Mrs. Maude
Culver, widow of Mr. Albert A. Culver, merchant, of Simcoe, who died
last March, lost her life instantly through being struck by an
automobile on Monday afternoon about four o'clock.
Mrs.
Culver left on Sunday morning with her cousin, Arthur D. Austin, of
the firm Austin and Kellam of Simcoe, in his automobile for Buffalo.
There were also in the party Mrs. Culver's younger son, Lloyd,
and
Mr. Austin's son, Clarence.
They
had breakfast in Hamilton with Mrs. Ida Key, a sister of
Mrs. Culver, who accompanied them on to Buffalo, where all
visited with another sister of Mrs. Culver, Mrs. W. Frank Carl.
The
following afternoon the party started on the return journey, and were
running along the boulevard from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, when a tire
was punctured. This was just north of Johnsburg, near North Tonawanda.
While
the tire was being repaired the women went across the boulevard to sit
down in the shade of a tree. Called back by Mr. Austin when he was
ready to start, Mrs. Culver was struck by a big touring car going
toward Buffalo.
It is
said it was being driven by Irving Cannon of Niagara Falls, who was
accompanied by one person, a woman. Mr.
Austin says the car was running at least 35 miles an hour. He thinks
Mrs. Culver must have become confused by the rapid approach of the car
and indecisively hesitated whether to run on or return.
She
was struck very violently and it was 35 paces from the point of
contact to where her body lay when he reached it. The unfortunate
woman gave two short gasps as Mr. Austin got to her side, and then was
dead.
A coroner was
notified but he did not consider an inquest necessary.
The
body was taken to an undertaking establishment in Tonawanda, and from
there brought on Tuesday morning's Wabash express to Simcoe.
The
funeral took place yesterday afternoon to Oakwood Cemetery. Beside the
relatives mentioned above there is an elder son, Lea, 17, a sister,
Mrs. Austin of Detroit, and a brother, Charles Challand, the
well-known Woodhouse farmer.
