| Notes |
- Willard never married and had no children. He was a dapper little man andwore his hat jauntily.
He was killed in an auto accident in Rogers City, Michigan at the age of26. He was a real speed demon (as most Wright's are) and drove off acliff while speeding.. It was noted in one article that Wright had beenwarned repeatedly about his reckless driving and that he had " 'turnedturtle' not less that three times last season as a result of his recklessdriving".
The following articles on the car crash and deaths were found in thepapers of Ruth Wright Allen, sister of Willard. They were probablyoriginally in the papers of Lottie Millard Wright, Willard and Ruth'smother. They are very interesting and you will notice that the details ofthe final day vary from article to article. In fact, The Alpena Newsprinted a retraction, of sorts, on May 19 that made corrections to theirstory of May 17.
The Alpena News of Thursday Evening, May 17, 1917 reads:
"TWO IN MOTOR PLUNGE TO DEATH IN STONE QUARRY ------
WILLARD J. WRIGHT AND RAYMOND JEWELL, ALPENA AND HILLMAN MEN MEET INSTANTDEATH IN LEAP FROM 40-FOOT CLIFF NEAR CALCITE -----
IMPETUS THROWS MACHINE 20 FEET AND THEN TURNS IT OVER; TWO WERE DRIVINGRECKLESSLY; WRIGHT KNOWN AS MAN WITH MANIA FOR FAST DRIVING ---------
Willard J. Wright of Alpena and Raymond Jewell of Hillman were instantlykilled Thursday afternoon when Wright drove his Ford motor car over theedge of the quarry of the Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co. at Calciteand the two men landed on their heads on the stone floor of the quarry,after a drop of 40 feet from the cliff-like edge over which they drove.The men were driving from Rogers City to Calcite, on the old road whichformerly ran through the quarry, but was closed last year. Quarry menworking on the high ground saw the machine speed over the cliff. Both menstruck on their heads and the life was crushed from them instantly. Themachine first landed bottom side up, but the momentum carried it alongthe ground a distance of 20 feet when it rolled over, right side up.
Dr. M.C. Monroe, physician for the Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co.,came to the scene at once, but his services were not needed. CoronerBasil Larke was called and made a thorough investigation, after which hedecided that an inquest was not necessary.
Wright was first thought to be Ellis Wright of Alpena, because severalletters were found in his pocket, addressed to Ellis Wright, 304 Chisholmstreet, this city. It was these letters which made speedy identificationpossible. As soon as word reached here, it was known that the dead manwas Willard Wright.
--- Drove Recklessly ---
Rogers City authorities today reported that their investigation showedthat Wright and Wallace had been in a saloon at Rogers for some time andthat Wright drove recklessly as soon as they entered the machine. So fastdid he drive that the town marshal took after the car with the intentionof making an arrest, but he was left far behind. At one place on theroad, the car went so far to the edge as to strike a pile of poles besidethe highway; later, it ran over a pipe line in the road. The car seemedto be out of the control of the driver.
The road on which the two were traveling formerly ran straight ahead, butan extension of the quarry made it necessary to close the road. There hadbeen a barrier across the road before it reached the edge of the quarry,but this barrier had been removed by unknown persons several times and itis understood to have been down at the time of Wednesday's tragedy. Evenso, say the Rogers City authorities, there was plenty of room to turn outand avoid accident. A careful driver would have done so easily.
Wright was generally known about town as a reckless driver and friendshad cautioned him many times. It is said that the man was possessed witha mania for speed and always insisted on pushing a car to its limit.
--- Parents at Hillman ---
Wright was 25 years old and unmarried. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. AndrewWright, living at Hillman. Wright formerly lived there, but had spentmuch of his time in Alpena of late. He was formerly salesman for a motorcar lighting system. Lately, he and Jewell had been employed by the DavisAutomatic Sewing Machine Co. under E.T. Geiger local manager. With theirfellow salesmen, they had been working the territory north of Alpena.Wright was a nephew of J.E. Wright of 213 Chisholm, proprietor of a motorlivery in what formerly was the Wixson Livery Stable. He was a cousin ofEllis Wright of 304 Chisholm street. J.E. and Ellis Wright, father andson, formerly operated a garage at Onaway.
