A blog post on Jake Wynn‘s Wynning History, featured a story about Ku Klux Klan member Harvey A. Bowers, May 17, 2018, who was killed in a car crash on September 23, 1924, on a mountain road in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Bowers’ grave marker from Fairview Cemetery, Muir, Schuylkill County, pictured above, notes his membership in the Klan with the initials “K. K. K.”
Very little is known about Bowers’ activities in the Ku Klux Klan, and were it not for the initials on his grave marker, it may have never been known that he was involved with this hate group. More than a dozen coal miners were in the cars involved in the accident, and the names of the drivers and those injured were included in the news articles. Perhaps, though research on one or more of them, additional information can be found about the activities of this racist group in the Muir and Tower City area in the mid 1920s.
The articles which described the accident are featured in today’s post here, beginning with the earliest report, which appeared in The Herald, Pottsville, September 24, 1924:
War Veteran Killed in Accident
As a result of two automobiles crushing together on the mountain road at No. 2 tunnel. west of Keffers late yesterday afternoon, Harvey Bowers, aged twenty-eight years, a world was veteran, is dead, and William Kreiser is in the Williamstown Hospital with a broken hip and possible fracture of the skull.
Others hurt in the crash are Edward Hand, Ira Updegrave, Noah Kohr and Harry Reiner, all miners residing in Muir and Tower City.
The accident was caused when Samuel Rightler, aged eighteen, driving a Ford car in which were six occupants, tried to pass a Dodge touring car driven by John Bohner and carrying seven miners, on the road. The machines collided and while going in the same direction at high speed and were turned over several times, spilling the occupants about the road. Bowers was instantly killed and the others were all more or less injured.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, September 25, 1924:
Harvey Bowers, 28, was killed and nine persons were injured Tuesday night when two automobiles collided at Three Tunnels near Pottsville. The dead man and his five companions whose injuries are regarded as critical, were all from Reinerton. The other four, less seriously injured, are from Tower City.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, September 26, 1924:
ONE KILLED, TWELVE INJURED IN AUTO WRECK
One of the worst automobile accidents in the history of this valley occurred on Tuesday afternoon on the State road leading to Keffers, when Harvey Bowers was fatally injured and twelve others received mor of less serious injuries. Bowers died a few minutes after being admitted to the Williams Valley Hospital at Williamstown, where he with four others were rushed following the accident.
The automobiles that figured in the accident were a Dodge touring car owned by John Boehner and a Ford touring car owned by Samuel Reighler, son of Milton Reightler. There are a number of versions as to the manner in which the accident occurred but it is generally agreed that the Bohner car was going at a moderate rate of speed and was in no way to blame for the accident.
In the car with Boehner were Edward Hand, George Hoffman, William Romberger, Noah Kohr, Harry Reiner, and Thomas Stahl. In the Reightler car were Reightler, the driver, Ira Updegrove, William Kreiser, Harvey Bowers and Curtis Seiler. All of the men in the cars are employed at No. 3 Tunnel and had just come from the colliery and were on their way home when the accident occurred. The Boehner car was in the lead, and was going at a moderate speed when Reightler, who was said to have been going at a rapid rate of speed, attempted to pass the Boehner car. It is said that none in the Boehner car heard a horn blowing for the right of way, but that one of the occupants was looking back and called to Mr. Boehner to turn aside and let him pass. This he attempted to do, but not before the Reightler car crashed into the rear right wheel, causing both cars to swerve sideways and turn over several times, the Boehner car landing against a boulder at the roadside with such force as to wreck it completely. Several were thrown clear and only slightly bruised, and several were pinned beneath the wreckage.
Bowers is supposed to have been through out at the first crash and landed on his head, causing a fractured scull. He was then caught and dragged a distance by the Reightler car, but was found lying clear of the wrecks. For a time only the dazed occupants who were not seriously injured worked to rescue their companions, but other cars soon arrived at the scene, among them a large enclosed truck, which carried the most seriously injured as quickly as possible to the Williamstown hospital, but Bowers expired before he could be admitted, and the o0thers in the truck obtained medical treatment elsewhere. Dr. R. H. Stutzman, who had been summoned from Tower City arrived at the the truck just as Bowers died.
The other injured were taken to their home in autos and had their injuries treated by local physicians. The injured were:
- John Boehner, internal injuries;
- Edward Hand, right hip injured, cuts about neck and hands;
- George Hoffman, who is just recovering from burns, arm and head injured;
- William Romberger, injury to legs;
- Noah Kohr, bruises;
- William Kreiser, collar bone split, and internal injuries;
- Ira Updegrove, ribs broken and arm injured;
- Curtis Seiler, nose injured and bruises;
- Samuel Reightler, who drove the car which caused the accident, suffered the least injuries.
