Beckham County, OK - Deaths: John R. Bell, 1916 
20 Aug 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

 ************************************************
 Copyright. All rights reserved.
 http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 ************************************************

BELL, JOHN R.
(13 Jan 1916, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
In an automobile accident which occurred Sunday morning two and one-half
miles north of Doxey,  J. R. Bell received injuries from which he died
Monday morning at 11 o'clock and Mrs. Bell, who was riding with him in the
car, also received serious injuries and is now lying in a critical
condition at their home near Doxey.
Mr. Bell had purchased a new Ford car from J. W. McAnerny of Sayre, and
Frank Vessels had been sent out to the Bell farm to deliver the car and
instruct the new owner in operating it.  After riding for some time Mrs.
Bell suggested that Mr. Bell drive, and it was while he was guiding the
car that the accident occurred.  As they approached a bridge, Vessels saw
that Bell could not properly control the car and just as they came up to
the bridge, he reached over to the steering wheel to guide it right.  At
the same instant Bell pulled the wheel in the opposite direction with
sufficient force that both wheels on the left hand side of the car run off
the bridge and the car and its occupants fell a distance of ten or twelve
feet.
Vessels was unable to given an account of the miraculous manner in which
he escaped injury.  After the accident he found himself lying on the bank
of the creek several feet from the car.  He immediately carried Mrs. Bell,
who was lying in the rear of the automobile, to the bank of the creek and
then turned his attention to Mr. Bell who was more seriously injured. 
Drs. McDonald and Windle were summoned by phone and Mr. and Mrs. Bell were
taken to their home near Doxey, where Mr. Bell died Monday morning and
where Mrs. Bell lies in a critical condition with little chance for her
recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. Bell were formerly residents of Sayre.  About two years ago
they moved to California, but later returned to Beckham county and moved
onto their farm near Doxey.  Mr. Bell owned considerable property both
here and in California.
Relatives from Michigan arrived today, and the funeral services will be
held at the home this afternoon.
(21 Jan 1916, The Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK):
One of the worst automobile accidents in the history of Beckham county
occurred about three miles north of Doxey, Sunday morning, Jan. 9th, and
which resulted in the death of Mr. J. R. Bell, a well known citizen of
that community, and the serious injury of his wife.  Mr. Bell had just
purchased a new Ford automobile and was trying to learn to drive it the
morning the accident occurred.  Frank Vestal of Sayre, an agent for the
Ford company, was in the car when the crash came but it is said that he
could do nothing to prevent same as Mr. Bell was during at the time and
held the wheel with such a death grip that Vestel (sic) could do nothing
to avert the accident.  They were driving across a bridge at the time and
Mr. Bell was running too close to one side when he became frightened and
turned the machine with such speed and force that it went off the bridge
on the other side, end on, falling some 12 or 14 feet.  Mr. Bell was so
badly injured that he died the next day, and for some time it was thought
that Mrs. Bell also was fatally injured but at the present writing, we
learn that she is getting well.  Mr. Vestel was thrown from the car when
it left the bridge and escaped with only some minor bruises.