From Pauline Mazariegos of Gettysburg, PA.
Thanks for Rita embellishing the Monkey Cake. Some put pecans on it, but Mom’s were always plain. It reminded me of sticky buns which I love, mess and all. By the way, I loved Harvey Wike’s poem on his grandkids that you published in the February issue.
In your January issue on the comments, questions and letter section Harvey Wike mentioned a car accident where your Dad (Franklin Wike, Sr.) was driving. I have more info from my sister Shirley, even though we were very young.
Up front, your Mom (Verna Wike nee Hostetter) was in the middle, and my Mom, (Myra Riley nee Wike) was sitting by the door. How the accident occurred is fuzzy to me but Shirley remembers more. She, your brother Donald Wike and myself were sitting in the back seat. All I remember was sitting forward to see out the front windshield. I was about 4 years old and Shirley was 6 years old. It was us 3 in the back seat. Cousin Ruthy was never there. She remembers the story from our grandmother, Mrs. Emma Wike.
Frank and company were on a trip from Fredricksburg, PA to Gettysburg, PA to meet Myra’s future husband. They were on Rt. 22 and the roads were beginning to get icy. The other driver was heading toward Fredericksburg on Rt. 22. decided to turn around and go back where they came from. He could not control the car on the icy road and crossed over into our lane. As your father tried to miss him he spun around and the other car hit Moms side of your Dads car.
They got all of us out or so they thought. (I’m not sure at this point who they are.) They sat Shirley and me on a blanket beside the road. They told us not to look at the other car. We all wondered where Donnie was. They went back to the car and looked for Donnie. They found him under the back seat. They thought he was dead and covered him up. The ambulance arrived and found Donnie alive.
At this point I do not know what happened to Donnie or where your Mom was. We could not find her. She went into shock and left the scene of the accident to get help. My Mom said she did go to a house for help and then she began walking back to the accident. A truck driver picked her up as she was very bloody. As they approached the accident she said, Oh look, there is a bad accident up there. The truck driver said, Yes, and you were in it. So she got out and was attended by the ambulance personnel.
They put her and I in the same ambulance. Shirley went in a station wagon to go to the hospital. I don’t where Donnie went. Mom had a large gash from her eyebrow to her eyelid which was really bleeding plus her arm was broken in many places. I cried the whole way to the hospital because I thought Mom would die.
Someone picked Shirley and I up from the hospital and took us to Nanny’s (Mrs. Emma Wikes) house. Mom had to stay overnight at the hospital to get glass out of her eye, arm and hair. I thought Mom died and they were not telling us. I cried that whole night. Thank God Mom came home the next day and I thought she lost her eye, but it was just patched.
*Editors Note* I love seeing these type of letters. Here is a case where an event took place 55 years ago that has a major effect on numerous lives. Each individual has their own unique version of the events they experienced or the stories they were told. By taking the time to share their memories with us, these individuals are combining their stories to leave a more complete version of this event and thus leaving a priceless legacy.
The little 2 year old boy that was found under the back seat and thought to be dead, is now a grandfather. He may not remember this accident and all the adults that were in both vehicles are gone, but fortunately the details of this event were shared between family members. Therefore, when all the children that were in that vehicle are gone, and their grandchildren become grandparents to a new generation, this one event into the lives of their ancestors may help them to feel closer to their roots.
The one common denominator I have noticed in the readers, volunteers and writers that get involved with U.S. Legacies is that most of them are searching for information on their own family. By recording details and family stories like the one above, then sharing them with other relatives through our magazine and web site, you can become a vital link in making sure future generations will be able to read about the lives of their ancestors.
Published in U S Legacies Magazine April 2004
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