--- Leaves Wife and Baby ---
Jewell was 24 years of age. He is survived by a widow and one smallchild, living on a farm near HIllman with Mrs. Jewell's people. Her namebefore marriage was Orton. Jewell's parents live in Cheboygan.
Ivan H. Downing, undertaker, left this morning for Rogers to take chargeof the bodies of Wright and Jewell. Wright's body will be brought toAlpena and Jewell's may be shipped to Cheboygan, where his parents live.Funeral arrangements have not been made as yet.
--------------------------------------------
WRIGHT WAS WARNED BEFORE HE STARTED ON FATAL TRIP --
"Fast driving will kill you yet," said Leslie W. Broad, Chisholm streetautomobile man, to Williard J. Wright, no later than 10 o'clock Wednesdaymorning, a few minutes before Wright left with Raymond Jewell on the ridewhich brought death without warning to both of them, at the MichiganLimestone & Chemical Co. quarry Wednesday afternoon. Wright made alaughing reply to Broad's solemn warning. A few minutes later he was onhis way.
Jewell may have had a premonition of danger. He did not want to leavewith Wright, said Worthy Avis repair man for C.F. Steele, who worked onWright's car up to the moment of his departure. Another man was leavingfor the north a while before Wright's car was ready Wright gave him acigar and told him to wait a few minutes and his car would be ready.Jewell waited ----for death.
Wright seemed to be a speed maniac. He talked speed whenever a chanceoffered and he demonstrated it whenever he sat behind the wheel of amotor car. Tuesday night, he challenged L.W. Broad to a ten-block racefor $25. Broad refused him and out of his talk grew an argument whichended with Broad's warning to Wright.
Wright formerly owned an Overland touring car. It is said that this carturned turtle no less than three times last season as a result of hisreckless driving."
The Alpena News of Saturday, May 19, 1917 reads:
" TRAGEDY NOT DUE TO DRINK ---
WILLARD J. WRIGHT WAS SOBER AND OF GOOD CHARACTER, THE NEWS FINDS ---
The News regrets the publication of certain portions of the account ofthe tragedy in which William J Wright and Raymond Jewell were killed, inan automobile accident, at the quarry of the Michigan Limestone &Chemical Co. at Calcite, Wednesday.
Friends and relative of the deceased objected to that portion of thearticle which said that "Rogers City authorities reported that theirinvestigation showing that Wright and Wallace had been in a saloon atRogers for some time and that Wright drove recklessly as soon as theyentered the machine. So fast did he drive that the town marshal tookafter the car with the intention of making an arrest, but was left farbehind."
The foregoing implies that Wright had been drinking and that he was underthe influence of liquor and so drove recklessly.
The article was published in good faith, relying upon the informationreceived from the Rogers City authorities, as we did not know either ofthe young men personally. It was also prepared in a hurry, as all suchnews is necessarily prepared on a daily paper, in order to get it in typein time for publication.
The News on investigation finds that Willard J. Wright was a young man ofexcellent character; that he was not a drinker and that he belongs to agood family. Even if the implication given had been the truth, The Newswould regret the publication, because of his parents and friends.
Andrew Wright of Hillman, father of the deceased, at Rogers CityThursday, made a careful investigation of the circumstances surroundingthe deaths. He found it true that Willard and Jewell had entered a saloonat Rogers, but Willard took only a cigar there. Neither had he drankanything before leaving here Wednesday morning,
Mr. Andrew Wright says he found the road dropping off into the quarry waswithout a barrier of any kind and that any person driving at moderatespeed might have driven over the edge in the same way. H.M. Howe ofAlpena, and others who visited the scene Thursday, agree in this with Mr.Wright.
The News realizes that this attempt at reparation cannot make up for theharm done by the printing of the first account of the tragedy and itsregret is all the greater for that reason. Those who read this articleare requested to call it to the attention of others."
