The Lykens Standard of September 26, 1924, reported on an accident involving two packed autos that left a coal mine with shift workers heading home to Muir, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. One man, Harvey Bowers (a member of the Ku Klux Klan), was killed and eleven others were injured. One of the vehicles tried to pass the other on a narrow and dangerous mountain road. A crash occurred and both vehicles turned over. One of the drivers was the only man who escaped injury.
HARVEY BOWERS, MUIR, KILLED ON WAY TO HOME
Tuesday afternoon, shortly after 3:30, after completing work at No. 3 tunnel of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, locaed on Keffers Mountain, along the State Highway, an auto accident occurred which cost the life of a Muir reesident and injured eleven others.
The accident occurred when Samuel Reibler, driving a Ford car, tried to pass Dodge touring car of Jerry Baner. In the Reibler car were six persons while Baner carried seven in his.
Both Parties had left the place of work, and were bound for their homes in Muir. Going down the mountain road, which is dangerous at point and almost impossible for two machines to pass with safety. Baner was in the lead. Reibler followed him close and finally made an attempt to pass. Baner felt it was unsafe at that point and held to the road when the Reibler car collided from the rear. Both cars were upset and allbut Reibler were injured, Bowers being killed almost instantly.
In the Reibler car were:
Harvey Bowers, 28, of Muir, single. Killed.
William Kreisler, Muir, collar bone broken and severe contusions of the body.
Curtis Feiler, Muir, bruises of the body.
Mr. Stahl, Orwin, fractured ribs.
Mr. Bender, Orwin, slight contusions, jumped from the car when the collision occurred.
Seven were in the Baner car. The occupants and their injuries were:
Jerry Baner, Muir, severe contusions.
Edward Hand, Muir, lacerations of the neck and head, body bruises.
Ira Updegrave, Muir, several fractured ribs.
William Romberger, Muir, fractured ribs and leg.
Noah Kohr, bruises and injuries of the head.
Harvey Reiner, Muir, injuries of the hands and body contusions due to jumping from machine.
George Hoffman, Muir, a fire boss at the tunnel, body bruises.
All of the parties injured were somewhat improved according to a report received yesterday at 1:30 P. M.
Harvey Bowers, aged 28 years, single, son of Mrs. Emma Bowers of Muir, is survived by his mother, four brothers, Charles Bowers, Joseph Bowers, Lester Bowers, and William Bowers, and five sisters, Hattie Bowers and Verna Bowers, all at home; Mrs. Lottie Sessler, of Old Lincoln; Minnie Williams (Mrs. Charles Williams) of New Lincoln; and Anna Lentz (Mrs. Allen Lentz), of Muir.
The funeral will be held Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, services being conducted in the Evangelical Church, Muir, by the Rev. Horner, after which burial will be made in the Fairview Cemetery, Muir.
For another story about this accident, see:
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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