Lyle Beebe
May 17, 1903-Feb. 11, 1917
Long, Brave Struggle for life is ended in death of Lyle Beebe.
Succumbs to injuries received when interurban car struck automobile on Walton’s Crossing August 11, 1916.
Lyle Beebe the 14 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Beebe who reside north of town, died at 4:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend from injuries sustained when an automobile in which he was riding with the late Frank Sparks was run down by an interurban car at Walton’s Crossing on the fifth day of last August. The boy had since put up a long brave fight for life but medical services were powerless to avoid the fatal termination toward which the case steadily receded.
The citizens of town and country sided have profess apathy for the parents and death of the boy, who has been cut down in life’s all morning.
The body was brought home last evening by undertaker Price and funeral survives will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock from the house.
Details of Tragedy.
The following clipping from the Daily Star of August 11, 1916, recalls the details of the tragedy at Walton’s Crossing.
If Walton’s crossing on the line of the Southern Michigan Railway Company is hear after known as “Death Crossing.” It will be because it received its baptism of blood this afternoon a well when the life of Frank Sparks a well known farmer, who resided four and one half miles northwest of town, was snuffed out and Lyle Beebe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Beebe, who reside in the same neighborhood, was terribly injured by the northbound interurban car. Mr. Sparks, who was 62 years of age, and Lyle Beebe a 13 year-old boy, were coming to town to the formers Ford Car, when the accident occurred. The interurban care swung around the sharp curve and struck the automobile, hurling it against an embankment about 20 feet form the interurban tracks. Both of Mr. Sparks legs were broken, and the bone protruded through the flesh. He was other wise mutilated and died without regaining consciousness. The Beebe boy had a leg broken and was cut up so badly that John Wynn who helped place him in an automobile and accompanied him to Dr. Van Noppen’s sanitarium, did not recognize him. Mr. Wynn also looked into the disfigure face of Mr. Sparks who he had known for years, and was unable to identify him Mr. Wynn was dumbfounded when he learned that the men who were victims of the accident were neighbors.
At this writing, Dr. van Noppen and Dr. Homer Carr are bandaging Lyle Beebe’s wounds., Undertaker Price has gone to Walton’s Crossing to take charge of the body of the late Mr. Sparks, whose death will prove a profound shock to the entire countryside. Mr. Sparks leaves a daughter, Mrs. Lloyd Butts, where resides northwest of town.
Walton’s Crossing from a veritable ambush, by reason of the high banks and foliage that prevents the approach of an interurban car from being seen by drivers of vehicles on the highway, and numerous accidents have happened there.
Published Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 12, 1917, page 1