Paper unknown reads (spelling and words are as actually published):
" TWO YOUNG MEN MEET TRAGIC DEATH --
WILLARD WRIGHT AND RAYMOND JEWELL PLUNGE TO DEATH OVER 37 FOOT EMBANKMENTAT CALCITE ---
One of the worst automobile accidents which ever happened in this sectionof Michigan occurred Wednesday evening about dusk when Mr. Willard Wrightand Mr. Raymond Jewel were hurled to death by driving over a 37 footembankment on the Calcite toad near Rogers City., Mich.
As both young men were killed almost instantly, no one will ever knowjust how the fatal plunge was made.
Just before reaching Rogers City there is a road which leads around bythe Calcite plant. This road although private was often traveled byautoists wishing to see the plant, but it seems that this summer thecompany have blasted away the road but failed to shut it off insufficient manner to warn strangers.
The young men evidently having driven the road last summer thought it wasalright, and did not notice the embankment until to late to stop theircar.
It has been told us by Mr. Wiggins who was on the ground and saw theconditions that it was his opinion that the young men were driving alongat a very moderate pace and likely looking away from the road, not seeingthe precipice until the car started over, as the tracks of the car ledstraight over the bank their being no evidence that the driver had turnedhis car whatever.
As the demolished car and the young men's bodies were lying at the footof the embankment is proof that they were not traveling at an excessivespeed for if they had of been, the car would have lighted farther fromthe foot of the cliff.
The body of the car being entirely demolished is evidence that the carhad turned over in its leap and crushed the young men beneath it on thejagged rocks before and had again righted itself as it was found settingright side up.
A laborer saw the car as it plunged over and went to the scene of theaccident. The only sign of life was a few groans by the unfortunate youngmen.
Mr. Jewell bore the most external injuries his face being badly laceratedand his arms broken while Mr. Wright had a bruise on the lack of his headand a cut over his right eye.
The affair is extremely sad and a severe blow to the young men'srelatives. Mr. Jewell being married leaves a young wife and infant child,his wife being formally Miss Dewey Whitney of Hillman. He is alsosurvived by a father and mother and several brother and sisters who livein Cheboygan.
Mr. Wright is single man is survived by his parents, three......(the lastparagraph of the story is cut off.)"
The Presque Isle County Advance of Thursday, May 17, 1917 reads:
" PLUNGED OVER QUARRY CLIFF TO A SUDDEN DEATH ---
W.J. WRIGHT AND RAYMOND JEWELL BOTH KILLED ---
AUTO AND MEN DROP FORTY FEET OF MORE ---
BOTH MEN ARE INSTANTLY KILLED ON SHARP ROCKS BELOW---
J.W. Wright and Raymond Jewell, two young men between twenty-five andthirty years of age, went over the quarry cliff at Calcite Wednesdayevening, about six o'clock, in a Ford roadster and both were instantlykilled by the forty foot drop to the sharp rocks below. Both young menwere from Hillman. Wright is a single man but Jewell has a wife and smallchild.
Together with Ellis Wright of Alpena, a cousin of the dead man, Bruce EDurfee of Gaylord and E.I. Geiger, representatives of the firm for whichthey were all working, the men were in this vicinity selling sewingmachines. The two dead men had taken a Ford roadster belonging to EllisWright and had gone out for a ride in the afternoon, not being at work.They evidently had taken what is known as the old loop road which runsfrom Third street where it branches off toward Hagensville, down thru theCalcite quarry, around by Crawford's quarry, past the M.I.&C. Co, plantand into Rogers City along the lake shore. This road was closed by thecompany two years ago on permission of the township and has not sincebeen used.
Where it used to run thru the quarry there has since been a great deal ofstone taken out and now the road ends with a drop of some forty feet overa stone cliff. At the time the road was closed, it was fenced off at itsintersection with Third street, about a half mile from the place wherethe accident took place. Since that time some one removed the fenceacross the road.
