[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Evening Press
Muncie, IN, United States
p. 6, col. 2
HEMINGRAY
MACHINE HITS
YOUNG SKELLY
Boy on Bicycle Collides With
Big Automobile — Victim
Will Probably Recover
Daniel Skelley, the 15-year-old-boy who was struck and seriously injured by the Hemingray automobile about 8 o'clock last night, remains in a serious condition at the Mix hospital today, although physicians state that there are chances for his recovery.
The boy's head and face was badly bruised and torn and the injury to the scalp is a very serious one, but the skull was not fractured as at first reported. One of the bones below the ear was broken but the skull proper remains intact.
This accident occurred at the corner of Main and Madison streets and was one if those unfortunate affairs which was seemingly unavoidable. The automobile was being driven by Ralph Hemingray and in the machine with him were his wife, a young nephew and a dressmaker employed by Mrs. Hemingray, who was being taken home in the machine.
The machine went east on Main to Vine and then turned south. But Mr. Hemingray found that Jackson street was torn up and he was compelled to turn back and go west on Main to Madison. Just as he was about to turn onto Madison the Skelley boy, James Scott and Wiley Spurgeon came from the west on their bicycles. Skelley was on the south side of the street car track and was talking to his companion.
The lad, it is said, turned to the south, in the same direction with the automobile and was caught beneath the machine. One of the boys thinks that Skelley fell from his wheel in front of the automobile. Mr. Hemingray stopped the car as quickly as possible and was compelled to back it off the boy's body, as the front wheel did not pass entirely over the lad.
When he felt the weight of the car leave him young Skelley tried to get up, and as he was lifted into the automobile he said he didn't believe he was hurt.
The lad was taken immediately to the Mix hospital and it was found that his injuries were serious, especially the torn condition of the scalp. The flesh about the face was badly torn and serum was administered to the lad to prevent tetanus. Mr. and Mrs. Hemingray were both grieved over the accident and after remaining at the hospital until the wounds were dressed went to console the lad's mother, who is Mrs. Catherine Skelley, 825 East Jackson street. Young Skelley is employed at the Him dug store on East Main street and he was on his way back from the store from the post office where he had been sent to buy some stamps.
Mr. Hemingray, who is considered a careful driver, says that he feels the accident was unavoidable. He state that he was not running over eight miles an hour, at the outside, as he had been having trouble with his engine and could not have developed high speed had he wanted to do so. He states that he stopped the car just as quickly as possible and he does not believe that is went more than five feet after it struck the boy.