George Joseph Torrence 1912-1928

TORRENCE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/2/2011 at 18:11:59

Victim Coasting Accident Buried Here Saturday
Geo. Torrence Was Killed Wednesday on Half Mile Hill
Funeral services for George Torrence who was so tragically killed while coasting late Wednesday evening [February 22, 1928] , were held Saturday afternoon at two o’clock from the Baptist church, in charge of Rev. Frank Yearnd and burial made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Young Torrence who was but 16 years old is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Torrence. At the time of the accident he in company with Clayton Hubbard a youth of the same age were sledding on what is known as Half Mile Hill, the steep incline just west of the Lincoln street bridge on Primary Road No. 9, when they struck head on into an auto driven by Ed Carlson.

Sled Goes at Terrific Speed
The street was one sheet of ice and the two, both on one sled, had already made one trip down and so great was the speed which they made that it had carried them entirely across the bridge, up the hill to the east as far as the Joyce Lumber Yard considerably over half a mile. They were on their way down the hill for the second time. Mr. Carlson had just drawn his sedan up to the curb on the North of the street opposite the intersection of South Fourth avenue and West Lincoln street. The engine was stopped but the lights were still on. Young Torrence was in front on the sled. His head struck the hub cap or the wheel splitting and smashing the skull badly. Death was instantaneous. Young Hubbard who was braced into a higher position struck against the fender. His jaw bone was broken, collar bone fractured and a deep gash made across his chest. He was taken to the Birney hospital but was released the same evening after his injuries had been cared for.

Mr. Carlson was in no way responsible for the accident and deeply regretted the part which he so innocently played in the tragedy. The hill was barred to coasters but a few of the bolder spirits among the young folks [missing line].

Was Born at Schaller
George Joseph Torrence was born in Schaller, Iowa, on February 23, 1912. In the first year of his school life when living with his parents at Huntington he met with an accident. He was brought to a local hospital and while he was thus confined his parents moved to Estherville and have since made their home here. He was baptized in the Church of Christ a few years ago. He leaves to mourn his loss his parents, one sister Irene, and two brothers Robert and Samuel. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 29, 1928)

Joseph Torrence Killed Last Week
There was a terrible accident on the west hill last Wednesday evening about seven thirty. The accident occurred after we had gone to press and we were not able to print it.

Geo. Torrence was instantly killed when the sled on which he and Clayton Hubbard were coasting down the half mile hill, struck a coupe near the bottom of the hill.

The hill was a glare of ice and the boys were traveling at a terrible speed. Ed Carlson was driving west on Lincoln street. He intended to turn in to the Swanson home. The fact is he was about thirty feet from where he was going to make the turn. He says he did not see the boys at all. The boys struck the car in such a manner as to crush his skull in .The impact was so hard it looked as though he had been struck with a sledge hammer. The Hubbard boy was quite badly injured and was rushed to the hospital.

Geo. Torrence was sixteen years of age and a bright boy in school. The accident was a terrible one but unavoidable and no one was to blame. It was a dangerous thing for the boys to be coasting on this hill under the conditions. The wind was strong and it was snowing and a drive could not see far ahead.

The funeral services were held on Saturday from the Baptist church and the remains were laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, February 29, 1928)

Boy is Killed While Coasting on ½ Mile Hill
George Torrence, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Torrence was killed instantly Wednesday night at 8 p.m. when the sled on which he and his companion, Clayton Hubbard, were coasting, crashed into an automobile on the half-mile hill on west Lincoln street.

Clayton Hubbard is the 16 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hubbard, and though his injuries are serious, he is recovering rapidly. He is suffering from an injured shoulder, a bad cut in his left cheek, and a bruised eye.

Hill Was Slippery
The west side hill was slick as glass Wednesday, as sleet had been falling during the day and then freezing to the street. The boys, though forbidden to slide on the hill, thought there would be no danger that night as no cars had been able to climb the hill.

The boys started at the very top of the hill on their sled, and soon gained tremendous momentum as the sled raced down the icy street. When nearly at the bottom of the hill, two boys shouted at them from the sidewalk, but the sliders were unable to hear, and they then turned their heads towards the boys on the sidewalk.

Unaware of Auto
In an instant they were in the glare of two bright headlights, and in the twinkling of an eye they were under the wheels of an auto which was going up the hill.

No blame for the accident has been attached to Ed Carlson, driver of the Ford coupe, as he was said to have been driving on the right side of the street, and at the time when the boys crashed into the car he practically brought his machine to a stop.

“The first thing I knew the boys were under the wheels of the car,” said Mr. Carlson. “They were coming at a terrific speed.”

Dies Instantly
The Hubbard boy was lying flat on the sled and George Torrence was on top of him. It is thought that the Torrence boy struck his head on the left front spring of the car. His skull was crushed and he died instantly.

Clayton Hubbard escaped miraculously. His shoulder struck the wheel, and an imprint of the hub cap was left on his cheek. He was rushed to the hospital in the Mahlum and Anderson ambulance and after his injuries had been dressed was released from the hospital later that evening. Several ligaments in his shoulder were torn and tomorrow an x-ray will be taken to see if the shoulder has been otherwise injured.

Services Held Saturday
Funeral services for George Joseph Torrence were held Saturday at the Baptist church. The Rev. Frank Yearnd was in charge of the services.

He was born Feb. 23, 1912, at Shaller and spent his first school year at Huntington. While living there he met with an accident and was brought to a hospital here.

He is survived by his father and mother, a sister, Irene, and two brothers, Robert and Samuel. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, February 29, 1928)