Men working on a series of drills on top of the cliff saw the auto driveout of woods and drive over the cliff. Others who were working below sawthe accident and hastened to the spot at once. Both men lay crumpled upat the foot of the drop. From all indications, they had fallen on theirheads as their heads were cut and broken by the rocks. Their hands aswell, were cut and they lay twisted among the sharp boulders, probablynever moving after striking the stones.
A phone in the quarry a few rods distant, gave notice of the accident andDr. Monroe at once hastened to the scene. He pronounced them both withouta spark of life. The coroner was notified and went to the scene at once.
At first it was not know just who the two men were. A coat found lyingbeside them had letters in the breast pocket addressed to Ellis Wright,304 Chisholm street, Alpena. This led to the belief that one of thevictims was Ellis Wright and this was not dispelled until Ellis himselfhad gotten to the scene and identified the two men.
The automobile did not show such great damage for the drop which it took.It had evidently turned over and dropped the two men out, and then fallenclear of their bodies and struck a few feet beyond them, falling upsidedown and rebounding right side up a few feet further away. The steeringwheel lay some ten feet from the auto and probably marked the spot whereit struck. The steering gear and windshield were a mass of twisted iron.The body was badly broken, the front axle bent, coil box broken and themachine was otherwise jammed.
Ellis Wright is probably the best known of the party in this section. Heformerly operated a garage at Onaway and sold Overlands thru Presque Islecounty. He has been living at Alpena the past year.
Jewel's wife and child were staying here with him and were at the houseof Adam Manke at the time of the accident. Mrs. Jewel was told of herhusband's death as soon as possible.
From all evidence brought up concerning the case, it is apparent that themen were celebrating more or less and were out for a joy ride. They hadbeen at Mende's saloon in Pinewood for some little time where they drankto some extent and in one case bought drinks for other of the men in thesaloon at the time. Leaving the saloon, they drove down town and at thecorner of Friedrich street and Larke Ave they very narrowly escapedturning over as they were traveling at a high rate of speed.
At the next corner also, they slewed into the ditch and traveled downThird street at a high rate of speed, so fast that Marshal Schulta, whocaught a glimpse of them, requisitioned a car to go in pursuit to arrestthem. Their tracks out Third street would indicate that they traveled ata high rate of speed or that they did not have good control over theirmachine as they zig zagged from side to side on the road. They nearly randown Tony Hilla on this road.
They were seen by the drillers at the top of the quarry to come shootingout of the woods, traveling very fast and went over the cliff while goingat a rapid rate of speed. The clearing at the top of the quarry faceextends back for a number of rods so that a full view of the quarry canbe seen. The road was partially obstructed by a bunch of telephone poleswhich the car struck, a large drilling machine stood in the way, a pipeline ran across the road but the machine ran over these obstaclesevidently with little attempt to slow down. The brakes on the machinewere not set so evidently there was no attempt made on the part of themen to stop their car and altho there was plenty of room to turn at thetop of the cliff, they evidently made no attempt to do so.
I seems almost impossible that the men, had they had control of theirfaculties, could not have seen their danger in time to save themselves. Afull view of the quarry can be seen from the road out of which they came.Drills and steam shovels were in full view and trains were running in thequarry. To all appearances from the time they left the saloon the mad carand its living freight were bent on destruction.
Wright was not a married man but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wrightlive near Hillman. He has three brothers and two sisters as well. Hisfather arrived here a few hours after the accident, driving acrosscountry. He left this afternoon for Alpena, taking the body of his sonwith him.
Coroner Basil G. Larke viewed the bodies where they lay and they werethen taken to Kerbey's undertaking rooms to be cared for. An inquest willbe held today and was called at eleven o'clock when a jury was chosen."
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Sources
Title: Oscoda Co, Michigan - Vital Records
Media: Microfilm
Page: bk1pg17#243 Birth Rec
Note: Birth Rec-Oscoda Co, MI bk1pg17#243
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1891 - 1917 (26 years)