Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Madison F. Pruitt, 1918
Wednesday, 24 Sep 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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PRUITT, MADISON F.
(12 Jul 1918, The Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK):
M. F. Pruitt, a prominent farmer of the Retrop community lost his life in
an automobile accident on Friday afternoon of last week when his Ford car
turned over on him out four and a half miles southeast of Carter.  The
accident happened near the home of Sam Simpson while Mr. Pruitt was trying
to ascend a steep hill.  Mr. Simpson's daughters were the first to get to
the car after the accident.  They noticed the smoke from the exhaust, the
excessive smoke doubtless being caused from the extra oil that went into
the cylinders after the car turned over, the motor continuing to run for
some little bit after the car went over into the gulch.
No one knows exactly how the accident happened as there were no eye
witnesses but the general opinion is that Mr. Pruitt stalled his car in
going up the hill, and instead of applying the brake and letting it coast
down the hill slowly, it is thought that he put his foot on the reverse
which shot the car back with considerable rapidity making it harder for
him to keep it in the road consequently the wheels on one side dropped off
into a hole six or eight feet deep by the roadside, causing the car to
overturn.  Mr. Pruett's body was caught directly under the front end of
the car, the windshield brace on the right side breaking and the end
attached to the car catching him in the breast just over the heart
crushing his life out instantly.
The remains were buried at the Retrop cemetery (Washita County) Sunday
afternoon by the Masonic Lodge.  It is said that the largest crowd ever
assembled at the cemetery was present.  Several cars of Carter people
attended.  Some attended from Sayre and other distant points.  A son and
daughter-in-law came in from Beaver County.  A son Henry is in the U. S.
Navy in France, so of course could not be present.

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