On last Saturday morning the Wilmore community was shocked by the news that Ancil McCorkle had been killed and that Harold Booth had been seriously injured in an auto accident at the cemetery corner east of Coldwater. Before they had time to even partially recover from the shock news reached here that Harold had also died.

The boys in company with two Coldwater young men where returning from Sitka about one o'clock. When they reached Coldwater they made a brief stop to let the Coldwater boys out and proceeded toward Wilmore. What happened from that time on will never tbe definitely known. The general supposition is that the boys, being sleepy, did not realize they were at the turn in the road until too late to make the turn. The car climbed a three foot embankment at the end of the road and struck the ground perhaps fifty or sixty feet from the fence. The boys were thrown clear of the car and were found lying just behind it. The car righted itself facing directly toward the east. The fact that the lights were not extinguished led to the discovery of the wreck. About three o'clock J. W. Carleton noticed the lights but made no investigation thinking some one had stopped on account of auto trouble or for some other cause.

Upon arising about five and seeing the lights still there he proceeded to investigate and found the wreck. He called Sheriff Wm. McCrary who immediately rushed to the scene. Mr. McCrary called the ambulance and Harold was rushed to the Holcomb hospital in Coldwater. His chances of recovery were thought to be fair at first but in spite of all that could be done he sank rapidly and passed away at eight-twenty. His mother and father and brother, Fred and a number of other relatives were at his bedside. His sisters Bertha and Naomi were in Wichita and another sister, Mrs. Chas Lawler of Freedom, Oklahoma was unable to reach here before his death.

The body of Ancil was taken to the Roberts undertaking establishment. It is thought that death must have been almost instantaneous in his case. Both bodies were brought to Wilmore on Sunday.

- Wilmore Correspondent.

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BOOTH, Harold H.: October 12, 1911 - August 3, 1929
Son of William 'Bill' and Lillie May (Kluttz) Booth.
Comanche County History, pp. 269, 271
Lot #185, Powell Township Cemetery, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas.

McCORKLE, George Ancil : May 4, 1910 - August 3, 1929
Son of Blanche Elizabeth (Killillay) McCorkle and Ora Henry McCorkle. Ancil was called 'Dutch".
Comanche County History, p. 555
Lot #151, Powell Township Cemetery, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas.

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Location of the auto accident east of Coldwater, Comanche County, Kansas,
which killed Ancil McCorkle and fatally wounded Harold Booth.
USGS aerial photograph, 1 April 1996.

"In the late 1950's and early 1960's there was a sign in the field just east of this corner, which I believe was a "safety reminder" sign erected by the State of Kansas, which marked the site of this accident. I recall asking my dad, Wendel Ferrin, about the sign and being told what he'd been told about the accident." -- Jerry Ferrin, 15 November 2005.

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Thelma L. (McCorkle) Kittell, sister of Ancil McCorkle.

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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