After I was a woman, when hippies and yuppies roamed the earth, a membership for individuals who had been making an attempt in useless to cease taking the Lord’s title posted a flyer on a bulletin board within the church that mentioned, “Do not swear, name Pruss.” A intelligent doodler added, “Pruss will swear for all of us.”
The membership actually did not give you such a swearing proxy, and the defaced poster quickly disappeared.
However the reminiscence has lingered over the many years, and it resurfaced final week, when 100-year-old headlines caught my eye within the Arkansas Gazette of November 29, 1922:
“Mrs. Pruss, whose automobile was hauled two blocks over the motive force of the engine, did not even hear the crash, she mentioned”
Above the story was a muddy however spectacular four-column photograph of a broken-looking vehicle dangling from the hook and chain of a tow truck’s growth arm.
The story recognized the motive force as Mrs. Edward W. Pruss of 1309 Orange St. in North Little Rock; however I’ve my doubts that W. The Gazette and Arkansas Democrat usually get individuals’s initials incorrect; and snooping round Ancestry.com, I see there was a Rose Wojciechowski Pruss who married a railroad employee named Edward S. Pruss in 1910 (see arkansasonline.com/1205rose). They’d a boy, Stanley, in 1911. They divorced in 1919 however remarried in 1921.
Later, this couple had one other little one, however in 1922, Stanley Raymond Pruss was their solely boy, and this title matches the title of the boy talked about within the practice story.
However Pruss is not an unusual title in Arkansas, and it is attainable I’ve combined up two completely different Mrs. Prussians, who each named their boys Stanley. Such boys are coming.
Nonetheless, what the themes of this long-ago reportage survived was a jaw-dropping occasion. Right here is a part of that report, verbatim. (It helps to know that “driver” was a synonym for cowcatcher, the slanted, arrow-shaped metallic grate connected to the entrance of a locomotive to clear obstacles from the tracks.)
“Wounded Lady Would not Bear in mind Something From Wild Experience”
Driving for greater than two blocks in a wonderfully balanced wrecked vehicle on the motive force of a railroad engine is a terrifying expertise, however she would not bear in mind any particulars.
Mrs. Edward W. Pruss, 1309 Orange St., North Little Rock, instructed the Gazette reporter yesterday that she was driving the Essex automobile, which was hit and run over by a Missouri Pacific freight practice, close to Stroll Sunday night. Within the automobile together with her had been her 8-year-old son, Stanley, and Mrs. Pauline Maracvek, 1417 Willow St., North Little Rock.
If the three males escaped demise, it was undoubtedly as a result of the locomotive hit the automobile proper within the center. The automobile was rigorously hoisted onto the motive force and hauled a substantial distance earlier than the locomotive might be stopped.
Mrs. Pruss and her son had been on the analysis hospital whereas Mrs. Maracvek is on the Baptist hospital. Not one of the three are thought of severely injured.
“I did not see the practice coming at us. And I do not bear in mind listening to the crash,” Ms Pruss mentioned. “Individuals instructed me the crash was horrible and the noise might be heard from afar, however I do not bear in mind listening to something.”
Mrs. Pruss appeared in good spirits. She anxiously requested what injury had been accomplished to her automobile. She laughed and joked concerning the accident, however admitted it was a critical accident.
She, her son, Mrs. Maracvek and one other group of vehicle buddies had spent Sunday together with her husband Ed Pruss, a hanging Missouri Pacific tradesman who’s now employed in roadwork close to Marche. She mentioned they had been going very slowly, about 5 or 10 miles an hour, after they reached the crossing. Pete Banski, driver of the opposite automobile, was driving Mrs. Pruss’ automobile. She mentioned they reached the crossing at 10:40 a.m.
“I didn’t see or hear the locomotive,” she mentioned, “and the one warning I acquired was when Mrs. Maracvek enthusiastically grabbed the steering wheel. There was no time to asking what the issue was, and the subsequent factor i knew somebody was coming to get me out of the automobile my head was bleeding terribly, and after that i can not bear in mind something till i discovered that Dr. Barlow was stitching my scalp.
“They thought my boy and I had been lifeless as a result of we had been each unconscious. I perceive Mrs Maracvek was screaming, however I did not hear something.”
Ms. Pruss mentioned she and Ms. Maracvek had been within the entrance seat and her son within the again seat. She mentioned they rolled up the storm curtains, and she or he thought that stored them from being thrown out of the automobile. Males coming back from a searching journey introduced the wounded to Little Rock, Mrs. Maracvek to Baptist Hospital and Mrs. Pruss and her son to their residence. She was then transferred to the workplaces of Dr. MJ Barlow, the place she acquired first assist. At 2 a.m. Sunday, she was taken to the analysis hospital. Her son stayed residence till yesterday morning when the physician determined he must be taken to hospital.
The boy occupies a small mattress within the room together with his mom. He has solely spoken a number of phrases because the accident and his mom fears he’s severely injured. He had nothing to say to the reporter and didn’t reply a query posed to him.
Mrs. Pruss, who labored on the Pugh Printing Firm, sincerely regretted that she couldn’t work in the course of the Christmas holidays. “I simply took a contract for work. However right here I’m within the hospital for who is aware of how lengthy,” she lamented. “The automobile was a present and I’ve used it every single day for the previous 15 months to and from work. I had by no means had an accident earlier than.
“No, I do not assume I wish to personal one other automobile. My outdated one cannot be fastened, they inform me, and I believe I will be with out it after I’m cured.” …
The wrecked automobile was delivered to Little Rock early yesterday morning by the Lynn Bros. tow truck. The automobile was probably the most full wreck seen in Little Rock in lots of months, the mechanic mentioned. It was inconceivable to tug the automobile or put it on trolleys, so the wreckage was swung from the crane and introduced in that means.
ESSEX
Celia right here once more. In my view, this story testifies to the solidity of this vehicle.
Curiously, the Essex was a “mild” automobile. Manufactured by Hudson, a costlier line than Ford however not a luxurious model, Essex shared with the costlier Hudson Tremendous-Six one thing referred to as radiator shutters that retained warmth within the coldest climate. However it was not equal to the Tremendous-Six when it comes to efficiency, as adverts identified. It could not match the Hudson in pace or climbing endurance.
However Essex was snug, adverts promised. One positioned by Little Rock Motor Automotive Co. within the 1920 Gazette mentioned: “A experience is all that’s wanted to win males in Essex. … He has the wealth of the automobile excessive priced in rendezvous The seats are massive and spacious They’re deep and cozy The backs are excessive and help the shoulders The pilot has ample room for full and cozy motion…
“In the event you’re a small automobile consumer, it provides you with a brand new feeling of energy and stability. In the event you’re extra accustomed to huge, costly vehicles, you will be shocked at how steady and straightforward to drive it’s.”
To discover a 1919 Essex just like the one that did not kill Mrs. Pruss even when hit by a practice, see arkansasonline.com/1205essex.
Snug, economical and it did not crush her. Which automobile.
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