Clarence T Gibbens

1918-03-11 Gazette-Telegraph

PUEBLO MAN KILLED IN AUTO SMASH-UP

Three Others Injured in Accident on Canon City Road Yesterday Afternoon

   Clarence T Gibbens, assistant manager of the Baker Steam Motor Car company of Pueblo, received injuries which resulted in his death soon afterwards and Mrs. Gibbens sustained severe cuts and bruises when the automobile in which they were riding skidded in the sand, turned completely over and rolled down a seven-foot embankment near the Dockum ranch on the Canon City Road late yesterday afternoon.

The other occupants of the car, Corporal C. S. Jones, in charge of the army recruiting station at Pueblo; Mrs. Jones and the infant daughter [son] of the Gibbens', escaped with minor bruises.

   According to the story told by Jones last night the members of the automobile party, who had gone from Pueblo to Florence yesterday morning, were on their way home in the afternoon when they decided to come by way of Colorado Springs and have dinner here. They had passed the Dockum ranch on the Canon City road and Gibbens, who was driving, turned his head to speak to Mrs. Gibbens, who was sitting in the rear seat with her daughter [son?] and Mrs Jones, when the right front struck some sand that was graded up along the side of the road and in an instant the steering wheel was jerked from the driver's grasp. Before he could gain control of the car again it had lurched to one side and the occupants of the car started to jump from the machine when it turned over, throwing them clear and rolling down the slope. Corporal and Mrs. Jones and Mrs Gibbens and the child were thrown clear of the car. When they reached Gibbens, who was lying further down the slope they found that his head was badly crushed evidently having been struck by the steering wheel. 

   The accident was seen by the people at the Dockum ranch who hurried to the aid of the party and immediately Telephoned to Dr. Omer R Gillet, who drove to the scene of the accident. Gibbens still was alive altho barely conscious. A telephone call was sent for the Swan Ambulance but before it arrived Gibbens was put in Dr. Gillet's car and C. A. Dockum of the Dockum ranch volunteered the services of his car in bringing in the other members of the party to Colorado Springs. They had proceeded but a short distance when the ambulance was met and Gibbens was transferred to it, but died before they could reach this city. 

   Arriving here the injured persons were given medical attention by Dr. Gillet. Mrs. Gibbens was suffering from a severe cut on the face and it is feared that her spine is injured but aside from a few cuts and bruises the other members of the party are uninjured. Gibbens was removed to the county coroner's morgue where an inquest will be held by Coroner D. F. Law today, after which the body will be sent to Pueblo.