All are residents of Muir except Curtis Seiler of Reinerton and Thomas Stahl of Orwin.
Deep sorrow is expressed on all sides at the fate of Bowers and for his widowed mother and family. He was a young man of quiet manners, universally liked. He was a veteran of the World War with an overseas record, having been a member of the 28th Division, Company G, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was also a member of Reiner City Council No. 374, Jr. O. U. A. M. of Muir, Williams Valley Ledge No. 446, K. of P. of Muir, and the United Mine Workers of Reinerton.
He was a son of the late Herman Bowers and wife, and was single, making his home with his mother at Muir. Besides his widowed mother he is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Joseph H. Bowers, Annie [Bowers] Liang, wife of Albert Laing of Muir; Minnie [Bowers] Williams, wife of Charles Williams of Lincoln; William Bowers, at home; Lottie [Bowers] Fessler, wife of Ray Fessler of Joliett; Vernon Bowers; Lester Bowers, Hattie Bowers, and Charles Bowers, at home. His father and one brother preceded him in death.
The funeral will be held from the home of his brother-in-law, Albert Laing, owing to the fact that his mother’s home is being remodeled. Services will be held Sunday morning at 11 o’clock at the Grace Evangelical Church after burial is made at in Fairview Cemetery. The services will be conducted by Rev. C. W. Horner, who will be assisted by the various organizations of which he is a member. A military funeral will be accorded him by the members of Harry Heartter Post No. 468, American Legion.
A coroner’s inquest will be held by Deputy Coroner, Dr. David J. Hawk, to determine the cause of death.
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From the Lykens Standard, September 26, 1924:
HARVEY BOWERS, MUIR, KILLED ON WAY TO HOME
Tuesday afternoon, shortly after 3:30, after completing work at No. 3 Tunnel of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, located on the Keffers Mountain, along the State Highway, an auto acciudent occurred which cost the life of a Muir resident and injured eleven others.
The accident occurred when Samuel Reibler, driving a Ford car, tried to pass a Dodge touring car of Jerry Baner. In the Reiber car were six persons while Baner carried seven in his.
Both parties had left the place of work and were bound for their homes in Muir. Going down the mountain road, which is dangerous at points and almost impossible for two machines to pass with safety, Baner was in the lead. Reibler followed him close and finally made an attempt to pass. Baner felt it was unsafe at that point and held to the road when the Reibler car collided from the rear. Both cars upset and all but Reibler were injured, Bowers being killed almost instantly.
In the Reibler car were:
HARVEY BOWERS, 28, Muir, single. Killed.
WILLIAM KREISLER, Muir, collar bone broken and severe contusions of the body.
CURTIS FEILER, Muir, bruises of the body.
MR. STAHL, Orwin, fractured ribs.
MR. BENDER, Orwin, slight contusions, jumped from the car when the collusion occured.
Seven were in the Baner car. The occupants and their injuries were:
JERRY BANER, Muir, severe contusions.
EDWARD HAND, Muir, lacerations of the neck and head, body bruises.
IRA UPDEGROVE, Muir, several fractured ribs.
WILLIAM ROMBERGER, Muir, fractured ribs and leg.
NOAH KOHR, bruises and injuries of the hand.
HARRY REINER, Muir, injuries of the hands and body contusions due to jumping from machine.
GEORGE HOFFMAN, Muir, a fire-boss at the tunnel, body bruises.
All of the parties injured were somewhat improved according to a report received yesterday at 1:30 P. M.
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From the Lykens Standard, October 31, 1924:
RECKLESSNESS CAUSE OF BOWERS’ DEATH
An inquest into the death of Harvey Bowers who was killed in an automobile accident on the State road leading to Keffers, was held at the Keystone Hotel, Muir, recently. The inquest was conducted by Dr. David J. Hawk, Deputy Coroner, assisted by District Deputy Attorneys M. H. Spicker and George L. Reed. Members of the jury were Henry G. Shuey, W. W. Updegrove, Arthur Barry, Warren Reibson, John Schylacke and W. K. Knecht.
A number of witnesses testified that the car driven by Samuel Reightler, which caused the accident, was being driven at a reckless speed.
The jury found that Bowers came to his death as a result of reckless driving by Samuel Reightler. The menwere returning home from work at the mines when raeightler attempted to pass another car containing several miners. His car skidded and struck the other car and both machines were turned over and thirteen miners in two cars were tossed out on the road.
A warrant was later issued for Reightler’s arrest on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was taken to Pottsville by Constable John Haertter and committed to the county jail after a preliminary hearing. Bail was fixed at $2500, which was furnished before the clerk of the courts last Monday and Reightler was released shortly before noon. The case will probably be heard at the next term of criminal court.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.