LEAVE FOR CONVENTION.
The Daily Telegram., June 16, 1914, page 3
T. F. Coughlin, Cecil Davis, B. M. Coughlin, F. L. Fonner and Charles Knight left Monday afternoon for Parkersburg, where they will attend the annual convention of the Elks, which will be held there Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
The trip was made in an automobile.
CECIL DAVIS VICTIM OF AUTO ACCIDENT
Popular Young Clarksburg Man Dies from Injuries He Received.
The Daily Telegram., June 16, 1914
PARKERSBURG, June 16.–Cecil Davis, of Clarksburg, is dead and four dangerously hurt was the toll exacted last night about 10 o’clock when an automobile in which a party was coming to this city to the Elks state reunion went over an embankment just east of the Worthington Creek Bridge about four miles east of this city. The car was running at a good rate of speed and had in it well known Elks from Clarksburg. Davis died at 2:50 o’clock this morning.
Strosnider and Coughlin are reported this afternoon in a critical condition. Farner and C. F. Knight are seriously injured.
The injured are:
Ross Strosnider, Clarksburg, owner of the car and its driver, right arm hurt and bruised.
Thomas Coughlin, Clarksburg, probable concussion and bruises.
George N. Farner, Clarksburg, ear and head cut, severely bruised.
C. F. Knight, Fairmont, cuts and shoulder painfully injured.
The gruesome sight was come upon in the dark at the old Henry Graff farm, Northwestern pike, by a car coming from the same city to the reunion, the occupants of which at once telephoned this city for assistance, physicians and others going to the spot immediately.
A car a short distance in the rear of the one in the accident was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Mann, W. Lew Umburn and Fred Heenan, all of Clarksburg. All was quiet when the smashed car was found a few feet from the roadway at a sharp curve in the pike.
All the men had been rendered unconscious by the sudden plunge. One had been thrown onto a barbed wire fence; the others were scattered about in the darkness.
When last seen by those in the car trailing, Ross Strosnider, the owner of the car, was driving it, but it developed last night later that Cecil Davis, the fatally injured man, was at the wheel. This was further indicated by the fact that an injury to one of his legs was thought to have been done by the steering wheel, which had been broken short off, the rod penetrating his limb.
A messenger from the rear car at once proceeded ahead to the A. M. Saik’s store where word of the accident was telephoned to this city.
Dr. Steinbeck left for the scene at once, others going by car immediately also.
Cars were pressed into services and the four less injured men were brought to the hospital in that way, but an ambulance was sent after Davis.
AUTO VICTIM
Body of Cecil Davis Will Arrive Here on Train No. 12 This Afternoon.
The Daily Telegram., June 16, 1914, page 3
The body of Cecil Davis, the victim of last night’s automobile accident near Parkersburg, will be brought to this city on train No. 12 this evening and will be taken to the residence of Parley V. Thorn. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet. The body will be accompanied by Mr. Thorn, who went to Parkersburg last night upon receiving word of the accident.
Cecil Davis Expires From His Injuries
ELKS BOUND FOR PARKERSBURG IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.
FOUR MEN SERIOUSLY HURT. CHARLES F. KNIGHT ONE OF THEM.
Party of Elks En Route to Convention in Auto. Go Over Bank.
Clarksburg Man Fatally Injured.
The Fairmont West Virginian., June 16, 1914
PARKERSBURG, W. Va., June 16.–While driving at a fast speed down a steep hill on the Northwestern pike three miles from this city, an automobile with a party of five men en route to this city to attend the annual state reunion of the B. P. O. Elks, which began here today, plunged over an embankment on rounding a curve, and all were injured, one man dying in a few hours. The machine turned over on one side and was wrecked, all being thrown out. When word was received in this city physicians were rushed to the scene and the injured were brought to St. Joseph’s hospital here. The machine was driven by Ross Strohsndyder, the owner, who sustained serious, but not fatal, injuries. Four of the party reside in Clarksburg and the fifth near Fairmont.
The Dead.
R. Cecil Davis, Clarksburg owner of Pike News Company, both legs and both arms broken, and mangled about the bowels. Died in hospital.
The Injured
Ross Strohsnyder, Clarksburg, right arm injured and also about the groin; not fatal.
Chas. F. Knight., Rivesville, badly cut and bruised about the head.
Geo. Fonner, Clarksburg, ear torn off by barbed wire fence and other cuts and bruises.
Thomas Coughlin, Clarksburg, concussion of the brain and bruised about the head and body.
Chas. F. Knight is a resident of Rivesville and a brother of Mrs. Homer J. Price, of Madison street, this city. He is painfully but not seriously injured. Knight is a member of the local B. P. O. E. in this city.
A message from the Elks’ club says Knight is badly bruised but is resting easy.
IMPROVING
Nicely Are Elks Who Were Injured in Auto Accident.
The Daily Telegram., June 18, 1914, page 3
PARKERSBURG, June 18–Ross Strosnider and George N. Farner, of Clarksburg, and C. F. Knight, of Fairmont, who are in St. Joseph’s hospital recovering from injuries received in the automobile accident, Monday evening in which Cecil Davis, of Clarksburg, lost his life, are getting along nicely and it is believed one or more of them will be able to leave for their homes soon.
RETURN HOME
Do Three Men Who Were Hurt in Auto Accident Near Parkersburg
The Daily Telegram., June 19, 1914
Ross Strosnider and George N. Farner, both of this city, and C. F. Knight, of Fairmont, all of whom were injured Monday night in an automobile accident near Parkersburg, in which Cecil Davis, of this city, was fatally hurt, have been discharged from the hospital at Parkersburg where they were patients and have returned to their homes. All three are rapidly recovering. Mr. Farner was able to take part in the Elks’ parade Thursday at Parkersburg, but later in the day he returned to the hospital.
