Earlian "Fred" William Hinrichsen

Manville Boy Dies In Car Wreck On West Highway

Earlian William Frederic Hinrichsen, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hinrichsen of Manville, was instantly killed on Highway No. 20 last Saturday night about 11 o'clock, when the car in which he was a passenger, left the road near the top of the hill about three and a half miles west of here. The car was being driven by Other Cullison of Lance Creek at the time of the accident, as the party, consisting of the above, and Mrs. Virginia Smith and little child, were returning to their homes after an evening spent in this city.

How the machine happened to leave the road is a matter of conjecture, but it is believed the driver and young Hinrichsen, who was riding in the rear seat were talking and that Cullison had turned his head toward the rear of the car in the course of the conversation.

The left wheels of the car rode the shoulder of the grade for some distance before it went over the embankment, turning a full turn and a half, and lighting upon its top. It is thought that as the car turned over, the lad's head was caught between the door frame and the rugged rocks on the side of the hill. None of the other occupants received serious injury, although all were shaken up considerably.

As soon as possible after the upset, Hinrichsen's body was taken from the wreckage with the aid of two men from a passing Nebraska car, and Sol Wood, who was on his way to this city from Salt Creek. The young man was thought to be dead then, but he was brought to the Lusk hospital here, where Dr. Reckling and Coroner George Earl Peet pronounced him dead. His injuries were mainly of the head, his skull being fractured, brain punctured, one ear cut off, and the left jaw broken.

No inquest was held in the death, because of the circumstances surrounding the accident. Both parents of the lad and his sister relieved the driver of any blame and declared the crash was purely accidental.

The remains were placed in charge of George Earl Peet of the Peet Mortuary of this city and prepared for burial. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church of Manville at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Martin officiating. Interment was made in the Manville cemetery.

Three vocal selections, "In the Garden," "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Nearer My God to Thee" were rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Ras Baughn, Mrs. George Schmer, Rev. Martin and Miss Leota Hurley. Miss Emma Howard accompanied at the piano. The pall bearers were Darrel Alsup, Chesney Dupes, Keith Richards, Cecil Richards, Floyd Alexander and Leo Alexander.

The deceased was born in Omaha, Nebr., August 28, 1913, and was 18 years and 15 days old at the time of demise. He is survived by his parents and three sisters, Mrs. Virginia Smith, and the Misses Florence and Ruby Hinrichsen, all of Manville.

He was a popular member of the younger group of Manville and vicinity and had a large circle of friends, who were grief-stricken to learn of his death, and who, in large numbers, attended the final services over his remains.

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