan, Texas. Mr Smith drove the machine slowly through a short lane which led from the house to the main road, and the D & T right of way. FAIL TO HEAR CAR- Apparently the couple failed to hear the approaching car, which was rounding a curve near the home, and as they reached the center of the track the traction car, traveling at a rapid rate, struck the runabout squarely and rolled it over for nearly 100 feet. The bodies of the couple were thrown from the tracks and the automobile was demolished. Peter E Smith, his wife and brother hastened to the assistance of the injured couple and, with the assistance of traction passengers and crew, carried the bodies to the barn near the house. Dr William H Riley, of Vandalia, was called, but Mrs Smith had died before his arrival, less than 30 minutes after the accident. Drs Kiser and Hartman, of Tippecanoe City, arrived shortly afterwards, but their combined efforts failed to save Mr Smith's life, who suffered a fractured skull and internal injuries, and died two hours after his wife had succumbed. IN FRONT OF HOUSE- The accident occurred directly in front of Peter E Smith's farmhouse, situated about a half mile north of Vandalia. The curve in the road at this point is of such a nature as to make it almost impossible to observe the approach of a northbound car. Samuel Miller was the motorman and Peter Hand the conductor of the car. The former stated that he blew the whistle before reaching the curve and gave a sharp blast when he saw the automobile on the track and though he applied the emergency brake he could not bring the car to a stop before crashing into the machine. The view of the road at that point is shut off by bushes and evidently Mr and Mrs Smith failed to see the approaching car or thought that they could make the crossing in plenty of time. It is said his brother, Peter, called to him that a car was coming. The automobile was a Saxon and it was completely wrecked. That the street car was going at a rapid rate is attested to by the brother of one of the victims of the accident, who said the runabout in which the couple were riding was turned over several times and carried a distance of nearly a hundred feet before the car could be brought to a stop. The accident occurred near Stop 16, a half mile north of Vandalia. REMOVE BODIES - Coroner McKemy, of Montgomery county, who was notified, went to the scene of the accident to view the remains. Both Mr and Mrs Smith suffered several fractures and both were injured internally. Mr Smith is survived by three sisters and four brothers; Mrs William Keller of North Dakota, Mra Ida Gearhart of Troy, Mrs David Honeyman of Troy, Esta Smith of Tipp City, John Smith of a mile east of Vandalia, Peter Smith of Vandalia, and Alex Smith of Texas. Mrs Smith is survived by two sisters and a brother; Mrs Eli Saunders of Tipp City, Mrs Luther Weaver of near Troy, and Perry Sinks of west of Ginghamsburg. Both Mr and Mrs Smith have lived in the vicinity of Tipp City all their lives. Mr Smith formerly managed a coal office in Tipp. He was a prominent member of the IOOF. The funeral will be in charge of Mr Doom, the husband of a niece of the Smiths, of New Carlisle. It will be held at the Methodist church in Tipp City at 2:30pm Wednesday. --- https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42348037
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